Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Mongu - Day Three



It is Tuesday a.m.  I am in the Zambia Works office which is a very old abandoned British office.  This is the typical building here. Every thing is very old, the streets are sandy, the plumping primitive (flush with a bucket) etc.

The school was so excited to see us. They had a program of dancing, each chief greeted us, the kids were giddy and like in Honduras you take a photo and they mob you.  The teachers who were living in the class rooms are living elsewhere.  It is so interesting to see a school in the midst of huts. :) 

We saw the gardens of the women and the farm area.  It is like an oasis in the desert. It is awesome and brought tears to my eyes.  

We had dinner at the Ambassadors house last night.  I am uncertain where she is serving now but she had pictures of her shaking George Bush's hand in the Oval office and I guess she likes to connect with him when he comes to Zambia.  She is quite a character.  Her home is modest by our standards...again a very old British style abode.  She cooked dinner for us, we ate with plates in our laps.  We arrived and the power was out. So it started with candle light as we had peanuts (monkey nuts), potato chips and punch to begin the evening.  Mongu rice is a staple with most meals and that was included with pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and a stewed chicken.  Oh yes we had ground beef with pasta.  It was very simple and tasty.

We went to the harbor which is the poorest of the poor.  It is on the river that connects Mongu with Angola.  Dugout boats bring food and goods in and out of the two countries.  It is a 14 day trip between the two countries but it is the fastest way to go.  

 Main Street Mongu, Zambia

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