At home you're faced most days with the familiar of home, work, friends and community, and time can really fly.
With that frame of mind and my busy schedule while travelling I thought that my two weeks in Africa would zip by, but wow let me tell you, life back in Terrace B.C. feels like a lifetime ago.
I think these two weeks have felt like a long time because of how far, and how different things are here compared to home.
Each day, or even each minute my eyes catch a glimpse of something new and unfamiliar.
I have had an absolutely amazing time, but it's funny, usually when I travel I want to stay on the road forever, but this time I'm feeling tired and drained and ready for home.
Maybe it's adding the element of travel in an unfamiliar place and then trying to connect with strangers and arrange interviews for work, rather than just being on "vacation".
There's little things too that happen and my mind instantly thinks, oh how very Africa.
Like last night I took a night bus departing Livingstone at 8:30 p.m. to Lusaka. The ride is supposed to be from five to six hours, but ah we arrived here in Lusaka at 3:30 a.m.
And during the "night" bus while people are nodding off the front of the bus blasts the same song on repeat the entire time, where a woman sings in a high pitched tone.
I was at the back of the bus so it wasn't so bad, but yikes, passengers at the front would only get some shuteye if they were exhausted.
Each time they stopped they would also turn on the lights full blast, disturbing any slumber you might have fallen into.
But who am I to complain, I had a ride over 6 hrs that cost only $14.
But don't get me wrong, that bus service is amazing compared to some other outfits.
On the ride to Livingstone we were treated to air conditioning, a snack and refreshments and comfy seats. An added bonus was the smooth roads Zambia seems to have.
Buuuuuuut, one big hilarious but, they also played one song, over and over and over and over.
It took me awhile to even notice, when Darcy says, ummm I think this song has been on repeat for a long time?
I start to listen, ah yes, I think it's Michael Bolton singing, I say.
Soul Provider.
Each time his voice would fade away along with the sax (I think it's sax?), we would wait in silence to see if something new would come on, but ah the sax would come in and Bolton's voice would sound over the speakers.
If you're unfamiliar with the song and are curious as to what we were treated to at LEAST 15 times or more I swear, click on the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Well I think this will be my last post, I had my last interview this morning, then tomorrow we fly out in the afternoon for a serious of painful connecting flights to arrive back in Vancouver on Sunday.
See you soon Canada!
Molly McNulty is travelling to Uganda and Zambia on behalf of the Jack Webster Fellowship Seeing the World Through New Eyes which is funded by CIDA.
1 comments:
Haha It sounds like some of the buses that I took in China and South East Asia. Fun times I am sure.
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