We are sharing with you a series of travel log written by ARI staff member Steven, who visited Africa in August.
It’s a journey that doesn’t always go as planned. But things will be fine, if you have a little preparation and joyful fellows!
Let’s get started on our trip to Africa!
【An African journey to visit ARI graduates, Day 10】
Breakfast with KMSC
John and Judy were hoping to get an early start back to Lusaka as it is a long trip. Some repair work was needed on the car, and they found a mechanic who was willing to do it in the night, so we could have the car by morning. Can you imagine that level of service? Amazing, huh. Despite our best efforts, however, we didn’t get on the road until 11:00 AM. This is because Samba really wanted us to meet some folks at an organization he has been working with.
The name is Key Management Solutions Consultants, and it was recently registered in 2023. Over an amazing buffet breakfast [with COFFEE!] at an upscale hotel, Kai and I spoke with two of the founders of the organization, a retired teacher named Felix, and a pastor called David. Samba is working closely with these guys right now because he will have to retire in about 2 years at the age of 55, and he wants to set up his future plan. KMSC is all about training, so it is line with Samba’s long background and experience in education. They want to start skills training to empower youth, with “youth” being defined as people aged 18-35. I wasn’t clear on exactly what activities they had already started, but they did mention computer training is going on. There are plans to teach driving, cooking, welding, mechanics, and agriculture. Their aim is to give young people the skills needed to start their own small businesses. They want to create entrepreneurs.
Felix also spoke of the miners. This area of Zambia is called the Copperbelt, and tons and tons of copper are extracted from the earth every day. Mining work takes a heavy toll on the human body and the miners are required to retire at age 55 (if they can make it that long). They are then given a one-lump sum of money as a retirement package. These workers have never seen so much money in their lives, and many of them go crazy with it, spending it like water until it’s gone! KMSC wants to start a “financial literacy” program and also help miners create a long term “life plan” after the age of 55, including offering the training described above. Once this organization is up and running, Samba would like to send staff members to ARI.
The “gaman clock”
The late start home meant a late arrival. Despite Judy’s prediction of being home by sunset, we arrived at about midnight (which was my prediction). This had a lot to do with the squishy roads, but also that we stopped for another amazing home-grown, home-cooked meal at Fringilla! It’s worth coming back to Zambia again just to go there! I like to set my “gaman clock” far past normal expectations, to help me endure potentially uncomfortable situations during traveling. If you expect things to go smoothly, you may lose it when they don’t. Plan for things to be much harder or longer than you expect, and you will manage much better. Thus, predicting our arrival for midnight, despite Judy saying it will be around 7:00 saved a lot of frustration! This is the “gaman clock.” “Gaman” in Japanese can be roughly translated as “endure” in English.
Judy’s Takami (The founder of ARI) story
In the car Judy told us another ARI story, this one about Takami sensei. Just before Morning Gathering, she noticed that Takami sensei’s zipper was open. Since he was the chairperson that day, she wanted to inform him but was embarrassed to do so directly. So, she told Bondo to tell Takami sensei. Bondo was a participant from Liberia that Judy described as “a person who is not smart.” Bondo approached him and said, “Judy told me to tell you your zipper is open.” Ahhhh! Judy was so embarrassed. But it was not to end there.
Takami sensei began his talk by saying, “Thank you, Judy, for informing me that my zipper was open,” in front of everyone! A big laugh followed. Poor Judy! But she felt that only a truly humble and caring person could make such a joke about himself.
The smiling man wearing a black suit, at the center, is Rev. Toshihiro Takami. The woman in green on the far right is Judy, a participant at the time.
Written by Steven Cutting (Graduate Outreach Coordinator)
Travelling with Kai Shinoda (Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator)
Click here to read the series of articles
Vol.0 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Prologue】
Vol.1 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 1-2】
Vol.2 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 3】
Vol.3 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 4】
Vol.4 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 5】
Vol.5 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 6】
Vol.6 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 7】
Vol.7 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 8】
Vol.8 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 9】
Vol.9 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 10】<== Now, you’re here
Vol.10 【The African journey to visit ARI graduates Day 11】
behind her is advertising mealie meal.
