Dávid from Zambia – XVIII. Blog Post

Three months in Zambia – If you don't know what to do in Zambia, then either you're foolish... or you don't deserve to be here!? A big high five to everyone, and an even bigger greeting to the newest members of the group! So, well... it's been quite a long time since I've written anything about our Zambian adventures. The situation is that we seriously lost our motivation for the project, and to be honest... we also got a bit lazy... well, honestly, really lazy!

But let's see what I'm talking about here.

About four weeks ago, we became completely demotivated, to the point that the past few weeks were dominated by a terrible atmosphere. I'm sure no one is unfamiliar with the feeling of waking up and thinking: "I don't feel like going to work today or, I have to kick my own ass every minute to get a couple of basic daily tasks done, and anyway... none of this makes any sense." Well, that was exactly it...

We tried to solve our problems, interpret the situation, our everyday lives, our mistakes, the environment around us, and we tried hard to draw conclusions from all this, hoping to find solutions and move forward. But it was all in vain...

Then, after a few weeks, we realized that we had been doing the biggest mistake all along... We were looking for answers to non-existent problems. We were trying to find solutions to non-existent issues, instead of just taking action to change the situation... and how did we get here?

In hindsight, we joke that we "adopted the Zambian pace and adapted to the environment." And this is somewhat true, but in reality, it was just pure laziness and "sticking to comfort."

We got used to the environment. We got stuck in the "comfort." What once amazed us is no longer new. Our daily routines had formed, and we were surrounded by fewer stimuli than before, and as a result, our enthusiasm and interest in the project decreased; even though we were doing something wonderful and enjoying it... we were tired... and as hard as it is to admit... we had worn ourselves out. By our own foolishness, our excuses... So, after about 3 weeks of NOTHING, we decided to take control again because, after all, we wanted to come here and we wanted to actually do something. Something lasting.

Personally, I spoke with a lot of people about my problems. I wanted feedback from someone with a different perspective—someone emotionally independent of my situation who could see things clearly and rationally, and provide usable advice. The responses I received made it crystal clear that we had to do something! This was the only way for this mess to end... and that's how it went!

To speed up the change, Easter came at just the right time, along with the vacation that came with it. And then came the idea to travel to Livingstone and see the Victoria Falls. The first issue came up: budget constraints and the limited four-day free time we had (only 3 days for the round-trip).

So, we quickly changed the trip to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, within a few hours; essentially, no plans—and as it turned out later: sometimes the best plan is not having one (we enjoyed the whole time there immensely). I'll tell you more about our time in Lusaka in the coming days, because, as always, there's a lot to say and interesting things happened...

After contacting our two teammates in Chibombo (about 3 hours by car from us), the foundations of our trip began to take shape: the route, budget, bus schedules, food, accommodation, solving emerging problems, ensuring our safety, and listing the attractions we wanted to visit.

After a 6 a.m. departure (after 6 hours of hard bus travel), we arrived in the capital. Well... if I said Ndola was crowded, then I don't even know what to say about Lusaka. Getting off the bus, they shoved all kinds of products in our faces: taxis, watches, phones, homemade sweets, rotten fish, anything, just buy something.

Once we successfully fought our way through the local vendors, we set off to meet up with our two teammates, who had gotten off at a different bus station a few hours earlier. After a bit of searching and waiting, we found each other. It was so nice to meet them again after 3 months. After the hugs, we headed to our accommodation, which was 9 kilometers from the city center.

It was a long journey, but at least we had time to chat along the way about everything; mainly the project, challenges, and personal difficulties. This was the moment we realized just how important communication, trust, and a supportive team/person/family are in a person's life.

Sometimes, a person can't think rationally or make decisions because their desires and emotions temporarily guide their life, but another perspective can shed light on thoughts and ideas that can bring them back on track and reignite their inspiration and motivation. That's exactly what happened to us. We were motivated again for the project, and this was largely thanks to the discussions we had. No one felt alone with their problems anymore. We needed each other.

When we arrived at our accommodation, we were pleasantly surprised. A warm welcome, clean and organized surroundings, beautiful palm, mango, and avocado trees, lots of tourists and backpackers, a pool, and delicious food. We felt like we were on a luxury vacation, while we were actually staying in a 1-star hotel (in my opinion, they slightly undervalued the place). It was an excellent choice in terms of price-quality ratio. Cheap, clean, comfortable, and thoroughly enjoyable, in every respect.

We met all kinds of people at the accommodation. Most of them were backpackers who were staying in Lusaka temporarily. We made a lot of new, friendly connections, especially with the locals. The owner, Anita, was very helpful and we all liked her from the start because of her warm welcome and quirky, funny style. We also became friends with a local guy. We just call him Mr. Harrison, who is a Lusaka taxi driver. Harrison was always looking out for ways to help us. He did it for free, selflessly, and expected nothing in return. He was happy if we were happy.

On Saturday, we went on a safari instead of celebrating Easter – I've already briefly reported on this in a previous photo post. The safari was an incredible experience, and I learned a couple of things about the local people and wildlife again – but I'd like to go into more detail about it in the next post, as it definitely deserves its own.

To sum up... (and a few final thoughts) we realized that when everything seems to be falling apart around us, it's not always the best solution to keep digging into the mistakes and problems of the past, and it's not always good to keep looking for solutions. Often, we ourselves create the problem, and it doesn't exist anywhere except in our minds. Sometimes, you just have to move forward, gritting your teeth. Push, like an animal! Even when you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel... the rest will work itself out, and time will help.

We also realized again (and again) that human relationships are extremely important. More eyes see more (as the saying goes)... and this is true for everything. More thoughts, more perspectives, more viewpoints. Sometimes, in a conversation that lasts for hours, it's not the whole conversation that will help us, but just one sentence, or two words. But those two words or that one sentence can completely change our viewpoint on the situation.

We also understood (again) that the comfort zone is a terrible place! It doesn't give you the chance or the opportunity to experience new impulses and experiences. Lessons: Never stay inside your comfort zone, because it will just break you. And sometimes go on a trip, take a break... whether it's a vacation or a place in nature that's peaceful and dear to you...

And finally!

The hardest part was when we faced the fact that we wanted all of this. We wanted the project. We wanted to come here. We came here. And now, it's not good? And so came the magic phrase: We don't even deserve to be in Zambia if we don't make the most of every single minute here.

Now we're creative again. This break did us good. We have tons of ideas and energy again, but more importantly: we are motivated again and have learned from our mistakes! It was hard, but we succeeded.

After all... no one ever said life is a piece of cake! But situations like this make us stronger, wiser, and braver – we learned that in school too – and now we had to apply it in practice. This is how we truly become who we are... CICD-ers.

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I wholeheartedly recommend the Natwange Backpackers accommodation to any backpacker, those looking to relax, or those planning to visit Lusaka. It's a family-friendly place with lots of entertainment options, a pool, a great atmosphere, and incredibly affordable prices. I didn't like the hamburger, but the fries were great. They prepare the breakfast however you like, and serve it with so much love that you feel full just from that. The staff is very helpful, keeps everything clean, ensures your safety, and always looks for ways to make you feel welcome.

Website: www.natwangebackpackers.com
Facebook: web.facebook.com/natwangebackpackers

~ April Highlights