Thursday, October 29, 2009

Reflections on Zim

When we decided to write a blog about our journey in Africa, we meant to share the experience with you, and we realized that so far most of what we’ve been describing has been the facts. We thought we’d share some thoughts about our time in Zimbabwe, short though it was.

First off, having the opportunity to stay with Ris and Ang made for so much more of an authentic experience than we could have had otherwise. While we came to Africa to experience new things, it has also been so amazing to see how much is universal – like having the chance to perform in a band with Kudzai (Ris and Ang’s daughter) and her friends (who sang songs from High School Musical!), and attending a kids’ birthday party. This kind of ‘real life’ was so nice to see and while many of the fetchings were very familiar there is a sense of community that may elude much of north-american life. Ris and Ang and Kudzai let us into their world in a way we can never express. Even in just a week we felt not only at home and comfortable but familial. We found fast friends in Harare and we both miss them so much already. Even in the two occasions we had to hang out with their friends we found ourselves looking forward to the next time. Welcoming and comfortable only begin to describe the hospitality we were shown. And the conversations – we’re pretty confident that we’ve given Canadians the reputation of being tirelessly curious and always wanting to discuss things. We asked many questions and loved every minute of the education we got in response. The kind of political and social discussions we had all throughout the week with many different people were so very eye-opening as well, and such a privilege. While seeing elephants close up is breathtaking, those are the kinds of experiences that showed us what Zimbabwe was really all about.

Imagine waking up one morning to find that all you’ve ever worked for – the money you’ve earned, the college funds for your children, the dollars under your mattress – even your pension are worthless. The experience of the people of Zimbabwe in the last 15 years is far too detailed for us to fully comprehend or even to begin to try to translate in this short writing – but it started to become clearer the day we were driving to The Great Zimbabwe and Risina leaned over the diver’s seat and handed me a 50-billion dollar bill and said – there you go, you’re a zimbabwean billionaire! The bill is literally worthless. When we stayed with Uncle David at the Gache-gache lodge and heard our guide Peter talk about the day people showed up at his family farm to ‘alleviate’ his family of their home and land – and how they then had to find new ways of living (hence he went from farmer to hunter to guide). Stories of people being given land to farm that might or might not rightfully be theirs - yet not taught how to farm or what to do to use the land prosperously - the stories we heard and the sights we saw were fascinating to us and each one a lesson that brought so many more questions.

Nearer the end of our stay we began asking people what they thought the answers were. Some look to the government – to the hope that soon some as-yet-unidentified politicians will step up with an understanding of what life has been like to the everyman and will hold with them clearer agendas that speak to the greater good. Some say the change needs to come from the people – for the current parents to educate their children so that their children can be the agents of change in hopes that zimbabweans will find thier voice coming from a place of knowledge and not need. And to some of the young adults, the answer starts with themselves – carying the burden that they need to be the ones to bring about change – though the ‘how’ is something they are still wrapping their growing and ambitious minds around. In all of this it is clear that the answer is both complicated and daunting. In the wake lie significant economic and life-style divides and broken families – some by choice, some by necessity, and some by the pressure of living under seemingly uncontrollable circumstances. And when we asked parents ‘do you want your children to stay in Zimbabwe or leave if they have the chance’ the answer was universal: they would love for them to stay, but until things change, they would do all they could to see their loved ones succeed – which seems synonymous with leaving their homeland. And still, life in Zimbabwe goes on. The day-to-day of farmers and business-folk and laborers and tradespersons continues much as it does everywhere. Many will remain – by cirucumstance, or by choice, because despite everything they still love their country. They are the ones who will breathe new life into Zimbabwe. And they’ll be ready, when the time is right, to welcome the world back in with legendary hospitality.

And so among the incredible animals, rich history, beautiful landscapes and indescribable hospitality, hope lives in Zimbabwe.

As for us (and our brief time as flys on the wall), it was simply amazing to see first-hand how people can be separated by so many major factors – culture, geography, life experiences, language – but they can always find ways to connect if they are open to doing so.

~ Much love, Jimi and Jenny

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