Pictures from Africa

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20829046@N00

Some more things about DR Congo:

The political situation there is quite unsure, because till now they were kind of fighting and that is why the country is not developed at all. Now they were supposed to have first democratic elections and there are two candidates after first round: Bemba and Kabila. Bemba is previous rebel leader and Kabila..let say..peacemaker. When we reached Congo it was just in the middle of second round and announcing the results, so it was quite peacefull. It was alreadz almost sure that Kabila is the winner, well the announcement will be this Sunday 19th but this are the predictions and noone knows what will happen, even though several former presidents from different countries came to see both candidates and were trying to convince them to accept the results. The worries are that if Bemba loses, his men will start fighting again. All around Kinshasa there were soldiers and the airport was full of UN and other airplanes.
The country could be very rich…there are diamonds, gold, and other expensive resources, but unfortunately thanks to all that fighting the country is extremely poor and not stable. I am really awaiting what the Sunday news will bring. That time I will be already in Prague:]

My African Experience

Sitting now in office in Kampala, just came back from long trip from DR Congo and Zambia.

Uganda part number 1:
I left Prague after three hours sleep early in the morning on Friday and reached Uganda late evening. It was amazing flight because I could see almost whole Africa. Flying to Amsterdam then over Italy through Mediterranean Sea and then flying over Egypt down through Sahara and that is when I realized how big desert it is…we were flying and flying and flying and still under us was just sand:] Landing in Kampala accompanied by our director was easy because he knew exactly where to go, what to ask for and so on…and generally compared to other countries in Africa the process was easy and we even got a receipt for visa [that does not often happen]. At the arrival gate was Lucka and Katka waiting for us with some Ugandan bananas as welcome [bananas are the most crucial and basic food in Uganda, people do matoke from it which is bananas cooked in bananas leaves and has no taste. Then we went on car and traveled from Entebe[where is international airport] to Kampala and reached our office and place where I slept for next two days. Going through Kampala at night reminded me so much of Mumbai or generally India…loads of stands with everything and African music coming from them, each second stand was a “beauty saloon” where African ladies were going to have some nice new hair style [it does not matter if you are rich or poor, but each 14 days you need to have a new hair style:]]. The next day [Saturday] we went to Buikwe where the NGO I work for has built its hospital and we had some meetings there about the construction and so on. It was my first insight into African culture and nature, cause it is approximately one and half hour out of Kampala and it is kind of village. Then we went to a football and netball match of few schools. That was nice experience to see children supported from our programme. And guess what can be the most appreciated award for the winning team…..it was goat…alive!!!!So the winning school baked the goat then and they had nice celebration. At first you think that it is almost like in Czech Republic but then you realize that children mostly don’t have shoes. Small children were staring at us….but not in negative way, more like….wow…she has white skin, what is this…hehehehe:]
The weather in Uganda it amazing! It is about 26 degrees whole year and it is quite high situated so the weather is very pleasant even though it lies on the equator.
The next day we left Kampala 2am and went to airport to catch flight to Nairobi and then Kinshasa [DRCongo]. Entering the airport first what you do is that you check the check-in table and there was written that the flight was canceled, but no one actually was nervous or panicking. In one hour they announced that it is just delayed and that check-in will start at 4am and it actually started. The controller at the airport who scanned my bad was very curious what do I have with me so I had to open everything and tell him even that this bottle is a sun tan cream and this bag is full of my clothes and so on. When we were boarding we realized that on our boarding card is written 19:45 4th Nov which was the previous day evening and that was when we realized that we are actually lucky that we are leaving with the group who had to spend a night at Ugandan airport:] But the funniest part is just coming. We went on board and they announced that you can take any seat that is free and somehow everyone was sitting down and then about four people were standing and the cabin crew realized that they boarded more people that they were supposed to:] but they solved it out cause they gave them seats in business class:] in Nairobi we had about 20 minutes to board onto another plane that was to Kinshasa.

Democratic Republic of Congo / Kinshasa:
Flying through whole Congo [which is really huge country] was really nice because it was just green hills with some rivers…like in Lord of the Rings. But landing in Kinshasa was completely other story. We left the plane and the hot and humid weather stroked us…but that was not all!!!! That would be still fine:]
Normally people don’t have access to the arrival area but already when we left the plane there were lots of strange people around. Then we were s\going twice through passport control and me and Lucka we were fine but they asked 20 dollars from our director. At that moment we didn’t understand it how it is possible but then we were explained by the locals that police and officers do not get paid so that is why they ask for money whenever they can. And that the adventure starts. We went to the place with one simple baggage line and all around there were lots of locals who on the firth sight seemed as airport officers but they were just people who were trying organize things for you and then ask you for money:] We were waiting and waiting and then after the line was empty we realized that our bags didn’t arrive, but we were even wondering if those locals hidden our bags and then later they will ask for money, but after long and complicated process we got a paper where was written that our bags are in Nairobi, and as the next plane is in three days they will arrive in three days…yeah…I didn’t have ANYTHING with me apart from money and passport:]but we survived. We met father Francois who took care of us for next four days and we went to the city and got accommodation. To be honest DR Congo seems like the life there stopped 50 years ago…the cars, the taxis…. The biggest surprise for me was that the post and landline is not functioning there and that the only road in whole Congo are two roads in Kinshasa and then one 400km long road to the sea…that’s it! Afternoon we spent at the embassy with Czech ambassador and met the whole community. Before that we called our Czech ambassador to tell him we don’t have baggage and he told us “don’t worry just come over and take swim suit you can have a swim here”…yeah right…we don’t even have spare t-shirt!!!
The next days we spend seeing bishop, vice minister of foreign affairs and then also we visited house for street children from Kinshasa. That was very interesting experience and that is actually where we will get children for our project from. The day before we were leaving Kinshasa we went to pick up our bags at the airport …that was something that we would make on our one with no help from locals because we were not allowed to enter arrivals but there were our bags…so again some money and everything was possible. The next day morning we left Kinshasa and went to Johannesburg where we spent a night and then we went to Lusaka[Zambia].

Zambia / Solwezi

We reached Lusaka at 1:30pm on 9th November and met with father Kizito who welcomed us there and drove us to Ndola where we were supposed to spend a night and the next day continue the journey to Solwezi. The accommodation in Ndola failed and so we just found a random hotel. Basically we drove almost through whole Zambia and I must say that it is quite developed country. The agriculture is on very good level, main roads are better then in Czech Republic…with no holes and so on. Police check each one hour and so on. We were really surprised…but also the prices were almost like Czech Republic or even higher. On Friday we reached Solwezi and had a meeting with the local team. On Saturday we had an official launch of the programme and all children came with their parents/guardians and we had a nice time together. Children showed us some cultural dances and poems and songs. Afternoon we went to visit some of their houses to see how they live. I gave all the pexesa and cards and tempers and all the stuff I collected to the Czech volunteer who will keep it at our local office and some of them will give to children and some will keep there and use while playing with children. I took also some pictures made by children so I can organize also some small exhibition in the Czech Republic. On Sunday morning we left and drove all the way to Lusaka. Evening we saw a bit of Lusaka, slept one night there and morning we left for Uganda. The plane was again delayed, but we were not surprised. We had a stop over in Malawi and so I saw also a bit of Malawi and then transfer in Nairobi.

Uganda part 2:
And now back again in Kampala 13th November. Now I am preparing myself for the nest days which I will spend out of Kampala. Tomorrow going to Mytiana which is three hours out of Kampala and then one day in Kampala. Thursday and Friday I will spend in villages somewhere in north registering children for the programme. Saturday again in Kampala and afternoon on the beach at Victoria Lake and then flying back home.



Generally I am excited to be here and to get to know the way of life. I love the sun here and the heat…I am a bit scared of coming back to Prague and see snow:[
The mentality is obviously different, but that is understandable….i have a lot of funny experiences and there are lots of things I have to tell you when I am in Prague and when I will be able to show you pictures as well:]

Sbírka pexes

Milí přátelé,

všem děkuji za parádní sbírků pexes a podobně. Zítra v 7 ráno odlétám a přiletím 19.11., takže můžete čekat nejaké úžasné fotky:)

Proč říkám parádní sbírka?

Mám:
99 pexes
1omalovánku
7míčků
7kvartet
17hracích kostek
46 pajdůláků na člověče nezlob se
2 hrací plochy na člověče nezlob se
3puzzle
1 sada Pogy
no a pak ještě asi 5 sad temper a barevný tuše a paleta a tužky a ja nevim co všechno od Janči Dostálové a Aleše s Lydkou:)

Suma sumarum mám bágl plný pexes, takže kdyby mě náhodou někdo checkoval u vstupu do některé země, tak si pomyslí, že jsem chodící hračkářství:):)

Fakt moc děkuju a určitě se ozvu:)

one more night

it is completely crazy
today i arranged everything needed...at least i hope i didnt forget anything:
insurance, gifts, the rests of pexeso, finished work lying on my desk in the NGO

I AM GOING IN 12 HOURS!!!!!!!

fingers crossed:)