Interesting. I shall ponder that.

Thanks

Thanks.

I've only ever visited them, myself.

Nice hat! Renaissance fair?

The goods.

fuck yeah!

How embarrassing! I am so sorry. Yeah it's hard to tell. At this point I swear it's either undiagnosed senility or perhaps an old man with a hard past who can't read social cues. It sorta goes back to what I said before about colonialism, old people's mental baggage, and how that generation has been taught to interact with others. I suspect that this could be how he asserts power and control.

I like that it's less developed than Zambia is for sure. I like the cultural emphasis on equality and the generosity, friendliness, and openness of the people there. Folks don't seem to be as aggressive as say -Nigerians or North Americans- but they're not as passive as I find Zambians to be. So I guess it'll be a little easier for me to settle down there since it seems to accommodate my personality and upbringing a bit better than other places (assuming I like it there).

Terrible. Simply terrible but I agree it was expected. Power vacuums and all. So are they expecting more unrest there or are the people more likely to try legal methods first?

Good post

Exactly.

Oh so you have followed as well. Impressive.

I think it just goes back to the fact that I question his competency really. If I thought that he had a vision that I could believe in and if I thought that he knew how to handle diplomats and the day-to-day minutia of running a country I wouldn't have a problem with him because I agree that developing countries often need strong leaders. I'm just trapped in a vicious cycle to be honest. :D

Strangely enough Sudan, Ethiopia, and the CAR are the ones I'm most seriously considering. I have friends from Sudan and Ethiopia but at the same time I feel like I could handle better in the CAR just because so much of the culture is in line with my own personal beliefs.

So what were your thoughts on all that's been happening in Egypt?

Sorry for the late response. Like I said, I'm afraid I don't check in here very often!

Bemba and English are the two most useful languages yes. I'm not happy with the results of the latest election to be honest. I feel like this current president lacks tact and that he is in over his head. He's constantly firing ministers for petty reasons, his management style is very autocratic, and his tendency towards bluster/pride makes him incredibly difficult to trust on the international stage.

What got him elected I think was the way that he appealed to the common person during the campaign. While the previous administration talked about economics and stuff of that nature, this president talked more about people's immediate needs and putting food on the table "today" so to speak. Voters were fed up with not seeing the trickle down even though overall conditions had improved along with the national debt. So it was really a tempest in a teapot type situation I guess. I suspect that his demeanour doesn't bother his supporters much because he *does* try to promote Zambian interests.

Don't get me wrong though. All of this grassroots popularity would've been fine if I thought he had a clue how to manage a country. Bah! I'm so glad I'm looking at different countries besides Zambia.

Your thoughts?

I didn't know that!! I just googled it now! So if Palestinaians speak arab, they are Semitic too. But that makes things even more absurd. I thought the word was used in terms of religion. It's strange that a linguistic reference is used to determinate a population and it's even stranger that it's used to indicate only one of the many populations that have the same linguistic background.

From Egypt to Texas...How interesting. Was that for school as well? ChiBemba although unfortunately my Arabic is better than my Bemba at the moment. I can understand and carry a conversation if I have to, but...I'll have to pick it up again later.

The peacefulness certainly gives Zambia a lead over other countries which is why I figure there's a better chance of changing things for the better someday. The moves by this last administration clearly showed that there was economic potential in the country as well imo. Baby steps and all. It seems like Egypt has been more developed for a long time though.

Egypt huh? Are you still living there? My Arabic is pretty rusty now but I really enjoy the culture and people in North Africa/Middle East.

Well it's not the potential earnings that motivate me. I'm more interested in doing work that fulfills me and I think I can accomplish more that way in Africa. But I definitely agree with your assessment in the sense that there's a lot of work ahead. I'm a young woman though so I'm fairly confident that I'll be able to see positive developments before I die at least. :D

That's really awesome. I'm doing Business but I'm ultimately going into Law. I like it well enough but my goal is to go back to Africa and work in government. Hopefully to deal in policy and all that stuff.

So how did you like Africa? It seems like a lot of Peace Corps volunteers I've seen go places and then come back bitter towards the people they've helped.

Oh cool! For work?
Kitwe. Although I'm working/studying in Canada right now.

Sorry I don't log in much. I'm from Zambia.

There is a reason he is my avatar