Any
who read my blog will know that I feel very comfortable here in
Monze. I suppose as a “white man” I am out of place, but I never
feel it. I occasionally realise that I very rarely see another white
face in town. By returning a greeting and a smile or sharing a joke
any distance is suddenly bridged and I am among friends.
The
past couple of days taxi drivers have approached me to see if I want
a lift, when I say I am happy to walk they say “but why? The reason
I give and one I believe, is that by walking I meet people. In a car
you can pass by and meet no one. In my case there are people I have
got to know over the past twenty years – most I will not recognise,
because I have an issue with picturing people and scenes. When people
mention their name I will recall who they are and apologise. After
one such encounter today I met Boniface. Boniface was a student at
PIZZ School who now earns a living as a musician. He tells me that he
needs his own studio to move forward. After a brief chat I told him
to give me a buzz so we can catch up (no I am not about to provide
him with a studio!) It must be 4 years or more since we last met.
I
have spent a good amount of my time at PIZZ School talking to Mrs.
Sianga and meeting the children. Today I met the pre-school and grade
one children which completed my tour of all grades. I tell the
students a little about England and my family, but I like them to ask
the questions. They usually want to know the names of my children and
grandchildren and how old I am. They are also interested in what we
eat in England – though people who can survive without nshima seems
unimaginable! In one class I was asked me to sing which caught me off
guard. 'There was an old woman who swallowed a fly' seemed to hit the
mark!
I
had noticed some new lock up shops this year and one had three pools
tables in it. During the week, on the way back from PIZZ School, I
plucked up courage to poke my head inside. I asked if anyone could
play and I was invited to sit down. The rule here is that the winner
of a game stays at the table and anyone wanting to play deposits
their coin and makes a challenge. When I have tried to explain that
in England we play with our friends, not with strangers they cannot
understand this strange culture. Even more how we can go to a bar and
not mix with everyone else. If I try to say that there are neighbours
who I have hardly met, I don't think they believe me!
Well
my turn on the table soon came - and we were well matched. It was a
tight game and I was just beaten. My opponent however, ignoring the
accepted rules, wanted a replay! In the second game I proved the
victor. What followed was a series of very close matches which I was
fortunate to win. After an hour or so, in another close match, I was
at last defeated and made my exit.
One
of the joys of playing pool in Zambia is that, whatever the
differences in culture, background, history and lifestyle, on the
pool table we compete on equal terms – it is only the skill in
playing the game that matters. All the guys I played had a similar
skill level to me. They were all capable of beating me and I was
capable of beating them. We respected each other and the skills
shown. I enjoyed an hour or more playing in the lock up and they told
me they also enjoyed our games. I promised to return for another
session.
Yesterday
Mr Sianga drove me, with Mrs Sianga and someone who is apparently
Soloman's uncle, to Pemba, where Jennipher lived. I was hoping to
locate Jennipher's children, but firstly wanted to meet Soloman. I
first met Soloman in 2006 or 2007. He had come from Zimbabwe to stay
with Jennipher and for 15 or 16 years he was tremendous help to her,
growing crops, building houses and even looking after the children. I
was bit surprised to find that apparently he had close family in
Monze, having never seen or heard mention of them before.
We
were shown to the house were the funeral took place - which was
apparently where Jennipher lived! Soloman wasn't there, but met us in
town where we also met a lady who I apparently saw in Jennipher's
village on my last visit. After speaking to the lady this made sense,
but not a lot else did!!
It
cannot be stressed how difficult it is to understand people from an
entirely different culture and living a very different life. To my
great shame I don't understand Chitonga – the local language. Most
people that I talk to can speak some English, some, like Mrs. Sianga,
speak and understand English well, but it is not their first
language. I wonder how many of us would be confident of conversing in
French, Spanish or another language we learnt at school and be sure
that we are understanding all the nuances of the conversation?
Yesterday
I found myself very confused. I gathered that the children, or at
least some of them, were staying with relatives at Jennipher's
village. Fortunately I had Mrs Sianga to translate. After seeing
Soloman and chatting briefly we agreed to return next Tuesday to meet
the children with Soloman at his house. I am hoping that the second
visit will put things in place and that I will be able to set up a
means of keeping track of the children's progress.
It
is only by spending a lot of time with people that get to know and
understand them. After regular discussions over 20 years me and Mrs.
Sianga are getting to know each other quite well. I know that for
twenty years and more her passion has been to help the orphaned
children. She has given her time energy and resources to develop a
truly exceptional project and a school which produces academic
results which far exceed those of the Government schools in the area
and also most of the private schools. More than that she has given
hopes to hundreds of the most vulnerable children in Monze.
Everything Mrs. Sianga has done has been for the benefit of the
children, her only gain is the knowledge that children have been able
to make something of their lives, instead of suffering on the
streets. Talking to the students it is clear that they are very happy
to be at school, they are respectful, but don't lack the cheeky grin
and impish giggle. They are very comfortable in the school, respect
the staff, but have no fear in approaching them. The atmosphere and
environment is one that you would hope to find in a very well run
school.
I
am amazed that so much has been achieved with limited resources. I
hope and pray that working closely with Mrs. Sianga we will be able
to ensure the vulnerable children of Monze will continue to find a
place of safety where they can achieve their dreams and reach the
skies. Many of the children hearing that I came to Zambia by plane
want to become airline pilots!
Take
care! With love and prayers,
Chris.
