Earthcharter

OK, I admit it, I ate the caterpillar. But that was only part of the fun.

Saturday, 10 July 2010 00:52

OK. I admit it, I ate the caterpillar. But that was only part of the fun. We drove most of the day yesterday to get to Kitwe, the capital of the Copper Belt, and the second largest city in Zambia. We came to meet the Executive Secretary of the Workers Education Association of Zambia, and members of the executive counsel. Kitwe is a large Zambian city, with people teeming everywhere, heading in all directions. We first met Alan, who later confessed to being 69 years old, which is very old for Zambia. He took us on a tour of the local market. We focused mostly on the artistic work, of which the carvings were outstanding. The we went to the hotel where we met up with Mike Chunga, one of the most brilliant and funny people I have ever met. He could just as easily talk world politics in light of the economic challenges, the details of the financial overhaul bill, and then tell stories about growing up in Zambia. Like many of the people we have met, his large family (10 kids at home) was a result of the Zambian belief that they should take care of family. Only 3 of the kids are his, the rest he inherited from his brothers and sisters who have died of AIDS. Despite a 20% AIDS rate, there are very few orphanages in Zambia. Most kids are taken in by relatives. The we went to the WEAZ headquarters to meet with part of the executive counsel. I gave a presentation of the program and what we are trying to accomplish. And then they grilled us! They had so many tough but pertinent questions that we really had to stop and think deeply about many aspects of the program. It turned out to be a productive meeting from which we came away with new ideas and insights. And then, like good Zambians, we partied. Mike led us to a “working class” neighborhood, as opposed to middle class or compound. The roads were very rough, and I cannot imagine how difficult they must be to negotiate after a rain. But we ended up at the home of Elizabeth, a member of WEAZ, who treated us to a traditional Zambian meal. The meal included Nshima, the maize dish which serves like mashed potatoes in our country, several different greens and meat, and, of course, caterpillars. The caterpillars are bought dried, so they must first be soaked in water then deep fried. The texture was crunchy at first, then tough, like beef jerky, and then juicy on the inside. I tried not to think about it. The taste was not bad, but I would not go out looking for the nearest caterpillar restaurant. At dinner I got the chance to talk to one of the founding members of the Freedom Fighters Veterans Association. Edward was an original Freedom Fighter with Kenneth Kuanda, who is the founding father of Zambia. He led me through a history lesson about his tribulations fighting the British, then the Federation, during the early days of Zambia. How did I luck out to meet such historically important people? Zambians we have meet are extraordinary people! They know far more about the world and the political trends than most Americans. They share what they have, although it is sometime embarrassing to think how much easier or better we have it. But we also realize that we are on this trip to change to world with the best partners on earth! Today we spent the entire time driving to Mansa, where I am writing this. The drive was across the high country of Zambia, a hauntingly beautiful place with one of the largest swamps in the world. The brush and trees are mostly empty with settlements scattered in clumps along the road. After 10 hours, we made it! Mansa is a very small town, but very active. We are staying in a lodge in the middle of town that is very contemporary, even though we are the only people here! Tomorrow we leave for the village which is our partner on this quest for the future.

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