Zambian+Journal

// __ Zambian Journal By: Jackie __ // //__ Day 1 __// I arrived in Lusaka, Zambia from this jet I took. I came here today, for four days, because I wanted to know how I can change whatever is going on in Zambia. All we need is to interview a couple of local residents. I had brought my best friend Juliana Brookes so that she can see what I experienced. After Juliana and I checked in our rooms, I found out that it broke my heart just to see the place. I saw women washing dishes up and down the streets, flies swarming around small markets and garbage everywhere. I already thought of some things I could do. People don’t really have all the survival needs in order to survive. We thought that if things could be worse than it already is, we would open a clinic/hospital here. Maybe an animal shelter and a house for food, quick medication and fundraising ideas. So like I said, we need to interview a couple of local residents. Juliana had seen so many people out on the streets as we were coming in the hotel, that we should see some women selling oranges or kids sewing clothes. I didn’t know if they spoke English or not so I checked my manual. It read: // People in Lusaka, Zambia can speak Nyanja and English. It matters if you are south of the city or not. People who can speak both languages will probably speak more of Nyanja than English because citizens of Lusaka, Zambia are more used to their original language than the language mostly used in North America. // Just my luck, I thought. I turned my head to find my self alone in this crowd of people. I looked to my right to find Juliana pointing at me while talking to an elderly woman. I walked over to where they were standing only to hear, “Yes, I have been living here since I was a baby girl. I don’t know what made our city way it is.” “Hey, Sophia! This sweet lady wants us to interview her. Isn’t that great? Now we can get some ideas on why we should keep fundraising at Sir James Douglas School, ” said Juliana. “That is awesome, Julie ! ” I turned to the lady. “It is nice to meet you. Do you speak English?” I asked. “Oh my, questions without introducing myself, ” she replied. “Pardon me! I didn’t mean to interrupt you selling your … um, fabric and clothing, ” I said. It shocked me to see such beautifully woven rugs or the most colorful clothing. “Why, thank you my dear. Yes, I am fluent in English. Oh dear, I think I miss said that, ” she said, looking concerned. I whispered into Juliana’s ear, “I think we’re going to get along just fine!" “Ma’am, would you like to come to the hotel for the interview, or-” The lady cut me off.  “Oh, that would be splendid. My name is Chululu. But you can call me Abigail. Wouldn’t you girls like to come to my home instead? I sure you would want to know what it’s like to live here, ” Abigail asked.  “Should we come around 6:00?” questioned Julie.  “Come at around at 4:30 p.m. so I can teach you girls to cook Zambian style. Oh my, I’ve seem to have lost track of the months. Oh yes, it is December. I have a few recipes I would like to show you. Maybe I could teach you to sew and other things I’m fond of, ” Abigail said.  “Alright. Good bye, Abigail. See you soon, ” Juliana cried.

It was almost 4:35. We were late. I knew we should have taken the bus. Julie told that walking was good for a lot of things. Like exercising and that the fumes of the bus would pollute the air. She might have won that fight but it’s my stomach she’s going to take care of. We had seen so much wildlife, but the scariest thing to see was the Vipera Burus snake. We were 18cm away from being attacked by the fastest snake in the world. Luckily, we made it to Abigail’s house in time. I noticed that the home didn’t have a door and it only had one window. “Abigail, ” I whispered as we walked into the empty house. “Are you here?” I could here a faint cry in the air. I turned one way in to a room to find Abigail crying. “Abigail, are you all right?” Juliana asks, trying to comfort her. Abigail gets up. Those 10 words pierced through my heart like a knife through skin. “There is something I must tell you. Evelyn is dead!”

__ Day 4 __ Abigail told us the day when Julie and I were leaving, that Evelyn was her 17 year old daughter and that she was visiting Abigail from a town in Morocco, Africa. She was supposed to meet Abigail the morning when we first came to Zambia. Some people from a nearby village told Abigail that Evelyn crept silently through the field that Juliana and I met the Vipera Burus snake. It was so dark that morning that she miscalculated her footing and stepped on the fastest and most vicious snake in the world. She had screamed in pain for help but she was too far away from Abigail's house or medical assistance. Evelyn was found, the night we were supposed to meet Abigail for that Zambian style cooking, covered in grass or dust. Julie and I stayed on Day 3 for Evelyn's funeral. Juliana gave Abigail a gift basket filled with Canadian food, I donated $45 dollars in Zambian money and most of all we spent one whole day with her to help Abigail cope about the death of her daughter. We came back to our Grade 7 class in Sir James Douglas school and told our teacher, Miss Ven what we experienced. Miss Ven gave us a sheet of paper with both of our names on it. "Here is your grade for this Social Studies assignment, " Miss Ven told us. Julie and I both turned to each other with puzzled looks on our faces. "Our //grade//, " Julie cried. "Yes, this is your grade. Please read it, " Miss Ven pleaded. It read: ====//Juliana Brookes and Sophia Cotarse, I am proudly announced to give you an A+ for your Social Studies assignment.You have both experienced some tragic events that happened in Zambia and you have discovered some disturbing, but fasinating, creatures. I am proud that you both enjoyed your trip and that I might assign you two to another location in Balkh, Afghanistan.//====

I was confused. "Miss Ven, so this whole 'take a vacation in Zambia, so you can relax' thing was an assignment," I shouted. "Yes dear, I wanted to see if you can handle handle what it's like in outside of North America. You have learned to cope about death and you carefully walked away when you spotted the fastest snake in in the world. Yes, it is a depressing country with all of the environmental concerns, but now you finally understand what I'm talking about in class. How little things can do to the world. How one person can change the whole country, like Free the Children? " Miss Ven said. "So, you sent us there because I didn't listen as much in class and Sophia didn't understand how one country is poor and how the other country is poorer." "That is correct, Julie, " Miss Ven commented. "In fact, if we sell enough crafts like bags made of sweaters, safety pin bracelets or foods like Nshima and pastries, we could raise enough money to build two hospitals, three clinics, one market and four shelters," Miss Ven cried. "Yeah, but, can't we wait for someone who can do this, " Juliana asked. "Don't worry Julie, " I commented. "We are the someone's who can do it!"