Tuesday, 31 May 2011

Summary of a Successfull Year

by Theodor Sverkén Sjögren

The editor of Blaskan, mr Johan Norman, just called me and asked for some words for the June edition. He even threatened me to publish some pictures from the recent sauna night if I did not provide him with the text.


Anyway, in a house full of boxes I thought it would be a good idea to summarize, not so much the years I have spent with my family in Zambia, but the last twelve months at the Swedish School. It’s been a busy and as you already know a very successful year. Every week our members show appreciation for the activities arranged, the most important still being the Swedish lessons. During the school year 2010-2011 we have more than doubled the number of students. That is really something to celebrate!


Other events that brought a huge number of friends and members to our premises have been the Swedish Elections in September (when we also installed SVT), the Swedish week with the family day including Father Christmas for the kids and the traditional Lucia procession.


Movie nights, wine tasting, fashion shows, craft markets and the Zambian Art Week have also been appreciated, as well as starting up our newsletter Blaskan. For the future life of the Swedish School association we are also very happy to welcome Lugar del Taco and Livestock Ltd, that have already given new energy to our school.

In order to celebrate this good year, and the end of yet another school year, the board would now like to invite you and your family and friends to the upcoming Midsummer, yet another Swedish tradition with delicious food, games for kids and adults, together with good music and dancing, maybe not only around the famous midsommarstången.


See you all on June 23, and again, thanks a lot for all your support during the year!

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Camping in Zambia?

by Bodil Sörensen

Camping in Zambia is easy and cheap. Most lodges have additional camping sites to their fancier chalets and luxury tents. When camping you still have access to everything the lodge offer like, restaurant, game drives and boat cruises.

On our first (and only so far but not the last one for sure!) we went with friends to Mvuu Lodge located on the river side in Lower Zambezi. The assigned camping site, one out of three, had a beautiful view over the river, a fireplace, ‘kitchen area’ with a sink, water toilet and hot water shower.

The staff at the lodge helped with putting the tents up, lit the fire three times a day, provided lanterns and made the dishes! This was called ‘luxury camping’ and we paid 25 USD/pppn, children half price. Usually the price for camping varies between 10 and 15 USD/pppn compared to ‘chalet price‘ 150-400 USD/pppn.

Before you go camping make sure what is included and what you have to bring. On our trip we had to bring chairs and tables, all food (because the lodge was actually not yet open for the season), charcoal and all cutlery. For two nights it was no problem bringing all nice food we wanted. We had a lovely time! The kids loved sleeping in tents and it was a somewhat new experience to hear the elephants roaming the area just outside the thin fabric tent wall.

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Come and Chill at the Swedish School Relax Department

by Johan Norman

Worn out after a tough week at The Office? Feel like partying with some friends? Then the Swedish School is the place to be. We have a spacious and very fresh sauna situated just next to our pool. You can arrange some good Latino food from Lugar del Taco, and the bar could also be used for this kind of event.

For booking of our relax area, please contact Humphrey at 0977-85 85 41. For ordering food please contact Pablo at Lugar del Taco, see details in the add next to this article.

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Teacher and Librarian

The Swedish School is looking for a new teacher/librarian starting from August 2011. For more information please contact

Lillian, lillian.dover@gmail.com
Ingrid, sakwanda@coppernet.zm

During the coming months we are also about to buy new books for the Swedish School library – both for the adults and the children´s section. If you have any ideas of books you would like to see in the library, please drop your suggestions in the books drop box in the adults section.

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Visit to Nzito

If you are looking for some nice souvenirs to bring home to your friends in Europe, going out on Leopard’s Hill Road could save you some time. The lovely leather bags and printed fabrics sold at Sugar Bush every woman in Lusaka seem to be well aware of already, but there are more shops in the same area.

Kilimanjaro Café opened up just behind the American School some six months ago, and soon the Afrikolor is opening its pottery just nearby. Sugar Bush farm should already have opened the new shop and coffee shop by the publishing date of this issue of Blaskan.

Just before taking off to Sugar Bush, but on the left side of the road, there is also Nzito Furniture, selling souvenirs and furniture (desks, ottomans, lamps, sun chairs, etc) mainly from old Tanzanian boats. Founder Nicola Synnerton has plans though to start producing furniture made from Zambian wood. Some weeks ago the Swedish School Association had a very appreciated coffee morning at the Nzito showroom, and we got to learn more about the history and ideas behind the company.

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