Games, summer songs and diplomas at final school day

The last day of the spring term 2011 on June 8 was a day full of activities. Starting with games, the school lawn was full of students guessing the number of pasta in a bowl, looking for hidden shoes and answering tricky questions.


The sunny day (well, which days are not sunny in Lusaka?) continued with traditional Swedish summer songs and ended with school diplomas for the students. It was also an opportunity to say good by to our teacher for many years Lillian Dover before her moving back to Sweden.

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Namwandwe gallery - a good introduction to Zambian art

A visit to Namwandwe gallery is a good introduction to contemporary Zambian art. The gallery is situated a few hundred meters after the American School on Leopards Hills Road on the left hand side. It is not a “real” gallery but a private collection available for the public.


The gallery has no official opening hours but is open seven days a week from morning to evening. When you have parked your car under the planted pine trees in front of the main building, the guide (sometimes it takes a while before he notices your arrival) will open the gallery for you and show you a round an impressive art collection while classic music fills the beautiful rooms.


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A guide on how to throw a birthday party for children in Lusaka

by Bodil Sörensen

How to throw a birthday party in Lusaka? Well, there could be the same arrangements as in Sweden but will most likely be something totally different. There are a few reasons for that. 1. The weather. Accept for a few months of occasional rains (or continuously if very unlucky), Zambia is nice and sunny all year around. 2. People usually have big gardens and in case of rain, big houses. 3. You most probably have an inviting, sparkling pool. And 4. It is nice to get to know people, kids and adults, from different countries. Here comes a few tips and contacts when planning your party.


For jumping castles and water slides.

LEISURE HIRE LTD, +26 0979523232 or +26 0211257513, www.leisurehire.co.za They are located on 2 Lunzua rd off Addis Ababa rd and will deliver and pick up you jumping castle for a extra fee.

SHATINAS CRAFTS & PARTY FUN, +26 0979 386816 or +26 0211263265, is located on 237A Bishop rd in Kabulonga. They have a smaller choice and you will have to pick up and return the castle yourself but they are cheaper in price than Leisure Hire. There is a big variety in prices, styles and sizes. To rent one during a weekend, which is more expensive than weekdays, comes from ZMK 130.000 to 500.000.


Clowns, face painting and balloon figures.

'FUN WITH CLOWNS’ provide clowns doing face painting and balloon figures and different games. Call +26 0977 450141 for more information and prices.
Cakes and goodie bags.

If you do not want to make the cake yourself the ‘cake lady’ MICHELLE makes excellent, American style ones. You can have any picture copied as a decoration on the cake. Your child’s photo, Cinderella or Spiderman are just a few examples. The midsize cake is ZMK 180.000 and should serve 20 people. You have to pick up the cake yourself and she is located opposite Sandy’s Creations near Lilayi on Kafue rd. Call +26 0955 762208 for more information.


Goodie bags, candy and small gifts can be found in stores like GAME, SHOPRITE, SPAR and PICK & PAY. LEISURE HIRE recommends ‘SMILES’ located on plot 6468, Great East rd, near Arcades roundabout.

Other ideas are pool bathing, treasure hunts, egg hunts (around Easter), candy hunts (all year!) and various games. The Swedish tradition of fish pond fishing for your goodie bag is very appreciated.

Good Luck with your party, big or small!

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A few words from the chairman of the Swedish School

by John Billing

Finally the activities at the Swedish school begins after a long 'summer' break. This semester will include a variety of activities, apart from the regular school classes: crayfish party, lectures, movie nights, flea market and the traditional Lucia celebration. We start Sunday September 4 with a get-together for old and new member. There will be food, drinks and a bouncing castle.

For those of you who wonder and perhaps worry about the future of the Swedish school, we can to tell you that the future looks bright. We have a good income and are able to develop the school. During this year, we've spent a lot of resources in repairing and maintenance and we'll continue this work.

As always, we need tips and ideas from members on activities, so feel free to contact us.

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What Swedes like to do in Lusaka ...

Swedes in Lusaka like a coffee or lunch at;

Blue Moon Café, Woodlands near Pick’n Pay, 0211 261858
Delish, Kabulonga
Kilimanjaro Café, Leopars Hill rd near AIS, 0211 250527/255830
Mugg and Bean, Manda Hill
Sugarbush Café, Vegetables and Shop, 0211 213841, 0977 874771
Zebra Crossing, Ababa House, Addis Abeba rd,

Swedes in Lusaka like lunch or dinner at;
Chang Thai, Thai, Arcades
Dil, Indian, Ibex Hill
Dong Fang, Chinese, Long Acres, 0211 254 328
Dynasty, Chinese, Middleway, Kabulonga
El Lugar del Taco, Mexican, Svenska Skolan
Marlin, Grill and Steaks, Lusaka Club, 0211 252206
Masala Mantra, Indian, Omelo Mumba rd, 0977 894042, 0211 227090
Melsim Lodge, Éthiopian, Kalingalinga, 0979 193452, 0974 279279
Mezze, Lebanese, Kabulonga
Micki’s, Grill, Sable rd, Kabulonga, 0211 263272
Mike’s Kitchen, Traditional, Arcades, 0211 256643
Mumbai Café, Indian, Great East Roma, 0211 293003, 0977 091408
Oriental Garden, Chinese Indian, Long Acres, 0211 251163
Portico, Italian, Showgrounds, 0211 250111
Roma House, Roma
Southern Sun, International,
Rhapsodys, Arcades, 0211 256705/6
Taj Pamodzi, International,
The Mint Lounge, International, Arcades
The Plates, International, Arcades

Swedes in Lusaka like to visit;
Chaminuka Lodge, 0211 840883/4
Fringilla Lodge, 0211 214364
Lilayi Lodge, 0211 840435
Protea Lodge, 0211 212843
Sandy’s Creations, 0211 278116

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First impressions of Zambia from a newly arrived Swedish man trailing behind

By Gustaf

Newly arrived in a very different country – isn’t it a fact that first impressions are quite well parcelled? During my first months here in Lusaka, I thought I’d share some of my impressions. Maybe the reader will experience feel-good-recognition and hopefully a surprise or two. Just for the record, I am not entirely new to Africa. A couple of months in Ethiopia some 10 years ago have substantially contributed to my personal interest in the continent.

At this time, I probably have to admit that I have been added to the movement of “Swedish Men Trailing Behind”. This might not be one of Zambia’s larger identifiable species. But, if you would take only the Swedish expat community as one sub-population, then this species would definitely seem to be entirely dominating. Why this should be the case is probably a question only for Swedish political science researchers to explain.

So, what is it then that these men do? So far I have only been able to scratch the surface, but my investigations show that these men seem to be engaged, driven by genuine interest, in a large spectrum of activities (which cannot be said of their lower middle age spouses who all work for the embassy or for the UN). The only thing we “trailing men” have in common is that no one has a “real job”, even if some of us probably have a decent income from some sort of “business”, while others become rich on what life and Zambia has to offer us.

What activity I will be engaged in myself is still an open question. But I am certain that I will eventually be wealthy in either one of those ways,and maybe in both. And in the meantime, in the beginning of my family’s adventure here, it seems impossible for me to avoid getting rich on impressions and new encounters.

OK, I guess this didn’t add up to much of impressions of Zambia this time, but more of the trailing expat’s unavoidable impressions. In the next issue of Blaskan, I hope reflect on peculiarities in the languages spoken here in Lusaka, but that could of course change after upcoming impressions and new encounters…

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New issue of Blaskan ...

On September the 1st a new issue of Blaskan will be launched, sign up to our mail list and you will get it in an e-mail.

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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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So how is Easter celebrated in Sweden?

by Liselott Rehnquist

In Sweden Easter means that the spring is finally in the air after a long and dark winter. Twigs are collected from birch trees that slowly awake from the winter and chicken eggs are painted in colourful designs. The twigs are put in big vases and dressed with colourful feathers.


Other Easter decorations include "påskkärringar" (a special kind of Eastern witches) that fly on a broom. The hearsay gives that all these "påskkärringar" are on their way by means of their booms heading to their annual meeting with the Devil at Blåkulla (eng. “The Blue Gables”).

Tradition also calls for the children to dress up as Easter witches with long skirts, colourful headscarves and painted red cheeks then they go from house to house in the neighbourhood giving away drawings in the hope of getting sweets in return. It is said to bring bad luck not to give these begging witches something to snack on to their way to the Devil. Most people obviously don’t like to take any chances with these witches but rather gather up with some extra candy to have at hand when they pay their visits.


The central role of the Easter witches gives a clear indication that the Swedish Easter traditions actually predate Christianity going back to the days when the Swedes were all pagans. Overall the Easter traditions is very much cross-cook where ancient ceremonies and beliefs have been incorporated and adopted into the more “modern” Christian context. The same kind of cross-cook is by the way very much the case for the Swedish Christmas traditions. Hence, even though Christianity has been the state religion for quite some time the beliefs held by the Swedish Vikings are still quite present in modern Sweden.

In fact, for most Swedes Easter has very little to do with Christianity or the death and uprising of Jesus. Rather, Easter is seen as an opportunity for family and friends to meet and feast on a traditional smörgåsbord of herring, cured salmon, potatoes, eggs in colourful designs, sausages, Jansson´s Temptation (potatoes, onion, anchovies and cream cooked in owen) and other kinds of food. Apart from the birch twigs you often find daffodil in vases on the dining table.


The children normally drink a special soda called “påskmust” whereas the adults drink beer and spiced schnapps. The children are also often given an Easter egg which is basically a two-pieced egg-shaped paper container with colourful decorations on the outside and absurd amounts of candy inside.

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Afrikolor - a Zambian pottery and batik studio

by Bodil Sörensen

Since two years ago a lot has happened on the small plot opposite Farmers Market on the way to Sandy’s Creations. That’s when Franca Namwiinga Murru VonHandorf and Tyler VanHandorf came back from studies in Malta and opened up their pottery Afrikolor. Before that Franca’s mother Josephine had for thirteen years made clothes, curtains, bedspreads etc out of her own batik coloured fabrics and she is still making beautiful things in her workshop.


Over these two years a new kiln is brought up from South Africa and they are continuously improving the quality of the Zambian clay produced on their premises.

Amongst their staff they have some of Zambia’s most talented potters. They are also experimenting with colours, glazes and fireings to make new textures and designs. In June their second workshop will open up on Leopard’s Hill road close to the American International School.


You can already now take your kids and yourself to pottery classes and that will also be possible later on in their new workshop. They have a lot of different items for sale.

A big part of their production is orders from lodges and hotels for beautiful tiles in shapes of flowers etc for bathrooms and kitchens. If you have an idea on a specific design you want to have made they can do it for you, or take a class and do it yourself!



See some of their beautiful production on Facebook: Afrikolor Pottery

For more information, call: 0977 331164/79, or send a mail to: afrikolor@hotmail.com



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The famous Swedish Library in Lusaka

by Lillian Dover

The library at the Swedish School is a major asset for those who would like to read books in Swedish. We may not have the latest books, but we have everything from the classics
to children's books. During the year we have not been able to buy any new titles due to lack of funds, but we received many generous contributions from Swedes who have been here
visiting or are moving back to Sweden.

The books that are most popular vary depending on the current borrowers’ interests. Books that have been recommended by readers:

1. Jonas Jonasson "Hundraåringen som klev ut genom fönstret och försvann"
2. Vargas Llosa Mario "Paradiset finns om hörnet"
3. Ray Klunn "En sorts kärlek"
4. Gregory David Roberts "Shantaram"

The Childrens’ section is very popular and it is good that our children also have access to Swedish books as a supplement to the English books they read at school. The older kids borrow everything from reference books and games to popular authors, such as Martin Widmark’s books on Lasse Majas detective agency. The younger children eagerly investigate the boxes filled with picture books every week.

We have received some new titles for the children’s library, as a contribution from the
Swedish Association. The library also offers DVDs, but are currently giving away videos and selling old books. There is also plenty of magazines awailable for kids and adults.

Welcome to the library and see what we have to offer!

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Plates Restaurant and Wine Bar

by Peter Sörensen

As soon as you enter Plates Restaurant and Wine Bar, you get high expectations because of the fancy interior. These expectations get even higher when you get the menu and see the prices. But with some exceptions you get disappointed when you get the food. The portions are small but expensive and they are not made with that extra finesse that is indicated by the price. But there are things to order, like for example the Tuscan Liver Plate, perfect as a starter for 2 persons of you don´t care about the boring presentation on the plate.


The veg Risotto has a nice taste but could have been decorated to satisfy the eye. The service is quite standard Zambian. Sometimes it takes too long to have the food served. You wonder why there is a small plate at your place, because no bread is served and you have to ask for napkins or tissues. The feeling is that the place has high ambitions but has not yet found a theme for their food and a quality of the food that corresponds to the interior. But there are also very nice things to be said about the restaurant. They have a great wine list that covers France, Italy, Spain, Chile and four more countries, impressive. Take your friends to Plates Restaurant and Wine Bar for a glass of wine.

Food: 5/10
Service: 3/5
Atmosphere: 4/5

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Next holiday in Mozambique?

by Theodor Sverkén Sjögren

If you are planning on going to Mozambique you mustn't miss the following;

- Maputo; a seafood platter at Costa do Sol and a snap shot of the railway station designed by Eiffel. If you prefer a burger och a pizza you must check out Mundos Restaurant. Catembe is yet another half day trip you could do, having some seafood and watching the Maputo skyline. Also the central market in the baixa is highly recommended, to get a good view of this city by the sea.


- South; Ponta do Ouro, a wonderful beach to which you must drive through an elephant park. You need a 4x4, but it will be worth it. Might be crowded with diving South Africans, but if you prefer something else you just head north ...


- North; plan for a 200 km drive to Xai Xai province and Nascer do Sol lodge. You will be surprised by the hospitality, a beach on your own and the sound of the Indian Ocean. To get here the roads are very good, but the cops bad ... so don't exceed the speed limits!


- Further up North; Pemba is close to Tanzania but also a beautiful picturesque old fishing village with nice beaches and good food.

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"Sotambe" - Zambian Art Week has started

On the Thursday night was the grand opening of "Sotambe - an exhibition of paintings and sculptures" at the Swedish School. The exhibition will run from March 24 to 31 and is covering some of the best contemporary art in Zambia right now.

Artists showing their work are Joseph Shakulipa, Samuel Mabuku, Jeff Lungu, Jim Lungu, Rickie Lungu, Mulenga Mulenga, Tessie Lombe, Lawrence Chikwa, Sydney Siansangu, Natasha Evans and Mulenga Chafilwa.

Welcome to the Swedish School for a lunch and some very good art during the coming week!

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Melodifestivalen 2011 at the Swedish School

In Sweden the finals for Melodifestivalen are coming up. Please join us watching the best songs and artists win during the coming Saturdays. The bar will of course be open.



February 12 (Scandinavium, Gothenburg), from 19 hrs until late
February 19 (Cloetta Center, Linköping), from 19 hrs until late
February 26 (Malmö Arena, Malmö), from 19 hrs until late
March 5 "Second Chance" (Nordichallen, Sundsvall), from 19 hrs until late

March 12 "The Final" (Globe Arena, Stockholm), from 19 hrs until late

Welcome to the Swedish School!

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Movie Night - "Bröderna Karlsson"

On Tuesday February 8th we are showing the Swedish Movie "Bröderna Karlsson" ("The Karlsson Brothers), a comedy from 2010 by famous Kjell Sundvall.

Starring Tuva Novotny, Jessica Zandén, Björn Bengtsson, Vanna Rosenberg, etc. English subtitles. Approx 1 h 40 min.

Starting 18.30 at the Swedish School. This event is for free.

Welcome!

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