August 27, 2010

First working day





I've slept from 9pm to 6.30am non stop until my alarm clock jumped. After having a good breakfast sharing table with the only other guest in the house (a japanese boy), I have followed Edusport suggestions and decided going to work by walking as they say it is not far away. Again:40 minutes walking is to consider not using the word "near" so easily. But I do enjoy this first way, as there are not pavements I keep walking among the trees and stall vendors, many of the local buses come accross blowing claxons (by this they are asking you if you want to get in), as well as the taxis. Most of people even say hello or how are you when you pass close to them. I am enthusiast with my way. Nearby the embassies avenue I walk beside the central prison, and finally I arrive to my office.
Today because it is friday they work only until 12-1pm but musts be special this Friday because also the girls I met yesterday today dont work. I perform my initial assessment by interviewing Sydney in order to have a better understanting of the NGO, the proccesses, weaknesses, current controls, accounting policies, etc. Very profitable meeting :-) From monday the hard work will start! I took some picture with the friday staff. At the end I remind to Michael about my safari plans over the weekend. As he initial said, I shouldn't book the trips I saw in my touristic guide because he would provide me better and cheaper options. He drove me to another travel agency and the officer takes note of my mobile no to phone me later and offering me an option for the weekend...but what a surprise when he phoned me (4 hours later) without suitable options (one trip to Lower Zambezi N.Park without safari walk and me as the only visitor in the guided trip, with one night accomodation,per 770$!). I regret not having purchased the Chachacha offer (half a price, two nights all inclusive). As they cannot offer me anything else for tomorrow (I try to profit my spare time of weekend), I took a taxi straight on to the Zambian tourist board, and when I arrive they had already closed (only 5 minutes before). So no safari plans for this weekend...I feel a little bit frustrated, but second lesson learnt: Change my western mind chip to an african mind one. Not to get stressed by trying to take advantage of all of my time. To Do nothing doesn't mean to waste the time. From tomorrow on, I wont go in a hurry, and will let thing to come alone to me... By the way tomorrow I am meeting Myanda (a zambian AFid volunteer based here). And for today, time is over! I'll come back to my place and pay the internet bill (in the same place where today I enjoyed a big dish of noodles).

9 comments:

  1. Hi Pilar..Im glad you're settling in.. good luck and if you need some local tips Miyanda is the man to trust

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  2. Algo parecido a lo que cuentas de tu safari nos pasó a nosotros en Bali.
    A veces confiamos en las personas que conocemos y por una razón u otra no son la mejor opción.

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  3. Hi Pilar! Am following your blog! Hope you have a great time! Say hello to everyone at Edusport for me! :-)

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  4. Muy interesante Pili!! Tengo ganas de leer las próximas entradas. Espero que disfrutes del finde libre. Besotes!!

    ISTHAR

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  5. Hola Pilareta ! Por lo que veo, estas ya acostumbrada a tu nueva vida ! Me encanta tu habitacion con la bandera ! Post cuando puedas y siempre con fotossss !!! Pero vuelve rapidemente que echo de menos no verte todos los dias frente mio :) bs

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  6. Oliv!!!!!!!!
    Me encanta tú habita,esa bandera de España ondeando en lo más alto de la mosquitera.
    Sé te lee muy contenta e ilusionada, sacando lecciones positivas de todo y viviendo toda una aventura.
    Yo también te echo de menos, pero estoy féliz de verte así.
    un abrazo muy fuerte de Mokinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

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  7. Me encanta!!!!!!! viva Pitiplin!!

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  8. Buenas, que sorpresa verte por África!!! Disfruta mucho, besitos

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  9. Fotos de bichos Pilar! Seguro que los hay por todas las partes.....así ya tienes con que te ocupar permanentemente :) Besos y disfruta!

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