This is the 15th of a series of blog postings from Clare Bottle, who will be telling us about her travels in Zambia - supported by transport charity Transaid - to see what the transport industry is like out there:
Today is my birthday and I wake up feeling dreadful. Last night’s cocktails might have something to do with it, but even though I’ve had less than five hours sleep, I think the main reason I’m in such a bad state is the prospect of leaving Zambia.
Today is my birthday and I wake up feeling dreadful. Last night’s cocktails might have something to do with it, but even though I’ve had less than five hours sleep, I think the main reason I’m in such a bad state is the prospect of leaving Zambia.
In two short weeks I’ve made new friends I won’t see again for months, if ever. I’ve learned to greet everyone I meet by asking “how are you?” and exchanging the special Zambian handshake. I’ve discussed politics, love, death, religion and sport (oh yes, and transport) with everyone from government officials to waitresses. I’ve visited cool colonial-looking offices and frenzied vehicle workshops. I’ve scrambled around a building site in the rain and bought bloody carrier-bags full of raw meat from a wholesaler. I’ve even had occasional moments of inactivity where I found myself gazing vacantly into space, as my frail human brain struggled to keep up with the incessant sensory input and constant processing of new information. Maybe this is what culture shock feels like. The problem is, I love it.
On the aeroplane I’m feeling philosophical and nothing less melodramatic than opera will do. I listen to Puccini and stare out of the window as mile upon mile of the swirling Saharan desert charts my homecoming. Maybe by watching it I will trick myself into believing that Zambia and the UK are part of the same world.
Picturing my husband and son, I can finally smile again and remember all the people I miss back home.
When I set off for Zambia, I was under the misapprehension that this was a one-off trip. Now I realise the truth in the hotel receptionist’s warning: once you’ve drunk the waters of Africa, you have no choice but to come back.
FOOTNOTE: Clare Bottle and Transaid would like to offer sincere condolences to the family and friends of George Lewis CMILT, who sadly passed away on 2nd April. George had an illustrious career in air transport and was a member of the National Executive Committee of CILT Zambia.
If you’d like to know more and would consider sponsoring me, please visit my charity giving page: http://www.justgiving.com/clarebottle.
Clare Bottle is a freelance logistics specialist, with experience and market knowledge in storage, packaging and transport; she is also a Board Director and Trustee of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK.