Zambian Culture and Traditions

We are blowing and going in Lusaka from early morning until late in the evening.  There is hardly a moment of the day that is not scheduled with some kind of "project".  With 14 schools right in the heart of the compounds, the workload is overwhelming for the missionaries who are opening and running the schools.  Even today, we left the school after a full day of teaching and went to another compound to set up the new classrooms for the students starting school tomorrow.  It is a bright and newly built facility, unlike the one where we are working.  Everywhere we go in the compounds, children surround us with attention and enthusiasm.   I'm in love with the Zambian children!  We have a crew of little ones living next to the school who greet us each morning and every afternoon.  Just today, two of them came to the "door" of their home completely naked (and clean) waving excitedly.  Believe me, I wanted get a "snap" of them on my camera.    

The last few days in the school have been excellent.  The classroom is organized and a reading program is underway.  Irene copies every strategy I model for her and then she asks for feedback after she tries something new.  She's eager and very open to learning different teaching styles.  The children are thoroughly enjoying new classroom materials, including manipulatives and white boards.  I'm soaking in the respectful customs of the students.  Every morning when I come into the room, they stand and say (in unison), "Good morning, madame.  How are you?"  They will stand until I  instruct them to be seated.  If a child is late to class, he or she bows at the door and asks for forgiveness.  The culture in Zambia is very respectful of authority-- women to men and children to adults.  In some ways, they've got it right compared to the Americans. 

The Zambian teachers are so appreciative of everything we do.   The head teacher even commented to the woman organizing the schools, "These teachers are professionals.  It's like we're at the university."  The Zambian teachers and the American teachers are having so much fun together.  During lunch, we engaged  in a lively discussion about the expectations of women in each country.  Zambian women are expected to do everything in the home-- the cooking, washing (in a tub by hand), caring for the children-- after working full-time jobs.  I admitted to them that I would not survive in Zambia.   There was hearty laughter as we compared our cultures. 

Speaking of culture, my eyes are on overload while absorbing all the new sights and experiences.  As we leave the compound  during "rush hour", I'm in awe of all the unfamiliar traditions of the people.  You will see women carrrying everything from bananas/oranges, baskets to  coolers on their heads.  The pedestrian traffic is massive, even on paved highways.  People drive like they're playing the video game Frogger, weaving in and out of cars at high speeds.  Our American host can hold her own with the best of them.  I don't care for riding in the front seat with her and my usual spot is in the way back with all the teaching bags.  Trash cans are nearly non-existent and rubbish is piled by the side of the road.  Poverty is widespread, but there is a colorful, beauty to even the darkest and most depressing compounds.  Life in the compound is covered in dirt, lacking all modern convenience, but it is refreshing to see a quiet peacefulness to those who know no other life.   One of the teachers we work with leaves his house at 6:00 a.m. so that he can walk and arrive at school by 7:00.  He couldn't be more joyful or excited about  the life he lives as a Zambian.  All of the teachers are equally amazing!!  We are very blessed by this opportunity to work with them.