The flight

I finally got a stable Internet connection to publish a few first posts from “Zed”.

My trip was slightly long and a bit tiresome but thankfully without any major hiccups.

All the flights arrived on time and the long haul flight across the ocean took even less time than expected (11 as opposed to 13 hours).

I got to meet several nice people on each of the flights. From RDU to DC, it was a man from the Seychelles who came to North Carolina for a crime investigation workshop. From Addis to Lusaka, I sat next to a Zambian lady who was coming back from China. We had a very good conversation about Western perceptions of Africa, political correctness as Americans know it and as Africans know it (in regards to race), our families and aspirations. It gave me an opportunity to evaluate my expectations for this summer and beyond.

My favorite plane ride was from DC to Addis where I sat next to two young ladies (8 and 10 years old) and their dads who were in the row next to us. They were traveling to Addis for a visit of a community center for orphaned and homeless children that is being supported by their ministry (downlineministries.com). It's a wonderful project; the workers train the young children to be leaders in their local community and help bring street kids into a safe environment at their center. We called the journey a sleepover; we had the whole row to ourselves, played games, watched movies and talked about anything and everything. Before we ever took off, their dads promoted me to the function of a nanny. Needless to say, none of us got to sleep for more than maybe half an hour. Both the girls were adorable, and I really hope I can keep in touch with them to hear about their impressions and stories from Addis.

                                                               The sleepover trio!

One annoyance of the trip, however, was that I didn’t find my luggage in Lusaka. Three days after arriving, I still don’t have my bags. Being in a hurry and a bit angry at having to pay $70 for my second bag despite the fact that I should have been allowed to carry two pieces, I left the baggage slips at RDU airport by mistake. That means that I don’t have the bags’ reference numbers and they can’t easily trace them. I am relying on prayers and the hope that some Good Samaritan at one of the three airports will venture into the Lost and Found and discover my two lost suitcases.

Although 46kg lighter, I arrived at Lusaka’s airport safe and sound. Munty et al. (it really was a big team) met me at the airport after I got through the long immigration line and filled out paperwork for my lost bags. I was tired but incredibly happy that my summer (or rather winter) was officially kicked off as the plane touched the ground at Kenneth Kaunda Intl Airport.

 

                                                   Munty, Mundia and the worn-out Mia