It's been a long couple of days to say the least. I couldn't be having more fun, everything's an adventure; everything a challenge.
After arriving at 630am local time, I met Gertjan and Ozbert at the airport for a coffee and chat. It was nice to be greeted by friendly faces and we spent a long time with our drinks. Raining and muggy, we headed into Lusaka for some last minute resources, although the only paint shop in town was out of yellow paint (they only had black and white).
Then back to the airport to catch another plane to Macha. You truly don't know the meaning of in the middle of nowhere until you've been here. Flying over beautiful dark soil speckled with trees for a hour or so, we eventually landed in Macha! For Zambia, this is not even remote - we have an airstrip, running water and electricity (sometimes) and obviously the Internet.
I was greeted by Elton and taken for some lunch near the village. Local food; tonga chicken and nshima eaten with fingers. Exhausted and full we moved on to Ubuntu campus to find my room in wooden house. Sparse, comfortable but charming, I was desperate to lie down but we were off straight away on push bikes, late for a meeting with the IT department. More smiling faces were waiting to greet me.
We discussed the network and made an action plan but I was too tired to work and so I headed home for some sleep.
Food again at 630 - more nshima but with meat balls this time.
In the West, we're far too used to everything being there, the water, sweets, toys, food. Here you have to plan… You can just grab a bottle of water or nip to Sainsburys. It makes you think and be grateful for every mouthful you get.
I met a Dutch couple at the restaurant and we cycled home together in the pitch dark. Pleased to see a bed again, the mosquito net was up and I was off to sleep; hot but content (and a bit worried about that spider)...
It could get awfully lonely out here if everyone you met on the road didn't greet you with, hello, how are you?
Wi-Fi Hotspot News
What was the point in the trip?
To install the PolkaSpots Wireless Hotspot System in Macha, a rural village in the heart of Zambia.
Why was it important?
Their Internet access costs thousands of dollars a month for a 128kbit/s service (about 30 times slower than the average UK broadband line). They have over 100 users and our system was used to control access to ensure everyone gets a good quality service.
Surely there are more important things to worry about?
I thought so too 12 months ago but I've change my mind... Being involved in such a project makes you realise how important it is to keep these remote communities connected to the world. The schools and hospital have access, jobs have been created and adults are taking distant learning courses. There's even a lady who teaches an 8 year old piano from her home, more than 8,000km away.
NB. I wrote this from my hut in the Zambian bush so there are a few typos!
Hello, How are you?
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