Lumwana 23.3.12

We arrived exhausted, hot and sweaty with 4 suitcases and an overnight bag. Who knows when our freight will be able to leave Perth, as Phil has to get his work permit before they will send it over.

We were deposited at the door with no keys and of course the house was locked. We wondered up to the gates, which is where you find the mess, take-away shop, house services and phone cards. Finally we had our keys and were able to explore our new home. Just like the photos. We unpacked whilst being bombarded by locals wanting to work for us. Either as a cleaner or gardener.  The garden needs a lot of work, we will definitely need a gardener full time for quite a while.

Michelle, whom I had been e-mailing over here arrived with a couple of others with a hot dinner for us. It was lovely to meet them, and as the only other food in the house was a frozen chook and vegetables, it was great to get an already cooked meal. It was then time for bed.

On Saturday we busied ourselves with sorting out the essentials. We walked to the bank, went to the hardware store next door and bought a second hand TV and arranged for satellite installation and also internet connection at the same store. We then walked to the supermarket and bought some necessities and on the way home I purchased a sim card. Not bad for a mornings work in a new town. The supermarket is very basic, but I have been told the one in Solwezi stocks a lot more.

That afternoon, I noticed a group of people playing at the park, which is just a few houses down from us. Tom and I headed down to meet them. We then went back for Phil and Laura, once she was awake. So we’ve met quite a few people and some kids already. We met Sandra who has only been here a day more than us, her husband several weeks, but it is nice to know someone so “new” as well. Our TV arrived and was installed I think in record time.

This morning I went to Solwezi for the first time. Sandra and her husband Greg have a car and they kindly took me in for some shopping. How do I describe it? The drive takes about an hour over mostly sealed roads, with many a large pothole. You have to pass a security unit on the way out and let them know where you are going and for how long. Once on the main road on both sides, you pass small villages and homes. They are typically mud brick with thatched roof. The road sides have people walking or riding in both directions. Sunday being church day, most are dressed up, men in suit and tie, women in bright skirts and tops. As we had a lot of rain last night, a couple of inches or so, there is mud everywhere. Piles of charcoal line the road as well as the backs of bikes. Tomatoes and sweet potatoes also are for sale on the sides as well.

Solwezi itself is very different to what I expected. The township that I saw consists of a lot of street vendors, selling off plastic sheets or from wooden shops, no bigger than Mr Whippy’s van. The shops that were there, look abandoned. Mud and potholes Tom and Laura would have a ball in, everywhere. Then there is Shoprite! What a wonderful place in all this mud. The ice-cream selection is amazing. Unfortunately, we do not have our Engel here yet, so we only looked with salivating mouths. They have a fairly good selection, not IGA or Woolworths worthy, but pretty good. We learnt that Sunday morning is a good shopping day, which is always good to know.

Phil starts work tomorrow.  I hope he enjoys it. He has a lot of inductions to do before he begins his real ‘job’.

Thoughts so far, people seem very friendly and I think we will be ok and enjoy it here.