(Fixing the Landy and some cool rocks in the Matopas).
Well it has been an age since I updated my blog; sincere apologies for that. Time here flies and then it is difficult to know where to start.
As you can see from all the photos I have been busy taking lots of trips outside Bulawayo exploring this beautiful country. I love getting out and going for a fun drive to let off steam after my working week. My car (and myself, it seems) come alive when off roading! There is nothing as thrilling as driving through a river!!! We have had lots of rain here and I have taken full advantage of all the river crossings. My mechanic has now forbidden me to drive through any more without fitting a 'snorkel' to my car to help it breath under water- no joke. My lights are half full of water and my horn sounds distinctly wet- which in Africa is a definite disadvantage!
I had a rather interesting experience when I fell down a waterfall and almost killed myself. 3 brave people saved my life- 2 of which couldn't swim.... 1 girl broke her foot and leg as a result (she will be ok but I had to put her into plaster myself)- and I got away with some interesting bruises, as pictured.
There is something about the intensity of everyday life here that necessitates going crazy every so often. I always have been a bit of an adrenaline junkie so this new environment is a bit dangerous for me as proved by the evidence!
All the outdoor adventuring and adrenaline seeking is causing me to have had to become a bit of a mechanic- Thank you so much Martin Housman- your mechanics weekend is saving my life! The men around her find it hilarious that I vehemently defend my Landy when they are all Toyota geeks. I have a continual barrage of banter about all Land Rover's faults....not helped when my clutch keeps dying. Quite a lot of the guys out here are 'rather old school' and attempt to rush to my aid when I break down. It both amuses and satisfies me though when I am the one that ends up having to get inside the bonnet of my trusty Landy to twiddle with various valves. My father used to say that you shouldn't own a car if you didn't know the basics- I hope he would be impressed with my ever growing mechanical language. Those of you that know me well will know how much I hate men trying to rescue me or patronise me with simple explanations. The first mechanic I sort out back in November cut me off mid sentence to ask my male passenger what he thought! Even my passenger commented afterwards that it was a bit of a stereotyped situation.
Otherwise life here pootles on. I often find things a bit hard and struggle to know what my purpose is here. It is so easy to be drawn into the NGO set- a complex power struggle which feels so removed from the reality of most of the world. 'Doing' things for the 'poor' is really a complete load of crap and so many of the motives of western development agencies are shallow and self seeking.
This last few weeks I have thought a lot about my father. I am about 18 months in and it still hurts like the most painful thing that I have ever had to journey through. Grief will hit me like a tidal wave- flooring me. It seems to come from out of no where and then it can be gone equally fast, leaving me gasping for air. I still battle the loneliness that it brings and resent having to have walked it alone. I am enjoying listening to some Podcasts from Mars Hill in the States- they are running a lent series on grief based on Lamentations. One theme they are exploring is the concept of Kriah which is a traditional Jewish mourning practice. Also known as the "rending of garments", it is a physical and visible demonstration of grief through the image of torn material (http://www.marshill.org/kriah/). I have been thinking maybe one day I will prepare some talks on bereavement. I sadly think there is such an immense need for people to be taught about how to support one another- doesn't that seem crazy?!
Well I must sign out now- love you all lots and you know any of you are welcome to come to Zim for a little adventure?!
xxx
