Time in Lusaka again......

On the bus to come down to Lusaka, I was making phone calls 0n the replacement of fingerling to be delivered, I even step out of bus when it stopped at Musaila and I saw Ba Annabella and her son were waiting for the delivery at the road side.....

Told them not to worry, that all be there soon enough....when bus was close to Kasanka I've got Annabelle's text that all fingerling arrived so all was fine.....

 

From there I was totally relaxed for out of my post and out of my volunteer duties.....

watching the trucks on the road, even paid attention to the signs on the truck.....

had being seeing all kinds of signs on vehicles, but this one had those "no cell phone", "no smoking" (of course, this was a fuel delivery truck) but no food - the cross on a fork and plate???? This was new to me.

Close to Lusaka, there were huge farms with all these production going on, like those I saw in Spokane, WA..... 

The stadium that has being building by Chinese crews looked like about to be completed. 

This time in town I had been arranged with a homestay at Dr. Marum's home again for the first weekend.  Christine a RPCV from Eastern Province was with me and she was there to meet her mother coming from CA. 

Dr. Marum treated us his favorite Apple pan cake, that was really delicious.....

the same as when Bob was at his house in November.......

 

Saturday morning, Dr. Marum has drum instructors coming to play the drums and we were all invited, Barbara came too.

It was so fun.  Wished that I can attach a small clip to show you how I had felt been touched by the African cultural for the first time........Thanks to Dr. Marum.

Sunday Barbara treated me to a local garden and gift shop with restaurant for branch... 

Than I was placed at Mogal Guest house for all COS paper work till my departure on May 10th.

 May 8, 2013 we had a combined "Ring Out" ceremony, me and other three RPCVs who I didn't know before this event...... 

Lots of officers came to say good things we did in the services..... 

Officially I am out of Peace Corps from the moment I hit that ring......... 

After ceremony, Ba Cleopher at the right and Ba Fraser at the left wanted a picture with me....and I want it the same too.... 

I want a picture with PCVs Barbara and Beth too, before they had to go back to their desks......

 

I will be in Lusaka till May 10th, 21:20 to fly out to Kathmandu a week and Kunming for two weeks, be arrive in Seattle on May 31st........

 

When I am back home at Seattle, do I continue this postings??? 

Or, might see you all at    cheng@???

Kind of ending my blog so loosely, but I do not know what I will do at this point of time.....

 

.Best regards to you all and thank you all for following my blog for all these time.

 

Cheng 5/8/2013

 

Mansa, the last time.......

In Mansa, I took Annabelle, Chris and Yasakwa PCVs Taj and Qamar to PLARD, on one hand I want to repeat one more time for PLARD continue helping Yasakwa and Makasa farmers, on the other hand I had to make sure that dead fingerling from last Tuesday will to be replaced. 

YES, all were all so kind and promised to deliver them on Wednesday, May 1st - the day I am leaving for Lusaka.

 

The night we had the last Chinese dinner at the new Director Dr. & Mrs. Steel's home -  the same house that Dr. & Mrs. Jonnson were staying in their two year term in Mansa.

Mrs. Steel has just arrived in Mansa for five days. 

House maid - Ba Prudence is still working there and helped on the dinner preparation and clean up the same as before.  Thanks to her efficiency. 

Dr. Stevens, the new Agra-Finance Director, has replaced Dr. Jonnson.

Dr. Steel, new PLARD Director, replaced Ba Eero.

Dr. Abila, my all time help came from, for my farmers, PLARD's Agua-Business Director. He is staying for another two years. 

Ba Chiti of DOF Provincial and his wife, all fingerling for my farmers in both communities were all from his breeding pond at Ifiyongoli.

 

At the dinner I was asked if I have anything wished to do before I leave Luapula.....

"YES."

How I have wished to see the school at Lukali for the last time before I go!!!!

 

Dr. Steel turned to his wife and said, "How would you like to have a drive out around?"

The answer was "Good, that will be nice to have a little seeing around here."

I thought it was PLARD's vehicle to take both me and Mrs. Steel there. 

It was Mrs. Steel driving her own vehicle to take me there......How can I thank her enough!!!.....

 

On the trip in, I felt better when she told me that they spent 20+ years in many countries in Africa, but the road to Lukali was still not for the normal driving even in Africa standards....

Good that she has the heavy duty off road vehicle.

 

See, there is the road that any taxi wouldn't able to come.....

Hmm.....what could there be under these tall grasses.......no room for flat tires here.......or anything other than that....no cell phone coverage here....... 

Closer to school the road had been maintained better. 

Here we are finally.... 

Talk and talk and talk.....about to have a sign of the school named as

"Lukali Cheng Community School"......

No, No, NO. This was not I am trying so hard to have come in and out here for. 

 

I want you all go and use up the money 40,000 KR that had appreciated for your school by your government.  Please hurry, and do not tell me another time "This case is closed."

I have no transportation to come up till now, and I am leaving Zambia, can't come any more times.

Use Up The Money Is There For Your Kids, Education and Their Future!!!   

 

 

Thanks to Mrs. Steel that she patiently taking pictures and notes.... 

This foundation was done in late 2011......now it is April 2013.... 

Can't say anything more......I brought out the books from Kathy's causon, Bobbi and few toy and books from Carmen and Mark......for the kids in Lukali School..... 

Time to go...... 

On the way out, Mrs. Steel said quietly, "I think, I will come visit them again.".....

Thank you, thank you and thank you.....as you see these people need some outsiders to come push them forward at all times.......

Lukali children, I wish you all the best and learn to stand up for your own selves as

lesson number one.

PLEASE.

 

Cheng  5/8/2013

 

April 28, 2013 my farmers gave me a farewell party.....

In the morning, I was still checking fingerlings from all ponds that had received them last Tuesday.....When I got home, I found next door old lady was having some other lady farmers to dig out groundnuts that she had planted, while Bob was visiting last November...She was sitting at the side in black with big smile on her face....... 

It was a great harvest to my knowing.......... 

 

Just remembered that earlier that day, my youngest farmer - Ba Dimus and his sister were chasing after my bike wanting to give me these groundnut from his garden......nice kids, and YES I have accepted it all with my camera and my heart......

I am leaving Makasa to Mansa the next day, what can I do about all these......... 

Thanks, Ba Dimus and the sister.

 

14:00 hours the farmers started coming to my insaka and food items started to show up... 

It was hot in the afternoon sun.......I hang up chart papers around my insaka..... 

my embroidery groups came, only the same girl who had two project done before this day, she gave me her latest and larger piece of work......thank you, my dear girl. 

Ba Dimus was waiting at side to give me his thank you letter to me and another letter to mail to Spokane that he wanted to be a pen pal with Bobbi........till the last day I was there!!!.....well, better than none, I guess. 

 

Another fish farmer gave me her piece of embroidery work.....thank you, Ba Paggie......

Oh, the name was short with a "g" at the end, someone said....... 

No problem, the Mom fixed it right up.......no matter how old you are, a Mom is always behind it all.....no differences in Africa........

My latest jointed in farmer, Ba Annabelle Mataka with her son Chris.....they show up late at my time in Makasa, but they picked up the interests in integration farming and their work forces in all were stronger than all other groups. 

Ba Annabella had been in a bus accident and lost her left arm.  She is 10 years younger than I am, 100% of energy, happy at all times and positive actions in all directions.

In Twatasha group members, there were a Mom and a son and the daughter in law, they gave me a wood carved fish and a dried up squash painted with design to be used for drinking cup...... 

I wished to be able to post few clips of their dancing and singing for me and had me in, around and around with all of them too......

 

we sat inside insaka, lots kids sat outside in shades........  

Rachel, Joe and Tiana came with their home made cookies to treat me and my farmers....

Thank you all, Rachel, Joe and Tiana. 

 

After the three left before sun went down, I spread out what I can't bring home to all...... 

Sun went down quick and instantly getting dark here.....not much margin in between.....   

Quickly, I put all into squares on the chart paper and everyone drew a number to it......the headman was mad at me for I didn't treat him special.......he didn't face me or talk to me for the rest of the evening.....

but the next morning, when Ba Annabelle and her son came to drive me to Mansa, the headman came and a few neighbors came to say Good-Bye too.........so me and the headman were in good terms again....... He was in the white cap.....

Bye, my home for the past year and my close villagers...... 

Let me have another closer look, one more time........

 

Thank you all, and Bye-Bye, my dear Makasa Communities.......

 

Cheng   5/8/2013