Day: March 9, 2009

Long trip indeed. Portland to Minneapolis–2 plus hours. Short trip no problems checking luggage. Security must have relaxed in the new days of Obama though maybe if you are headed out of the country, white, and older than 60 no one really cares about  assessing your potential.

With no trouble I found my new gate. I was soon on a 747 on my way to Amsterdam. My earlier feeling of going through the birth canal while heading to the Portland Airport had dispersed. Fortunately I had spent time with Nick and Megan on Sunday. They kept me busy. Trev took me to the airport and made a last minute dash to Portland Teacher’s Credit Union (now OnPoint) to get 1 dollar bills as there is very little change in Zimbabwe. I am happy that I did. Trev suggested $50. Good guess, Trev.

All of time sequences will be confused here as I am trying to text message from my phone to Nick so he can post to the blog. My e-mail doesn’t work from here near Arcturus, Zimbabwe. My call would be $4.99 a minute even if the reception were good.

While I am gazing at the night walls here at Bushbaby lodge, I am noticing the wall decorations, different sized spiders that seem like they belong to the wall and yet they move around. And yes, Rosalie, I saw one the size of a minidisc. At first I thought you were exaggerating. Ha!

Thanks to the spiders in the daylight basement in Ashland, including hobo and Black Widow spiders, I have come to accept these lovely weavers into my life. Though thanks for the warning, Rosalie, so I could call these night dwellers the weavers that they are and not call them “fear.” I will bring home photos to share.

I have many more impressions from airports, Amsterdam, Nairobi, and Harare and of the wild ride thought the roads to Bushbaby lodge making 4 lanes out of 2. This reminded me of the sometimes wild rides in Europe that Trev’s dad and I took in 1971. Without Jim’s stellar driving, I wouldn’t be in Africa today.

I do believe that the trip will be life changing.

Cathy picked me upat the Harare airport  and I gave her the most grateful hug imaginable.  Jan, the owner is not back from a trip to Kenya.  He is a soil scientist working for the UN. He travels extensively in sometimes dangerous areas to help set up projects that support growing crops.  Cathy is his partner at Bushbaby.

Riding was a little hairy.  Steering wheels are on the right. We drive on the left side of the road. The stop lights are out so every man/woman for himself/herself at an intersection.  On the country roads, pedestrians and school children scatter as the vehicle plows forward.  There are 2 designated lanes of traffic but someone wanting to pass might tailgate and eventually carve out a new lane down the middle.  There are potentially 4 lanes, one might be in the gutter.  Help.  Cathy is a good driver so I didn’t feel like crawling on the floor and hiding my head though a little quick on the passing.  I was happy that all the pedestrians had good karma.

Sent from my iPhone

The posted schedule for the 2 weeks in Zimbabwe are as follows.

Feb 14 Patience talks on Shona Culture and teaches hosho and dancing.
Feb 15. Renold and Caution Shonai teach N’hai Baba
Feb 16 practice day and walk
Feb 17 Gift Rushinbwa Shumba in Nimutimu style. Gandanga
Feb 18 practice day–to town
Feb 19 Newton Gwara teaches Mbirimo
Feb 20 Practice day prepare for trip to Dzivaguru
Feb 21 Leave early for Dzivaguru
Feb 22 Leonard Chiyanike teaches a special version of Nyama musango
Feb 23. Practice day
Feb 24 Endiby Makope teaches Chigawaya
Feb 25 Trip go Chinoyi (Patience’ town)
Feb 26 Frank and Mose Mude teach a version of Nhemamusasa
Feb 27 Practice day email gift shopping
Feb 28 Last day mbira party which includes all of the above plus Tute Chigamba, Irene Chigamba, Fradeck Mujuru, Sam Mujuru, and Endiby and Patience’ brother Kelvin and of course, Denver.