levart - the art of returning

When someone talks about travellig, we automatically think of going somewhere.  We don't often think of what goes out generally has to return.  It seems that after the halfway point of your time away, some part of your brain starts a countdown to the day you leave / return.  The homing call is heard and it seems you must answer.

One way of lessening the call is to try harder to do nothing... a sort of state of inertia.  Many seem to attain this state.  Look at the menber of couch potatoes in North America.  another way it to do the exact opposite.  Immurse yourself so fully into a project that time stands still.  (Shopping does not really  do it for me .... time just feels that it has stopped).  For me a good hands on problem works well.

But, and there is always a but,  eventually you come aburtly out of time warp.  Either the project coms to some conclusion or some spoilsport is tugging om you and telling you that you have to get packed...now!

Goodbye pineapples and sun.   Goodbye dust and wierd project.  Hello, all the mundane things that make up a "normal" life

Deja Vu or coming "home"

Returning to places of your past is totally different from touristing in new lands.  There is always the fact that places like people change over time but some places are like best friends.  The years may take a toll but despite the laugh lines and age spots, a friend is always the same.  You can just pick up where you left off.

I have found that SakejiSchool and its surrounding is that old friend.  Both of us have more wear and tear but its is a home.  That comfortable feeling that you are still accepted by the place.  Of course any "home" has great memories and other memories that may be on the sad side.

And the people of Africa retain their memories better than DVD's!  "Ah please sir, do you remember me?  I was the one who .....    "  The fact that they were 14 or 15 at the time and it was 16 years ago, does not seem to matter to them.  On the other hand, my memory is a lot less  efffcient (and accurate).

But the Northwest province of Zambia is a place that has enfolded our family and there is a draw that is felt, especially when travelling.  Of course there is also the draw of the regular "home" and family.  Too many draws but I love them all.

What lights up NWP?

Part of travelling is enjoying the places you arrive at.  If it is the remote spot that many people "wish" for, there can be definite benefits.  One of these is not being able to post because the service is toos low or spotty or...   The down side is when you do get the opportunity to post, you have to remember your last thought train.  In my case, the train was definitely derailed.

Northwest Zambia is an amazing place, especially in the rainy season.  I had forgotten the sheer power and majesty of the thunder storms and rain.  And the magnitude of the lightning eradicating the darkness.  Images that can never really be caught on film or video but has to be felt in person.  Worth the trip alone. 

And the fruit.   Pineapples to die for.  In some ways, you're not really eating a pineapple unless the juices are running down you chin.  A little hard on the clothes though.  Eaten with some of those sweeet bananas that you just can't get back home.   (A little of both keeps you regular!).

Better enjoy them while I can because I can't take them home with me.  At least not enough to last more than a day or two.

Travelling for fun

Travelling is best enjoyed cold, or after the fact. Travelling, as opposed to being in exotic locales, is not high on the best moments list.  But later, in looking back, there are hours of humour and reminiscing in most travels.  Like trying to explain to security why you are travelling with 3 laptops/notepads not to mention several bags of chips with the air let out.  Then there is the airline check in personnel who have very perplexed looks as to why a ski-bag would be going to Zambia.

Of course, when you are tired, many things are skewed.  What do you say to flight attendants who have decided that they like you, so much that they check you at least every hour to see if you need anything?  The arrival of real shortbread and chocolate along with tea brewed to your specifications does take the edge off the fact that it is the middle of a 13 hour night flight and you have not really slept for 24 hours.  Maybe the fact that the goods are from first / business class energizes you.

There is also the humour of your flying mates.  You have to laugh about the fact that in one row all the passengers are female Twiggies while you seat mate makes your 6 foot 250 pound frame look like the 90 pound weakling needing a fitness centre. Of course you must maintain your seat during takeoff because of balance.  Let’s see, 610 pounds on the right and 160 pounds on the left.  Yep, that appears to be a balanced equation.  Oh well, you must admit some of the airlines math is very good.  Just check ticket and meals prices.

So smile through your lost and sometimes brutalized luggage woes because you may find the humour at a later date.

Foreign Currency

Foreign Currency is really that.  It is foreign.  When travelling though, as opposed to in, other conutries, the best way to pay is with their cash.  AMkes sense until you try to determine how much cash do you need? After all, the money chnagers (shades of the NT) are there to take your money and put it in their pockets.  Tou pay them to give and you pay them to take!  Now UK is sort of easy.  Figure out what you would spend at a Canadian Airport in $ and then add 10% and that is the pounds.  But euros?  Do you need more and or less than?  Of course, if your final destination is EUR then go Euros.  You can always takes US $ but that may give the impression that you are Amercian.  If you are then great, if not you need to wear a maple leaf!  Then there are the currecies that no one has outside of the country.
Reminds me of Zimbabwe many years ago.  You were not allowed to bring in a lot of foreign currency is cash and could only bring in about $50 Z.  The currecny exchange at Vic Falls was about 2 miles from the border, the insurance place was about 1/2 mi.  You had to get Zim insurance before driving in the country and it cost $100Z.  They only took $Z but legally you could not bring in more than $50Z.  You get the picture.

Best part of travel is shopping with foreign currecies (multiple) and teying to do the conversions in your head.  It will cost me some many $ Cdn or euros and I can get it in Rand cheaper elsewhere but possibly they will give me a deal if I pay in ...

In the meantime, remember the amount of credit card thefts and fraud.    Oh my head aches

r

Counting....

I'm into the counting period.   Counting down the days to starting travel.  Counting up the ways it can go wrong.  Counting down the items that still need to be packed.  Counting up the items that appear will not fit into the suitcases.  Counting down the number of people to contact before I leave.  Counting up the number of people to contact after I leave.

I am always amused about the number of items that appear when your suitcase is full.  And they are all absolutely positively no other way about it items that HAVE TO GO!!!  Of course, you know that somewhere near the bottom of the packing are some optional items. Nice to have but you can do without.  So the problem is do you just sit on the suitcase to close it after adding the latest whatever  or do you sift through the packing so that when the zipper is closed it isn't gnashing it's teeth at the strain.

Well back to the necessities.  How many rolls of TP does one need?  Does one assume that everything is going to be regular?

r

Scary Stories

Isn't it amazing that just after you planned your trip, someone close to you will show up with some story or statistic about where you are going.  Of course, it will paint, in grim terms, a major deterent to travel in that area.  something like ....  there are more deaths by malaria in the area than anywhere else in the continent.  Or the incidents of malaria in the area is 103% of the population.  Does that mean that there are at least 3 vistors for every hundred people in the area?  That may be more of a deterent that malaria, overpoulation of American tourists!  Sorry Americans  ;(

Kidding aside, do those of us who have the privilege of going to other parts of the world, take for granted what we are leaving behind...?  Do we lightly go, in one sense, expecting that we will not be affected or that we may not affect or infect others?  Maybe I should leave some space in my suitcases for more aspirins, band-aids, antibotic creams and (gasp!) sunscreen.

I think I'm getting nervous.  Not sure if it is the excitement of going, the fear of taking on too large a project (for me) or the realization that I will not be with the best girl in the world on this trip.  Not that IS a deterent. I  Love U   KK

expanding suitcases

In packing to go on a trip longer than a week, what do you really want to take?  Amazingly, snack foods, although desired, seem to have a lower priority than say undies and socks.  Now some might say socks are a useless item and sandals are the things.  Howevr, I have worked on steel roofs in the sun without good footwear.  If you ever wondered how shoe leather is made, I know! It is just sun baked (or perhaps fried is a better word) sole.

What I always find interesting is after you have chosen your basic wardrobe, someone always makes a strong point for just.. one.. more.. item, a necessity!  Of course, that same person will also be the one to point out that people go into space with less luggage.  Then there are the other items.   I wonder if the school will kick me out if I don't shave at all?  The Yeti returns.  Stuff multiplies.  I stored my goods and clothes in a suitcase when I was gathering up the trip.  Yet despite squashing the clothes and stripping off plastic, I'm already on the way to 3...  and two weeks to go.

Wanting go, really??

As I have been wandering around trying to pick up odd stuff (like stuff that isn't sold or made any more), I generally get asked why not just get it re-built or why not get the extended warranty, etc.  When I explain that the batteries are several thousands miles away and so will any goods that i buy, there also seems to be the response, "OH isn't that nice!".  Occasionally the response is "someone (either their wive or child or anyone but them) has been looking on the Internet to find place that they can go for a short trip and make a DIFFERENCE".    Whoever this person is would like to find some nice safe (preferably warm and sunny) spot where the "natives" are crying out for anyone to come and so some simple task, like ladle out water or hand them a package of clothes.  The result would be swarms of happy people mobbing them in thanksgiving.  Of course, the next question is generally how to do find the trip, etc.

My tongue is scarred from biting back retorts and my smile seemed pasted on at times.  How does on graciously explain that most areas of need are spots where the Canadian Government don't want you to go?  That the jobs are often hot, dirty, smelly and generally take some knowledge and skill.  What does one say to explain that it is a not game where you pick and choose when and how you would like to spend your time.  If you are motivated and not regulate, you will work until you almost drop and then do some more.  That although there is gratitude there can also be hostility.

Working in a third world country is exciting ('cause you never know what is going to happen) and fulfilling (although not always with gourmet food).  When you do it because you love God and therefore others who love Him, the experience is out of this world.  But it is not for the faint of heart or of faith.

r

Gearing Up

Thought I would start to follow myself in what travels the Lord takes me on in a physical sense.  Just less than 2 weeks before packing the bags and heading southeast.  Hope it mostly sunny, ’cause I’m not taking much in wet weather gear,  In fact, that always seems to be the biggest problem on these trips.  What to take, in a sartorial sense.  The main gear, I generally have no problem in working out.  Tools are tools and basically a few can go a long way.  Although, if the funds were there I would definitely  be taking some improved models.   But then again sometimes the basic stuff is better.  It is not so frustrating to have a cheap tool break.  Now and expensive one...  that cause ballistic reactions.

No, its the style of clothes or perhaps more the type as styles are beyond me. (Thanks goodness for the women in the family).  Do I do bwana casual in shorts and gold shirts, or colonial correct in long pants and collared shirts or my usual style (whatever fits and is clean at the time).  Choices are critical because jeans weigh 5 times a pair of shorts and dry a lot slower.  However, less sun burn with long pants.  Then again, perhaps I can raid a mission box and hope some large American male chipped in, or an extra large asian gentleman.

Of course, my other problem is what to take in electronics. I usually hate to carry the laptop because it is one more thing to lose or break.  Not an unusual thing with me.  And of course, earphones which I generally tie in knots.  No e-reader so I have to make do with a book or 5 (long flights and even longer airports).  I wonder what genre I should take.  Perhaps I need to create the top ten series that one can take on long trips.  Actually two, one to keep me awake and the other to put me to sleep.  That one can be a much shorter series.... romance maybe

r