Differences between South Africa and Zambia and why I needed a vacation, even though I didn’t realize how much I needed it to be out of Zambia

Differences between South Africa and Zambia and why I needed a vacation, even though I didn’t realize how much I needed it to be out of Zambia:

(despite some friends and I talking one day a few months back about how draining it is just to live the day to day in a different culture and country. How I feel like I’m walking a tight rope between what I should be doing and what I want to be doing and even if I think I’m getting the cultural things right - am I really?  How am I perceived?  I have to be doubly careful too because I’m not just representing myself and my family but also Mennonite Central Committee and Canadians and Westerners and who knows what else!)

The Cape of Good Hope (taken from Cape Point: yep - we climbed all the stairs.  Kate especially did great!)

We took the cable car up to Table Mountain!  Andrew walked down  (in 1 hour 15 minutes)

-no mosquito net to tuck in Every Single Night  (That goes for making sure the kids are tucked into theirs too!

-I can wear pants (trousers) or even shorts and a tank top and it’s okay with everyone around me.  

-no skirts (that ties in with the above!)  This one is bothering me the most these days: and I suspect it’s why I never wear a dress or skirt in Canada except when “forced” aka: wedding dress / bridesmaid dress!

-I’m really not as fat as I was thinking I was.  I just realized today that I’m just around a LOT of skinny people (like unhealthy, probably malnourished / on the verge of starving people in Choma). Here I feel at least average.  Same with my kids.  They don’t tower over everyone else and they don’t have to buy clothing 2 sizes bigger than usual.

-McDonald’s - McFlurries and the cheap toys that came with the happy meal = better quality that any toys I find in Choma, 

Oreo McFlurry!

-cheap and good seafood (calamari and mussels), choices of restaurants, a grocery store that I walk around in with bugged out eyes at the selection (I chose: pita bread, salami, strawberries, and peeled baby carrots - all things I can’t get in Choma and maybe not even in Zambia)!  Milkshakes, slushies, a latte that doesn’t come in a cappuccino cup!

-I can be a tourist.  I try in Livingstone when we visit Victoria Falls, but I’m still in Zambia and I’m more aware of the culture no matter if I can pretend to be a tourist, so whether true or not I feel that the Zambian staff and people on the street are maybe thinking about me, my wealth, my capris and (nope - rarely still do I feel comfortable with a tank top on!)

-no one has asked me (begged) for money, talk time, food, or anything since I’ve arrived!

-I couldn’t sleep the night before we left Lusaka - it was too hot to sleep.  Now I’m curled under a thick comforter and all snuggled in and sleeping until whenever the kids will let me. Not being woken up because it’s too hot to stay in bed any longer! (Usually 8am is the most I manage these months in Zambia.  Hopefully the rains have arrived more while we were gone and things can cool down a bit).

-No bugs!  (Well, I think I’ve seen one in the room and a bunch of bees buzzing around a bush at Table Mountain).

-Drinkable water from the tap!  No extra bottles to mess around with when we brush our teeth either.  I even put my razor in my mouth in the shower again!  (I forgot I used to do that)

-I didn’t have to go looking for an item at 5 different stores to finally go home without what I went out for. We went shopping at a toy store and got great toys for the kids.  Also a book store for me.  It was heaven!  I probably spent too much, but when will I get my next chance?!  Also - I tried to buy a pair of boots for Malachi and didn’t have enough cash and I ran my Visa through and “oh no” forgot my pin number.  Like - I have NO clue what even the first number is!  I haven’t used it for over a year (a bit online)!  Gulp.  That’s going to be fun to figure out!

-an ocean!  I miss the ocean.  A lot.  It’s nice to see it (though I must admit I’m too cold to swim in it! It’s been a balmy 25C in the daytime)!  Hopefully it will be warmer in Durban (Indian Ocean).

-Heated swimming pools!  Do you have any idea how cold a pool is when it’s not heated?  Even if it’s 35C (95F) outside?!  Freezing!

-New shoes!  I bought new sandals, flip flops, Kate got new sandals, Malachi got new boots.  Kate’s happened to break while we were in the Lusaka airport.  We did find some very uncomfortable beaded flip flops for $30US, she was a trooper and managed until we got here - I had extra shoes packed.  She got some nice comfortable walking sandals (Crocs) for the same price or less.

-4 lane highways with signs!  It’s been a pleasure driving around here (okay - I’ve been navigating and Andrew’s driving the rental car). We’re used to driving on the left, but the nice divided highways and much fewer crazy drivers passing on 2 lanes has been really nice too.  The “robots” (traffic lights) haven’t fazed us much since they are clear and well marked coming up to them.  And the stop and start traffic - no worse than Lusaka.

-Internet!  Free internet with the room!  :)  I can go on whenever I want and I’m able to keep up with the massive amounts of photos I’ve been taking!  

Our Santa photo for this year!  Who knew
Santa would be at the Cape Town
Aquarium!

A ragged tooth shark at the Cape Town Aquarium  

We went up this ferris wheel at the Waterfront in Cape Town!

Boulders Beach and African penguins were a big hit!

Boulders Beach and African Penguins!

*Tomorrow is Malachi’s 4th birthday.  We’re heading over to Durban area for our MCC regional retreat.  It should be a nice few days relaxing at a place near the beach.  Hopefully it can also serve as the holiday that we’ll need to recuperate from this holiday!  Livingstone with Andrew’s parents was great but when we were done I still felt like I wanted to get away and I needed more vacation.  I think this trip has done that. It’s been good. I think after the MCC retreat I will feel even more ready to continue our work in Zambia with energy and passion.  :)

We celebrated Malachi's birthday a bit early.
Before we left Choma. He got a Francesco cake.
(From Cars 2 movie, though he's only read the book)