Zamcation Part 1 & 2

Part 1:

To begin my vacation I went to visit a volunteer friend, Jesse, near Kasanka National Park who was having a bee workshop. Aside from the basics of beekeeping that I learned in training the workshop showed us how to make a hive from mud bricks. Using bricks makes the hive less mobile but much much more affordable to make in the village. The workshop was interesting although geared more towards the villagers than the volunteers who went.
A Dutch farmer and Jesse's friend invited us to his farm for an Independence Day Braii. About 12 volunteers, a few people who work at Kasanka, and a couple Sweedish med students came out. We camped out in his yard, swam in the picturesque river that runs through his back yard and ate tons of good food.

Part 2:

A group of us from the Braii were going up to Mpulugu (with stops in Kasama and Mbala) to celebrate the October birthdays and Halloween. Mpulungu is right on Lake Tanganyika the 2nd deepest lake in the world. The second day there 20 of us took an hour long boat ride up near the Tanzanian border for a couple hour hike up to Colombo Falls. The hike was hot and long but the views were worth the trip. Colombo Falls is the 2nd tallest waterfall in Africa at about 750 feet. We relaxed in the water at the top of the falls, had some snacks, took some photo ops, then made our way down the mountain. The next two days were spent by the lakeside pool recovering.
Our Halloween party was an example in creativity and the ridiculous things you can find in an African market. I managed to find a tri-cornered pirate hat. Everyone managed a ridiculously wonderful  costume. We had a banana, a trucker, Minnie Mouse, a Greek, a couple pirates, a bird, and Nick looked like a woman going out to the derby. It was our last night and it ended with a bang- of thunder and pouring rain- it was a good night all the same.

Back home to the village tonight. I will hopefully get some work done this month between the trainings and programs. I have a week long PEPFAR (HIV/AIDS) training and then we have provincial meetings and Thanksgiving. The rest of my year here is looking pretty busy.