We landed in Johannesburg, South Africa in the morning, home of the 2010 FIFA World Cup of Soccer starting on June 9. The airport was decorated everywhere for soccer with many shops offering jerseys and other paraphernalia to incoming travellers. It was cool to walk through although I did not feel like buying any of the overpriced merchandise. We flew to Ndola, Zambia from Johannesburg and were picked up a fleet of vehicles and taken to Northrise University. This is where we would be working and living for the next week as Professor Vos taught his agriculture class. Our team experienced some right sided driving for the first time, something I had a difficult time getting used to while there. It was a good thing none of us had to drive. (We had professional drivers from the University drive us around which was appreciated!)
We ate lunch with Dr. Zimba, the president and founder of Northrise University. It was neat to see his vision come together and transform the lives of students as well as the country of Zambia. He spoke of the need for reliable post-secondary education. This is something that Northrise is striving for and succeeding in doing as graduates are performing well in their fields. There are not many post-secondary institutions in Zambia (only 3 I believe) and the ones that are in place are run by the government and full of fraud. Dr. Zimba was very excited to see us and vocalized his appreciation of the partnership that Dordt College shares with Northrise University and looks forward to the work that we will be doing together.
The students were then dropped off at the dormitories. The guys and girls were brought to different sides of the same building where mixing was taboo. The guys were not to go over to the girls side and the girls knew likewise. This was strictly enforced. It was much different than what we are used to at Dordt but it helps keep the students focused on studies. The separation also allowed us North American guys to get to know the male Northrise students very well. Living with the guys in the dormitory was a wonderful experience and easily one of the best parts of the trip. With Zambia’s national language being English it was very easy to converse with the Northrise students on a personal level. We talked late into the night on many occasions covering topics such as religion beliefs, marriage rituals, dating, and of course women in general. (I mean...we’re all guys, you knew it was bound to happen.)
One thing I personally enjoyed in the dorms was cooking. I co-cooked several meals which turned out to be a fantastic time of fellowship and community. I now know how to make nshima, the national dish and staple food of Zambia, along with all of the fixings. You have to “listen to the smell” as one of the guys put it. (Nshima is made from a corn flour and has the same texture/viscosity as mashed potatoes.) You have to eat it with your fingers and it can be very messy. It is definitely an experience and not for the faint of heart because you WILL be laughed at the first time you eat it. We all became quite experienced at eating it as we had it 5-6 times in the week that we were there. A day without nshima is rare in Zambian culture.
We all went to bed early as the overnight flying had tired us out. Each of the guys was in a different wing of the dorms which in the end really helped us to mix with the guys and encouraged us to interact more with them. We were appreciative of this arrangement looking back because it forced each of us to get out of our comfort zone and meet new people.
We were thankful for safe travel as we arrived at our destination. Additionally, we were pleased with the warm welcome that received from our brothers and sisters in Christ. Knowing that there is family all around the world and we all share faith in one Lord and Saviour is such a blessing!!
Soli Deo Gloria
To God alone be the Glory
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