Tuesday, 31 August 2010

En Stor Stark - the new Thursday Bar


Don't miss the new bar at the Swedish School. First Thursday each month Humphrey and the staff will serve you in the pool bar. Agnes from Svea's Café will provide some snacks and there will be contemporary Swedish music.

Welcome on Thursday, September 2nd, from 18.00 until late.

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Men at Work, in the Mines

by Johan Norman

Humid mine galleries, delicious Nepalese food and football in yellow and blue were among the ingredients when four Swedish house husbands from Lusaka went to the Copperbelt in northern Zambia in June.

After putting on a helmet, a white overcoat, shoes and the heavy mining torches hanging around the neck we walk towards the elevator that will take us a thousand meters down in Mopani´s Copper Mine in Kitwe. It is a heavy sulphate smell in the air and it is difficult to breathe.

The elevator is filled with miners liked packed herrings and we wind down in total darkness for a few giddy seconds. We are four Swedish house husbands living in Lusaka who have gone to the Copperbelt. The visit to Mopani´s Copper Mine in Kitwe has been arranged by Atlas Copco, which is big in mining equipment in Zambia.

Down in the mine we walk the endless mine galleries where moisture drips along the gray walls of rock. The guide shows us a place where remnants of stones filled with copper lies in piles. We put one stone each in our pockets and walk further into the mine. The mine galleries get lower and lower and the humid heat rises.

After two hours of walking a thousand meters down in the ground, it feels like a relief to take the lift up again and taking off the mining clothes. We stop at the Mukwa lodge where we slept the night and we are being served another delicious meal by the Lodge´s Nepalese chef.

After a last night in Mukwa Lodge we visit the memorial site of former UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld outside Ndola. On this spot Hammarskjöld´s plane crashed during his peace mediation efforts in the conflict in the DRC.

The Memorial stone with surrounding flowers and inscriptions made by visiting dignitaries from around the world is beautifully situated by a small pine forest. A highly knowledgeable guide shows us around the small museum. He is happy when we give him the latest edition of the Swedish Embassy's "Swedish Culinary Classics - Recipes with History and Originality". The museum's current copy is yellowed by age.


A bit behind the memory site we spot some school children who play football. They have yellow and blue school uniforms, so we get a little curious and go there. It turns out that the children attend "Dag Hammarskjold Living Memorial School" which was built with support from the UN and a multinational company. The children are excited when we say we are from the same country as Hammarskjöld and some teachers show us around.

Teachers appeal for financial help to build two new buildings for teachers´ accommodations. They tell us that many teachers walk long distances every day to and from school and that the risk of assault make some choose to stay at home instead.
It is morning and time to go back to Lusaka. The excellent road, which is quite unusual in Zambia, takes us to Lusaka following two fruitful days in the Copperbelt.

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Sunday, 29 August 2010

Before Next Dutch Market ...


Quite a few of the Swedish people living in Lusaka were spotted at the Dutch Market during the week end.

In four weeks time the next crafts market in Kabulonga is coming up, but before that the Swedish School can offer quite a hectic program. So don't miss the opportunity to join the following activities,

2 September Thursday Bar "En Stor Stark"

9 September Thursday Movie Night "Solsidan - part 1"

16 September Thursday Movie Night "Solsidan - part 2"

19 September Sunday Election Night

23 September Thursday Movie Night "Solsidan - part 3"

And as you already know there are Swedish lessons for kids and adults, please contact Nosiku at swedishschool@gmail.com for further information. The library and Svea Café are open daily at the Swedish School.

See you before next Dutch Market!

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Saturday, 28 August 2010

Excursion to Pigfarm - Cancelled

Unfortunately we had to cancel, or postpone the excursion to the pigfarm near Chongwe. A new date will be set. We will come back to all members with further information.

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Pre-shopping at Pick n Pay, don't miss Blue Moon Café


At the end of July Pick n Pay opened in Woodlands, Lusaka. Before entering this brand new supermarket you must not miss the chance to sit down with some friends at Blue Moon Café.

We could highly recommend a caffe latte and a bagel, or a muffin. The owner Bob Keating will soon provide us with some more information on the history of his "baby". In the meantime you should bring a friend to Woodlands.

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Thursday, 19 August 2010

Innebandy at the Swedish School

Unfortunately we are not allowed to arrange Innebandy at the Swedish Embassy any longer, but from this week and on we will be playing Mondays and Wednesdays at the Swedish School.

Humphrey is one of the players waiting to challenge you. Adults and kids from approximately 10 years are most welcome.

Mondays and Wednesdays 17.30 to 18.30.

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Welcome to the Swedish School

It's August and people are coming back to Lusaka, or maybe arriving for the first time. The Swedish School will start with activities straight away. Check out our calender and read all e-mails from us.

Within the coming weeks we will arrange an excursion to a pig farm, start up the appreciated movie nights with the Swedish TV-series "Solsidan", and not least we will start with pub nights and of course follow the Swedish Election on September 19.

On Wednesday afternoons from 15 hrs the kids will be learning Swedish from August 25 (the Svea Café is open).

See you at the Swedish School!

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