Time to say goodbye

Today is my last day at BSA and in Zambia. Three great months, with even greater experiences lie behind me.

Ok, it hasn’t always been easy, but generally speaking I really enjoyed working with the kids and volunteers. There have been ups and downs, successes and set-backs, sad and happy moments. At times I hated this country and wanted to leave right away, but now that it is time to go I get sad and realize how much I haven gotten to like a lot of the people around me. I will sure miss them.

The last few days have been quite busy. Last week we had 2 tournaments, both of which went well-in an African way! Meaning the schedule was rather an optimistic orientation than anything close to reality, and the whole thing was quite a chaos. BUT, and that’s the most important thing, the kids had fun, we saw some good football and we all went home tired but happy.

I took some nice team pictures with the jerseys from Germany, so at least I have something to show to the donors.

This afternoon, “my” boys are organizing a little fare well party for me and apparently have some kind of surprise for me…..exiting!

Then the director of BSA and some other volunteers also want to take me somewhere, so it seems I will have to do the final packing late at night.

Ok, this is all from me for now, and certainly will be my last post from Zambia.

I am looking forward to seeing some of you again soon!

Take care

wonders do exist

I couldn’t believe my eyes: when I went to the Zambian Post office to pick up a package with football boots my parents had sent me, like I was asked to do on the letter I received, I suddenly spotted a big parcel in the storage room that looked very familiar to me.

I was one of the two parcels I had sent to Zambia before leaving Germany (almost 3 months ago), containing lots of jerseys, shorts and some footballs which I had collected from various football clubs as donations for BSA. I had been looking all over Lusaka for these parcels for the past 2 months, going back and forth to DHL, the company I had sent it through. Finally, I had given up hope that these donations would ever appear again, believing they had been stolen or lost on the long journey from Germany to Zambia. I was so happy to see this package, I almost cried!

People and players at BSA had already started to believe I had lied to them about the donations, that there were not such packages.

By coincidence, I was carrying with me the two slips necessary to clear the packages. One of them was damages, and some of the footballs had wholes in them from mice which had entered and apparently thought a football would make a good meal. But all of that didn’t matter, I was just happy to see get the stuff back!

So-one week before leaving- I am finally able to hand over 7 sets of jerseys, over 100 shorts, some (partly damaged) footballs and some stockings to the players of Breakthrough Sports Academy …..what a satisfaction!

one of BSA's teams

This is one of the younger teams at BSA, the under 14 boys. Most of them play without shoes, and I keep on being surprised about them not getting any major cuts or bruises from all the rocks and glass lying around ion the pitch. I guess their feet are used to that kind of surface....
It is so great to see them play, forget all their worries and problems, even if it is just for a couple of hours. On the football field, everyone is equal, no matter what color of skin, tribe or nationality. That's the beauty about football!

BSA's changing room

Meet DR. SELEMBA NKULU WABOLONGO FIKAPO!

Sometimes it can be interesting to have a look at the advertisements in newspapers. I found one the other day that I would like to share with you. I copied it, with all it's errors. You migth have to use your imagination sometimes to understand, and you should also know that the believe ibn witchcraft is taken very seriously in Zambia (and most parts of Africa).

Se here it goes....

Good News!

Good news to all Zambians and the whole world. To you Zambians who are sick with difficulties, different problems: come see African Doctor (international) DR. SELEMBA NKULU WABOLONGO FIKAPO in Lusaka who is doing miracles and incredible things. Digging in the tree is mixing with God, what I don’t fear also don’t fear, but what I fear also fear. I am a wooden stick which enter into hot water, come and try here. And these are the FOLLOWING Problems to be cured (WORK WITHOUT FAIL):

Diarrhea, slimming, weakness, coughing, Asthma, Leprosy, Cancer, Leg pains, Broken Goisters, Fets, BY, Sexual Weakness, unsatisfied sexual desires, coming out the anus district, Kwashiorkor, Tibet, prolonged periods, tongue coming out, , houses with ghosts, sugar disease, Bilharzias, urinating on the bed, Anemia, passing at school, unemployment, Job promotion, for business and money not to be stolen by witchcraft, farm protection not to be stolen by thieves or witchcraft,. Those who have kraals for cattle or goats revenge, problem of not having children, difficulties of bearing (even if you have something in your stomach we can deliver it out), marriage problems, to bring back your wife or husband, if your wife or husband (passed away) haven’t cleared you. I’ll make you pure, not to be witched by families or anyone, (body protection), mad people, swollen legs like elephant, Syphilis, gonorrhea, Bolabola, Abdominal pains, people be careful witchcraft they know how to witch HIV/AIDS-don’t forget if you are becoming slim, luck for body, if you don’t be proposed or you be dined by girls, eyebrow problems, Exercise disease the disease that will kill children when you are pregnant, problems of being deaf, Pneumonia, denseness.

We have got a TV where you can watch very problem you have. Come to Kanyama drop off at Amaka bar, to the left side you see a post written DR. SELEMBA NKULU WABOLONGO FIKAPO or behind Soweto market where they sell charcoal and sugar cane, next to celtel transmitter. Contact number 097 8267538

My way to the office

Hey folks!
Just wanted to give you another impression of the life in a Lusaka (and African) township.
This where I have to pass by every time I have to go to the office, were we have meetings and I give computer lessons. As you can see, there is no waste water system, no proper sanitation and no garbage disposal system. It stinks a lot.....
People have no concept of keeping their environment clean, there are no trash bins and to dispose properly of ypur garbage, you would have to walk very far an- more important-pay. So people just throw their waste (water) on the paths that wind between their homes...

On Family

What/who do you think of when you think about your "family"?

Me, I think of my sister, my mom, my dad and my grandmother. Of course, I have cousins, aunties, uncles as well, bu they are not really part of my everyday life.

In Africa, the definition of family is much broader. Few families live only with their direct relatives. Usually, the people living in a household are extended family, and taking care of them seems to be the most normal thing. Statistically, every Zambian has lost at least one family member due to AIDS or Malaria. That means that there are many orphans or half orphans that need to be taken care of. Three to four generations living in one house is normal. The respect of age is a thing that strikes me most. 4 years old take care of 2 years old, 6 years old take care of 4 year old, and so on. Younger family members have to serve the older ones, orders are being obeyed without questions.
The bond people have to their family is much tighter than in western culture. Children usually move out when they get married, not before. They couldn't even if they wanted too.
If a men wants to get married to a women, he has to ask the parents for permission and save up enough money to pay the brides family a suiting price. These bridal price can be some cattle or money or other material gifts. But we shouldn't label this tradition as "buying a wife", since it has been in african culture for centuries and is more the proof that the man will be able to take care of his wife and future family.
Getting to know family life and traditions is probably one of the best experiences of my stay here in Zambia. I love staying with my host family, sharing the same food with them and learning about their way of living!