Ultime due settimane in Zambia!!! 🔆🇿🇲

From 15/09 to 30/09

The last weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions, African heat, and racing against time. Every day felt like it lasted just a moment, yet it was so full that it seemed endless. Between shooting videos with the girls, matches at the stadium, and training sessions with the MAPSA Academy boys, time slipped away like sand through my fingers.

That second-to-last Monday will stay in my memory because of the computer class… the boys were almost falling asleep. Popcorn became my secret weapon to keep them awake! The following days were a dive into endless paperwork: updating addresses (for a fee, of course, because muzungu), countless photocopies, Academy documents, and printing brochures. Everything required patience… and lots of irony.

The African heat, scorching and relentless, stayed with us until the very end. It literally melted me, but then a sunset was enough to remind me why this place is so unique. I cooked with the mbaula, almost burning myself every single time but laughing like a child; I chatted with Dylan, a 20-year-old footballer who, with great dignity, takes care of his family with what he earns on the pitch; I learned that after a certain hour you can’t even stand still in the street, otherwise you risk spending the night in a cell.

And then the little house adventures… A huge spider that made all of us jump on chairs, an unexpected evening chill that forced me to sleep with a fleece and a duvet, while during the day we were suffocating from the brutal heat.

Another episode that made me smile was after a match, when my friends recognized some famous singers outside the stadium. Honestly, I had no idea who they were, but my friends did… so much so that they stopped in front of their bus to greet them. We even took a picture together underneath it!

The last days were the most intense: interviews, final photos, preparations for the closing party, motorbike rides with Miss Colepachela, evenings of dancing and laughter that I will never forget. A barbecue by the pool at Misundu Park gave us breath and freshness, while the matches at the stadium filled our hearts: photos with the Power Dynamos mascot (another big team here in Zambia), chants, smiles, and the feeling of being part of something bigger than us.

Amine and Freddy, my two “French” friends, were the perfect partners in these adventures, and along with them so many other encounters that will remain special.

And finally, the last goodbye: friends who came all the way to the airport just to hug us one more time. Moments worth more than a thousand words.

Back to reality

Then… the return. And here comes Europe welcoming you in its own way. Arrival in Sweden: at passport control they stopped me because the document says my eyes are brown, while in reality they are green. Tired, and a bit confused by the Swedish accent, I replied: “Yes, I got them from my father”… Probably not the most convincing answer, especially since it had nothing to do with what he had asked! Right after, baggage check: stopped for suspected drug trafficking and for an iPad forgotten in my backpack. To top it all off, the last flight felt like a private jet full of businessmen, all suited up, looking down at us. Ah, welcome back to Europe…

And while I was recovering from sky-high prices and completely different rhythms, all I could think about was: I want to go back to Zambia.

Word of the last weeks: Lwambo!

This week I want to tell you about a word I love: “Lwambo”, just like in the Yo Maps song! It means gossip, and I adore both the song and the meaning.

In the lyrics there’s also the phrase “ulisakamana” (or something close to that… I’m not sure how to spell it, just how he sings it), which means “don’t worry.”

Photos of the last weeks:

This is not a farewell, but a “see you soon.” We will continue to support MAPSA Academy, to share updates on its progress and future goals. I’ve written down some reflections that I may publish soon... After that, I’ll take a break from the blog to close this chapter, fully process what I’ve experienced, and get ready for the new job that awaits me.

With my heart still beating strongly for Africa, with the music that will make me cry on every journey back, and with the certainty that a piece of me will always remain there.

MarTina