The 14th was technically our second day in Zambia, but it felt more like our first because we were pretty jetlagged when we got in and didn't really leave the campus/compound of the local college we're staying at. After learning a little bit about health and safety in Zambia, we began our scavenger hunt.
The scavenger hunt was a really good way to gt to know Lusaka. The public transportation system here is sort of crazy. You basically flag down a blue van (only on Sundays- apparently traffic during the week is too ridiculous to get on one if you value your life) and hope it takes you where you're trying to go. Your options are basically north or south, but we still managed to end up on one that took an entire loop around the area to drop off the driver's wife and baby. You never know what you're going to get.
I really liked the girls from the University of Zambia we were paired with in our group, and I was shocked to learn that both of them had lost both of their parents already. They also talked a lot about how common extramarital affairs and gender based violence are, and that was really hard to hear. I can't imagine living somewhere where I didn't have the ability to get a divorce without being shunned by my family and blamed by my community. Still, the scavenger hunt was a great way to get to know Lusaka. It's everything I imagined it would be. The streets are bustling with people, and nobody is shy to say hello. I can't imagine trying to navigate the city on my own, as transportation is a little crazy, and having everybody trying to hustle you in a van crowded with people at once is a little overwhelming. All in all, it was a great day, and I am super happy to be in Lusaka. I can't wait to learn more about my service learning placement, which I start first thing in the morning.
