Seventeenth week in Zambia🔆🇿🇲

I’ve decided that every week, based on the events I’ve noted down, I’ll write differently: sometimes day by day, sometimes as a single text, or I’ll focus only on the most significant moments. That way, I have more freedom to tell the story depending on how much time I can find… usually late at night. Well, "late" for us here, when it’s already dark between 6 and 7 pm. Haha… or better yet kikikiki, as they laugh here!

So here’s the story of last week. Meanwhile, we’re getting ready for the new one: starting August 3rd, we should go on vacation for a few days.

July 21 to 27 – A week of training, new words, and lots of African life

These days in Ndola, time seems to fly, but every day is full of small things that make it special. Unfortunately, last week someone stole the sheets and other items from my friend Jo’s house. So this week, we went around town looking for new sheets and a blanket – a little gift, especially since his birthday is coming soon! Walking through local markets, bargaining, laughing, and getting lost in the “shortcuts,” as they call them, even though they always seem to make the road longer to me… Ndola really has its own energy.I also stopped in town to buy the first things I want to bring back to Italy from here… also because, talking with Karo, we realized there are only two months left – which here feels more like two weeks… time really flies!

All of this, of course, happens after the boys’ morning training sessions, which I often go to watch even if I have to wake up super early. By now, my “biological alarm clock” is set to very early hours. I usually go to bed early, so I naturally wake up pretty early. This way, sometimes I manage to train myself a bit and then, around 7 a.m., I go watch the boys’ training, take some photos, and enjoy the atmosphere.

The other day, before running errands in town with Jo to buy new things, I stopped for a moment with Frida, his niece: a little bundle of joy, always smiling. She doesn’t talk yet, but she’s clever, and you can understand everything she wants to say just from her expressions. That day, she was eating a small piece of bread, and we took some photos together… “besties”! Hahahah

In the evenings, as often happens, it’s time for chatting. I practice my Bemba from home! Some of the Academy kids are helping me improve, with lots of patience (and plenty of laughs!). One thing I’ve figured out: here the “u” is always written as “w” and the “c” is “k.” Hahaha. Anyway, despite my mistakes, they understand me. I’m even teaching them some Italian words!!!

Every day with the kids is a surprise. They are my little treasures, a daily burst of happiness. One afternoon we walked through Chipulukusu, and suddenly a little girl ran across the street just to hug me. Such a sweet gesture, but also a scare… I worried about the cars!A little later, on the way back home, another incredible scene: a boy was up a tree cutting branches, balancing four or five meters off the ground, with no protection at all. He greeted me, and I, terrified, just prayed he wouldn’t fall!

I’ve also kept working for the MAPSA Academy: between the computer, drafting documents, and new ideas to put on paper, Karo and I are trying to organize all the materials as best as possible, so we can keep supporting the kids even remotely, when it’s time to return.

Saturday was a full day of matches! After a morning of work, the afternoon was all about football. Draw for the Under 19s and a win for the Under 15s. Shouts and lots of sun… lots of heat…And as every day, back home with Gift and our now legendary “Honda,” after an evening spent with some of the MAPSA under 19 boys. We’ve created a great group by now!!

Sunday, as usual, started with the “big morning wash”: clothes, socks! Then back to the computer for MAPSA until the afternoon, when we went to Itawa, another nearby community, for a friendly match against a Somali team. On the field, the Under 19s, with 7 boys called up for the game…!! Then Karo and me ,we went to an Italian restaurant in Itawa.

During the week I got a call from the HR manager for the job I applied for: the famous interview entirely in English! Haha, and well, I’m over the moon because starting October I’ll be working with them for the Olympics.

Now I officially have a return ticket from Denmark: I’ll fly there at the end of September and then, although I won’t say the exact day, I’ll return to Italian soil from Copenhagen in early October!

I’m so happy, but at the same time a little emotional and with tears in my eyes, because I don’t want to leave this place. But I know for sure I’ll be back, because a piece of my heart is already here.

That’s all from me!

Every day is a little lesson.Of language, culture, and life.

Have a great week!!!

Marti (or better… “Tina” here in Zambia)