So much to share....

This week has been a whirlwind of activity and change. Besides encountering many "firsts" that have challenged my thinking, I am working on changing the way I write the date (day/month/year), think about time (military), convert to metric, and figure out how to navigate driving on the other side of the road. In all honesty, this has the potential of being a stressful nightmare, but thankfully, it isn't. I have an amazing support team from the school whom has assisted me every step of the way. Furthermore, I am coming to realize that Zambians, in general, are some of the kindest most laid back people you can ever meet. The culture promotes this with an easy-going relaxed attitude. Therefore, if you want to eat out in a timely manner, be prepared to wait much longer than you do in the States. The bonus is that your meal is always served with a pleasant smile and your requests are heard.

Coming from New Hampshire, I anticipated that it would be hot here. Even though I was warned it is the "cool" season, the image of Africa in my mind is HOT, certainly much hotter than New England. Well, that isn't always so. The days are cool and the nights are downright chilly where we sleep in sweatshirts, sweatpants, and socks. I will most likely long for this  weather once the "hot" season arrives in September. Another interesting fact is that the sun sets at 18:00 (6:00) every night. I long for the warm summer evenings where it is light until 21:00 (9:00) but it will never be dark at 16:00!

The landscape is dressed in shades of brown, tan, copper, and reds at the moment. It is a contrast to the green hills and mountains of NH right now, yet it has its own beauty. There are splashes of color among the brown that attract the eye. We went into the "bush" outside of our backyard and there are quite a few blooms on various trees. I hope to begin to learn more about the plant, animal, and bird life while I am here. We have not seen any monkeys yet, but a colleague had one in his yard the other day as well as a large bat which may have been a fruit bat. I greet Africa every morning outside with my cup of coffee but other than a few exotically colored birds, and crows that look like ours except they have a white band on their bellies, I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary. We do have tiny geckos and very large spiders called "flatties" that are literally flat against the wall. They look like stickers they are so flat, but they are harmless and do a lot of good eating the bugs so we leave them alone.

Outside of my backyard

One thing I found fascinating is that the trees appear to be covered in red dirt.

The soil here is the color of terra cotta and looks like it is spreading up the trees. I asked the gardener, Grant, about it and he explained it is tiny ants that create the illusion. The ants take the dirt up the trees and live underneath during the non-rainy season. It does not injure the trees at all. When rainy season comes ( Dec.-April), the ants go back into the ground and cannot be seen. It sounds to me like they are hibernating. If you touch a tree, the soil is fairy think and crumbles to the ground allowing you to see the ants at work. I was told the tiny ants are harmless and do not bite yet the bigger ground ants can deliver a nasty pinch.

There is so much to watch, learn, and explore that we are never bored. Everyone is considerate and welcoming and goes out of their way to be accommodating in all aspects. This mentality truly proves that with a positive mindset and caring support, anyone can achieve anything.
Be well,
Jill .  (Noisy Librarian)

Purpose and intentions

The purpose of this blog is to inform my family, friends, and students of my adventures, thoughts, fears, and feelings regarding my African adventure. Today, I will leave NH, and fly around the world to Zambia to begin a year of teaching in a different school. I have flown very little and have never been overseas, so this will be quite an adventure for me. The intent of the blog is to encourage others to try something new,become a risk-taker, expand your horizons, and look at the world through different perspectives. 

There is a vast difference between "want" and "need" and I am positive that I will encounter situations that change my definitions of these terms. However, my daughter's pre-school teacher used to say to the children, "You NEED friends." She was correct, and I have passed that message on to my students. This simple sentence has been demonstrated time and time again once my journey solidified. My friends and family have been extremely supportive of this undertaking. So many people wanted to just meet and chat before I left that it has left an indelible and positive impression upon me, yes, you NEED friends! There is a lot of good in this world, make sure you spend time with those that help you see this. 

Lastly a disclaimer and a commonality. I am currently writing this on my phone. While I am aware that younger generations are proficient in this skill, I am not, nor do I intend to aspire to that level. I hope to post often and therefore there will be grammatical errors that I will be perfectly aware of after I publish. Forgive me. 

The commonality is in the pictures below. The first photo is of Mt Ascutney; a view I see everyday while driving home. I never get tired of this beautiful view. I have photos of it from every season and various angles. No wonder Maxfield Parrish was inspired here. The second picture was taken by my daughter while in Zambia. It is the Kafue River; another spectacular landscape ( riverscape?). Both of these photos are originals with no touch-ups or filters, both are gorgeous and both have tints and shades of blue that are similar and appealing. Two very different places in the world that share some traits. I will continue to search for commonalities between NH and Zambia while recognizing and valuing differences.

                                          Mt Ascutney late Spring

Kafue River same time

If you choose to follow the blog, feel free to ask questions and I will do my best to answer. 

Be well,

Jill AKA Noisy Librarian