Monday, 26 August 2013
ZIM, YOU WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART
My family and friends were worried about us going to Zim having heard all the horrible stories and it just have been the elections and the presidential inauguration was happening while we were in Zim. I guess their concerns were justified if one had to Google the hardships of this country or pick up a newspaper and see the headlines involving Zim. However, strangely enough I find myself wanting to defend this country as I feel it has become a part of me. The people of this country outshine all the negative in my eyes. When I think Zimbabwe, I think beauty that was manifested through its people. The way the people would go out of their way to make sure you were happy the genuine smiles and humbled hearts and natures of the Zimbabwean population is beautiful. Our first day in Zim started with a huge fright, and not the one you would expect from Zim! Megz and I entered our hotel innocently walking through the lift onto the 3rd floor as our lecturer hid behind the corner and gave us the fright of our lives. It was hilarious as we all broke down into a fit of giggles and smiles on our faces as we realised WE MADE IT TO ZIMBABWE! This was definitely a prelude to the rest of our trip- giggles and smiles on our faces. The night before we left for Zimbabwe, I found myself all of a sudden nervous for the prospect of Zim. How silly it seems now as I cried with my mom and sister expressing my concerns for this trip. Catching a taxi on our own from the airport to the hotel, why was I so scared? The taxi trip was wonderful. Our taxi driver spoke of every town we passed by on the way to the hotel, this taxi driver had a love for his country and he was proud to share some of its heritage to two South Africans. On our first day we met yet another local who was sitting in our hotel room with two of our lecturers with his music that he composed playing in the background. It had been an hour in the country and we were already surrounded by the beauty that is the Zim people. We then decided to go to a local market called Avondale. I was so excited to already indulge ourselves into the culture of Zimbabwe. At this market, we spoke to the market sellers about the beauty of the rocks they used to make their beautiful ornaments, and how the dark rock came from another African country and the locals spoke of the US dollar and how expensive it was to live in Zimbabwe, and the hardships of being a market stall holder in these difficult expensive times. Yet they still had a smile on their face and a spring in their step as they bargained the best deal they could for us South Africans. I love markets in general, and this was a special one. Megz and I returned to the market on our last day to buy some presents for our families. Every stall owner remembered us and chatted with us as if we had been going to the market for years. I loved that. And I love Zimbabwe.
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I agree... Zimbabwe, what a place. Harare really is the sunshine city!
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