So I have decided to join the world of blogging, which is pretty scary but I thought it would be the best and simplest way to keep you all informed back home.

I have now been in Zambia for a week although it feels like a lot longer and I already feel at home here which I wasn’t expecting to happen so soon. It hasn’t been as big a culture shock as I expected and in general I feel pretty settled.

The biggest surprise out here is the massive sense of community, the grounds where I am living is called Kaniki and it has a Bible University college, lots of houses for the staff, a playschool, a swimming pool, loads of huge ant hills (taller than me!) and of course the new primary school, all of which is within about a 3minute walk of each other. Everyone on the Kaniki grounds is so friendly and automatically accepts you as part of their family. At the moment all the uni students are away on holiday but will be back in 2weeks so I think it will be a bit louder and more chaotic then.

So far I have been getting to know the area, trying to learn the language, Bemba, (which I’m really struggling with) and getting to grips with what needs to be done for the school. In terms of the school which is called Kapumpe, the plan is for us to start teaching our children with some nursery aged children in the playschool on site, as they will be coming in with no English whatsoever! We will try to get them up to a basic level from September to December, where we will be teaching them from 8-12 every morning and in the afternoons we will be preparing the school ready for an official start in January. The school build should be completed by the end of September and then we will be able to paint it and sort out resources and make it look like a real classroom in the afternoons. We have already started painting some boxes to go in the class so I’ve had to try and get in touch with my creative side. At the moment it seems like a huge task and a little overwhelming but also very exciting and I really can’t wait to meet the children.

Other things I’ve been up to…going for swims, 3km run at 6.30 in the morning (might not be attempting that again!) sewing some curtains for my room and story bags for the school, reading lots, went to church on Sunday (3 and a half hour service!) went to a meeting run by the Zambian students which was very loud and interesting to see that they find almost everything funny and helped to finish painting a design on the wall outside the school. On Saturday we are going to a game park called Nsobe to relax a bit and have a braai.  

At the moment there isn’t that much to report but I will try and update the blog weekly. I now have internet on my Ipad so I can Skype and face time. I am still trying to get my phone sorted so Facebook or email is probably the best way to contact me if you want to. I will hopefully be able to upload some photos to Facebook soon.

That’s all for now.