Arrived in one piece...more-or-less!

I arrived in Zim a few days ago, Monday to be exact. And although I arrived in one piece, not all of my things did! Having spent a fortune (small fortune!!) on excess baggage at Cape Town International Airport (did they seriously expect me to get all my things down to 23kgs??!!) my bags arrived in tatters at Johannesburg International. You can imagine my horror when I grabbed my bag and saw my degree and other important documents hanging out through holes in the fabric!! I was on my way to "real Africa" and already my luggage looked like it had been mauled by wild animals!

However, the luggage damage was not without its perks - they quickly gave me a new suitcase (far superior to my canvas bag, I might add) and sent me off with instructions that I was not to pay any additional excess baggage charges! So after wiping some hemp foot lotion off my new high heels, and hurriedly repacking all my things into another fancy suitcase, I made my way to the departure lounge and - much shopping later - was off to Zimbabwe.

Again, I'm not organized enough yet (technology-wise...and that's another story completely!) to get my photos uploaded, but as we passed over Kipling's "great, grey, green, greasy Limpopo river" I marveled at how the river creates a natural carving through the dry earth and divides South Africa from Zimbabwe. I also thought about all those desperate Zimbabweans who risk their lives crossing that river, seeking a better life in South Africa. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I had my doubts as we crossed the border, but those doubts were quickly put to rest once I arrived in Harare.

I was met by a dear friend from Arundel, who willingly used precious petrol to pick me up from the airport. It felt "right" being back in this country, despite the obvious problems they're experiencing at the moment.

And despite predictions of woe from friends in South Africa, I've settled in here remarkably quickly and things have worked out more rapidly than even I expected!! First and foremost being....TRANSPORT! This can be quite a problem in Zim, and another good friend of mine had arranged to sell me her daughter's car on my arrival. So by the time the sun set on my first evening in Zim, I had my little Opel Kadett parked outside the hostel at Arundel!! It's a very spiffy little car, and I was thrilled it even had 3/4 tank of petrol (a VERY hot commodity here in Zim)

The second thing to work out was a new cellphone SIM card (fyi, my new number is +263.91.461.009 - friends, please call me if you feel the urge!!) Again, I had been told I would never get a SIM card, as the cell networks here are overloaded and they hardly ever release new lines - you can imagine, the "black market" for SIM cards is booming, but overly priced and a bit dodgy! But again, at an amazing pace, by the end of my third day I had not one, but TWO SIM cards...again due to the amazing generosity and helpfulness of friends and colleagues here in Harare!

So with transport and a somewhat reliable communication device I am a happy camper indeed! Will continue my musings soon...but while we have electricity AND Internet-access I should quickly post this..the electricity power cuts are another story for another day :-)

Going north tomorrow

It's been a whirlwind week in Cape Town - so much so that I've used a photo from London 'cos I haven't yet uploaded my Cape Town photos from my camera to my computer! (admittedly, they are mostly of my adorable 3-year-old nephew, Seth...so excuse the picture above from my day in London - outside the "Bok Shop"!) This week has not only been a whirlwind, but also quite chaotic. I had a giant 4.5footX4.5 foot container of "used household goods" arrive on Monday, which had to be cleared through customs; unloaded and collected from Cape Town harbour. It was quite an escapade, with Dad, Jeremy (my brother) and I taking two cars into town, and doing two trips back and forth! While driving down the highway we all looked a bit "boxed in" to our little cars, with boxes, music stands and tennis rackets piled high about us!

But everything, thankfully, arrived in tact, so now my parents' house is full of all my boxes that have arrived from America. It's funny, I don't normally think of myself as too materialistic, but it's funny what comfort you get in seeing some of your own things! Just seeing my bedding, paintings and teddybears was so exciting!!

Tomorrow is the big moving day. My long-suffering father will be getting me up at 3:00 a.m., because of course I'm taking the earliest morning flight out of Cape Town! Ugh.....

So by this time tomorrow afternoon I should be arriving in Harare. I'm excited and nervous - it's quite an endeavor starting a new life, a new country...again! But since I've been at Arundel School for several months this year, it also feels a bit like returning to a much-loved friend/family member. Am looking forward to it! My next update will be from a few thousand kilometres further north on this beautiful but troubled continent. Look forward to being in touch soon! Sending love from Africa :-)

Pitter patter round the world!

I should've written ages ago, but have been absorbing being "back" in Africa! My last day in Boston was, well, emotional, but the subsequent journey across 6 time-zones and three continents was exhilirating. I had a wonderful 10 hours in London, which I made the most of despite the flight delay (what a week for all the USA-UK flights to suddenly have a terror alert...very selfish of me to think that way, but I do wish it hadn't happened the week I was moving!!) Because of the flight delay in Boston, I missed the meeting I had scheduled in South Kensington at 10:00a.m., and only made it there by 11:30 - by which stage the girl I was meeting had left! Nevertheless, I had a hearty English breakfast at my favourite spot there - Cafe Floris, a little Italian cafe which serves a delicious breakfast for just under 4 pounds!!

I then went on to visit my great-uncle Jack, who lives in the Barbican - a short ride on the Underground from South Ken. He lives at a place called Charterhouse, where elderly gentlemen live. The building is so typically English, and so quaint in the middle of London - dates from the 1400s, I think. (if only I'd uploaded some pictures I could illustrate all this...but alas I'm yet to get that organized!) So I had lunch with a group of elderly gentlemen and we all discussed the sorry state of Zimbabwe, and they questioned me as to why on earth I was headed to such a "savage place"!! (you can imagine the news they get in the UK about Zim!!!)

Next I rushed to meet a "Brick Project" friend - Simon - in Leicester Square. At a later point I'll post some photos from our wander around Trafalgar Square. I dutifully had photos taken in front of the South African and the Zimbabwean Embassies, which are conveniently located nearby each other. I also posed next to the "Bok Shop" (Bok is short for Springbok...our South African rugby symbol!)

We then rushed to the airport, and soon I was back in a security line, hoping my electronics would make it through yet another scrutinizing baggage check. As every item was removed and wiped and re-packed, the security girl told me how awful their week had been, and how she'd managed to make it to work with only some cash in her pocket and a cellphone round her neck! What a funny world we live in!!

My flight to South Africa was great and, lucky me, had a free seat between me and the next passenger (a bit of space is always an unexpected luxury!) And my flight seat-partner was wonderful! We discussed the state of the world, and in particular Africa, a lot of the way..and slept and watched movies the rest. (don't ask me what I watched - I have a terrible memory when it comes to films as some of you probably know!!)

I better sign off now, and have little else to share. The rain has followed me around the world - starting in Boston, then a sprinkling in London, and end-of-winter showers in Cape Town! This week has been a rush, and I've managed to unload my shipment of "used household goods" from the Cape Town docks; buy a car from a friend in Zim; and spend quality time with my family (and even managed a walk up the mountain today...which I'm starting to feel in my lower thighs!!!)

Good night from wintery Cape Town..I'll try to pop in another installment before leaving for Zimbabwe. Have you all been reading about the money issues in Zim?! It sounds like this week has been interesting...:-)

So long, farewell

This is a rather lengthy email I sent out to friends last night, the eve of my departure from the USA:

Dear friends,

After one last stroll through a Harvard Square on this balmy, New England evening, I thought I would drop all of you an email on the eve of my departure from the United States. Tomorrow I'm leaving the US to take up residency in Zimbabwe. Yes, perhaps an unexpected turn of events - but perhaps not that strange! (for those of you who didn't know I was leaving, I'm so sorry...the past few weeks, months have been kinda crazy....beyond imagineable!!)

First of all, I want to say Thank You. Thank you to all of you who have made my life over the past seven years SO rich. Rich in culture. Rich in ideas. Rich in love. Everyone who receives this email has touched my life in some special way during the past seven years, and at this crossroads in my life I wanted to say a very special and heartfelt Thank You.

The past seven years have been interesting ones for me, and I still find it hard to believe that I've been outside of South Africa for almost eight years!! Incredible -- in some ways it feels like just yesterday that I was hugging my sister and crying my eyes out at Cape Town International Airport, just three weeks after graduating, and leaving for the big United States of America. Tomorrow I'll probably be doing the same when I leave Boston's Logan International and head back to southern Africa. Why? Because I will be thinking of all of you whom I love. All of you who have taught me so much. All of you who have taken me into your country, your lives, your homes. Again, thank you.

When I came to the USA I came in the hopes of doing something "good" for the world! I'm not sure I even knew what the world was like back in December 1999. I'm not sure I do now. But having visited friends, old and new, in so many different parts of the world, I hope I have a slightly better and more mature idea of the world we live in - and about ways we can make a difference. In many ways I've been disappointed with this world of our's. What awful things we've done to each other during the past seven years. What damage we've done both our planet and our brothers and sisters around the globe. At the same time there is good going on - it's just sometimes hidden beneath the screaming headlines! Just a few days ago I sat next to a man on a plane ride to Albuquerque, who told me about the way he prayed his way through an injust courtcase, and found strength from God. A few months ago, while in Tanzania, I walked down a street in Arusha with a young boy, discussing his culture and tribe. When we got to the end of the street, he innocently asked me what was special about my tribe. About a year ago a young girl in Lithuania told me I'd helped her answer two of her top three wishes: to meet an English-speaking person; and to be the best English speaker in her class! Perhaps these experiences sound sentimental and silly in comparison to the monumental challenges our world is facing. But to me, they gave me strength to keep trying. And moments such as these continue to remind me that we are such good beings; capable of SO much more than we realize.

OK, so philosophizing over! Firstly, I'm most grateful for everything I learnt at the Christian Science headquarters in Boston - where I worked from 2000-2004. This was my first professional experience, as well as my first taste of America, and I learnt more than I can start to describe! And worked with some incredible people, many of whom I hope will be friends for life! Secondly, I can't tell you what lessons I've learnt, what sights I've seen, and what incredible, marvelous people I've met as a result of being part of the Brick Project (www.brickproject.com)

In fact, one of the first Brick Project schools - Arundel School - is where I'm headed later this month, to work as their Career's Counselor! I was living and working at Arundel from Jan-May this year, and am so thrilled they're willing to have me back, permanently!!! I'll be continuing with Brick Project work, and am also in the process of starting an initiative for young Zimbabweans abroad called XYZim - Expat Young Zimbabweans. Our website will be www.xyzim.com - do check it out, there will be much more content coming soon!

Speaking of website, I'm hoping to keep a personal blog from now on. There isn't much on it yet, but do check in once in a while....and post your comments whenever you like! The blog is called "Musings of an International Nomad" (or "MIN" for short!) The address is: www.internationalnomad.blogspot.com. Do bookmark it!

Lastly, in thinking about the state of the world, I want to recommend one book and one film to you (and many of you have very probably already read this/seen this) During the past year I saw a movie that changed (or clarified) my perspective of the way the world treats Africa: The Constant Gardener, based on John le Carre. See it if you can!!

The book I just finished reading yesterday, but answered SO many questions I had about the USA. It's called "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" by John Perkins. I not only recommend this book, but challenge you to read it! It's definitely a page-turner :-)

Thank you, thank you again for being a part of my life! (and for reading all the way through this wordy email!!!!) And PLEASE stay in touch! Look forward to hearing from you as much as possible!

Love, hugs, and thanks,

:-)

-- Verity
PS Sorry if this email has been somewhat soppy - but if you can't be soppy on the eve of a new life chapter, when can you be?!!