Solwezi

^This is the way most people ride to Solwezi. 

There were 26 people crowded in the back of the little truck.

On Monday I took the day off school to make a trip to Solwezi with Anja, Fynn and Elese to get our visas fixed up for the remainder of our time here.

We left at 7am and did not get home til 9 that night! As we drove along the (mostly) bitumen road, I stared out the window. This is the real Africa. On one side I see a small village, a dozen women gathered around a bore, collecting water. On the other are hitch hikers signalling for a ride. We are full, but not to the Zambian – no one is sitting on someone else’s lap or is half sticking out the window.  Every kind of construction or dwelling that we pass is made from grass, sticks, or mud. Everything. Smoke is in the air from the constant burning of fields and half the ground is black. We can always see Zambians walking along the edge of the roads. I wonder if some of them are walking the whole way to Solwezi. It’s the only way they have to get around, and especially out here where the people are poorer. More than a few times we come scarily close to hitting a goat wandering on the road. The animals here are not very used to cars. 

 Jeff, area director of SIM, was our driver and helped us get things sorted throughout the day.  We had to go to Immigration a couple of times to get our visas extended, but it all worked out well and they gave me a few extra than the 90 days which will save me a lot of trouble when I fly out. In between we found a post office, did some grocery shopping at the big Shoprite and a few other errands. Solwezi  is a one-road town with shops either side for a few kms. As I walked along to the accompaniment of wolf whistles and offers of friendly young men Anja and I had a strange experience; a woman who we thought was just passing us, joined our threesome and suddenly grabbed first Anja’s, then my hair. No words, just messing up and playing with my hair. Some people are very fascinated with the difference in texture and length I guess…

Driving in Africa is well , interesting! You have to think quickly and be good at manoeuvring your vehicle. We had a very near accident on the way home when a large truck drove towards us on our side of the road. I think none of us breathed for 10 seconds, it was so scary! We’re so thankful God saved us from injury and that we arrived home.

I look forward to sometime taking a bus to Solwezi as I’ve heard it’s quite the cultural experience; maybe not quite so much room as the car!