Description

“Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.” –Mark Jenkins

Friday 23 June 2017

vaccinations and visas

Diptheria, Polio, Tetanus and Typhoid; Measles, mumps, and rubella - Ant thinks it sounds like a meeting with the seven dwarfs.... it certainly didn't feel like it. I now have two dead arms and a slightly sluggish feeling. But at least I am now up to date with everything again. Thankfully I don't need a meningitis booster for Zambia and Hepatitis B was only a recommendation - but at £120 for 3 injections I gave that one a swerve. Not planning on swapping bodily fluids with the locals anyway.

I decided to change up our cash in to dollars last week - managed a respectable 1.24 exchange rate - who knows what Brexit will do to the rate over the coming weeks, bit of a gamble but hey it's done now.
Only thing left is the VISA. Going to attempt it online again tonight as this time I believe we have all the right paperwork, in the right format, (and in the right names) to give it a go.
Fingers crossed!

Saturday 17 June 2017

6 weeks to go and I'd like to say "Zikomo Kwambili"!

Wow - I put an appeal out and what a response...
  • A reconditioned laptop and snazzy laptop bag for the Linda Farm project manager
  • £550 towards the amazon wish list
  • 15 working smart phones
  • Self-sufficiency books for the new library
  • An assortment of items from the Amazon Wishlist
We're off to a good start collecting what we want to take with us too - the shopping has started and the old suitcase almost full already with examples for the teaching sessions, new boodle sticks, cutting mats and nearly new shirts for the community. 

We have just 6 weeks ahead of us to practise the art of boodling and hopefully come up with some simple enough designs that can be taught to those who only speak Njanja and those who are deaf. We are thinking strong shopping bags and floor mats.. bed blankets and seat covers. 

The clock is ticking and the date gets ever closer, so thank you all for your contributions - it really will make a huge difference to their community. Thank you once again for your continued support. Zikomo!