From Emily (TA), Dr. Dan Butterworth, and Dr. Mark Bodamer – Wednesday, May 28
Posted in Uncategorized on May 28, 2008 by kretchmarEmily writes: “Hello! So we’re two weeks in…and we got our third school group last night. They are also international students and will be here until Friday morning. We also had a local school group come on Sunday-Monday and we had an amazing time with them. We only have one more week until we leave for Livingstone, but everything is going really well so far! We miss you all back home and will keep in touch!” Emily
Dr. Butterworth shares the following: “We have had a group of local schoolkids here and they were great–they did a series of dances and songs that are the real Zambia. They also recited poems they had composed. Here’s what that’s like–AIDS AIDS AIDS, you are a cruel man, you took my father, you took my mother, AIDS I don’t like you, AIDS go away. All said in a heavy accent. Tragic and charming at the same time. I have tons of writing material. . . The most interesting is the witchdoctor stuff–very prevalent and bizzare. . . I am a bit worried because of what’s happening in South Africa–the same thing as Zimbabwe a decade ago, and refugees are starting to come to Zambia–25,000 of them. Everything is slow here and we westerners are like mosquitos with our busy little hurrying. We had a huge Puff Adder up in one of the chimp enclosures the other day. There was an owl flying around the campfire last night. There’s this Israeli guy in camp who is an amazing cook and he is making us a chocolate cake tonight. Yikes!”
And Mark wrote to me: “Hi Molly, Time for a quick hello. Wow what a great group I have. They really are super. We’ve had two school groups and another arrived last night. I am waiting for the school bus to arrive here at the orphanage any minute. My Zambian teacher friend Costa had a group of local children from his new school here Sun-Mon. Lots of fun. Great singing and dancing. Students are settling into a good routine with chimp observations as well. The early morning time with the chimps is very popular. Genny had a baby a few days ago. Some lobbying going for a name that begin with G____; HMMmm? Students are having a great time at Muchinshi also. The evening reflections and sharing have been very special. We have touched the hearts of many. Fr. Lee’s advice to open one’s heart, to break it open to share and have a new level of love is truly happening.”
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]. We had a big meal last night–the time is strange and it feels like I’ve lost several days, which I have. Already the cultural immersion is fantastic since we are with people who work at Chimf. and who live in the towns around here or on site. Everything is very exotic and intriguing–my main observation is how alive the roads are–like the vein that keeps everything going. People are moving their bikes loaded with charcoal sacks or sticks or clothing or vegetables and the cars and trucks are playng leap frog and there are steady streams of people walking along the road with bowls and bundles on their heads, tools, huge bundles of sticks and the like. We saw Sylivia and a chimp she’s mothering last night, a weird flock of hornbills, white-bellied crows, herds of brahma cows we drive through–all very cool. I’m a bit surprised that I feel as good as I dusual fog of the human condition. We are getting supplies today, cell phones, etc. I am looking forward to hanging out and not movong for a few days after today. I slept well but in the middle of the night I reached my arm out and spilled everything on top of my table to a tremendous crash–who knows who I woke up with that display. I think that’s all I’ve got for now–it takes a long time to get on–basivcally phone line with the worst sort of anti-virus slow down–. Tomorrow I will do the chimp thing in the morning and take it from there. Plenty of food and some good stuff, like chicken pot pie inside a sort of tort like dough. Ok. I’ll write again if I get a chance–that would be next Tuesday probably.”