Not Any Given Sunday

Today I awoke to a grey sky and no plans - it didn't seem like it was going to be a very special day... But, it turned out to be a fabulous one, which is always a nice surprise. This morning I was busy putting around the house, eating Mel's amazing quiche, and enjoying having internet access at home!!! This afternoon Mel let me zip around town on the bike she just got from VSO - it felt great to be bombing down the nearly-empty Sunday streets of Lusaka, and not to hear the shouts of Taxi! Taxi! as I went!! I then went to Francesca's flat for a gorgeous Sunday roast lunch and a DVD - what luxuries!

This evening, I was a very proud Auntie as I attended the annual Christmas Concert at the St Ignatius Catholic Church near my house. My nieces and nephews, Niza, Beauty, Yolanda, Diana and Hammy, insisted that I come to see them sing, and although I wasn't feeling quite up to it with all the things I need to prepare for Mozambique and all the work I have to finish before I go, I'm certainly glad I went. Let's just say there's nothing like a church full of young Zambian voices singing Christmas carols to get you in the Christmas spirit, or even bring a tear to your eye, if you are me! It was just what I needed after a few stressful weeks, and I was overwhelmed with the spirit of Christmas that filled the air of the Church, especially when the whole congregation broke into clapping and dancing for Hark the Herald Angels Sing.... As I left the Church and walked home with my young friends, I did miss the cold nip found in the night air at Christmas time in Canada, but I can still say it finally feels like Christmas here in Zambia.


As well as being a very proud Auntie today, I was also a very proud friend. Proud of my friend Sam, who painted the most amazing picture for Mel and I. He worked on it all day today, and even though I kept running to his place to sneak peeks at it, when it was finished he made me walk ten feet in front of him because he didn't want me to see it until we got to our flat! I am just blown away at how amazing it is, and what an amazing gift it was for him to paint it for us (he refuses to let us pay him!). He currently doesn't sell any of his artwork, because he had a bad experience with someone that took advantage of him and sold his paintings for a profit he never saw any of, but I think I have convinced him to give it another go.

Feeling so proud of the people in my life here makes me feel very much a part of the life of my community. That can be a hard thing to achieve when living in a foreign country, so I know I am very fortunate to feel this way tonight.