GZU workshop

Week 1

Day 1

During the week we had a workshop prepared for Great Zimbabwe University in Masvingo. Leaving very early Sunday, to arrive in Masvingo after 3, doing shopping for the evening and arriving at the cottage/lodge. Luckily there are cooking facilities, so it’s a fairly cheap and cozy week. Nice cooking every day, and coziness, in a very big group. We already were a big VVOB group - 7 of the 15 were here, but there were also 2 other student doctors from London living in the lodge, and a group of 8 nurses - all men arrived soon after us. It was then a bit of a complication finding a spot for everyone to sleep, and our one man ended up claiming the living room. The low-cost approach has a price.

Day 2

The low-cost approach does not get abandoned with VVOB though, the first trip we had, to get to Masvingo, was in a combi, all squashed up. We decided to quickly step away from that low-cost with a short team meeting in Creamy Inn, with highly overpriced ice creams, but at times, you need to go for the high-cost approach. Unfortunately most of it was more a waste of time than anything else, the woman we had a preparatory meeting with at the university didn’t show up. From 1.30 (meeting at 2) till quarter to 4 we were at the university, and never did we hear back from the lecturer. That makes it all a bit of a waste of day, and a loss of our Sunday. But we will start with good mood, tomorrow is day one of the workshop, starting at 8 (or so is planned) and finishing at 5, with a whole load of activities to fill that whole day up. And we will all be facilitating, me included, quite an exciting moment really. For the rest I will also be responsible for some kind of report/article at the end, with Nennivah.

Day 3

First day of the workshop was a success, though it started with a look of chaotism. The morning was slightly hurried, with 15 people needing to shower, it is not the most useful, but we managed to get out of the house only 15 minutes later than planned - 7am.

At GZU we first had to declare all laptops, the woman needed the numbers at the bottom of the laptop, so we all, one by one had to unpack our goods. BUT we were still quite on time, or rather, everyone else was quite late. But first there was the hassle of having to change rooms, and we would have had to change twice, but since there was a murungu, it was okay for today. Positive discrimination is no better than negative discrimination and though it was helpful I didn’t really like it much. The lecturers showed up slowly, and the students were all (due to bus transfer problems) an hour late, but we started on without them. The participants were very motivated, actively participating. Very nice to see. The facilitation went well, lunch was good, all was successful. I had my very first ever facilitation just after lunch, and apparently I was quite good, but I had an easy part to do:), but I enjoyed it, so very definitely willing to do it again if the occasion arises.

Throughout the whole day, I was given too much attention by everyone, during the introductions when making ‘dates’ to get to know each other one guy mumbled, too bad it’s not real. Another lecturer joked all day about how, since my name is Mai I should become Mai ‘his surname’ since I wouldn’t be changing my name, from then on he referred to me as Mai ‘his surname’. Luckily it was all just one big joke, though that made me the laughing stock. Next time, I’ll say I’m married. He had asked, and I answered “no, but I’m not available”. Apparently that’s not quite enough.

We had a very good day though, and after a hard day’s work we went to reflect on the day’s proceedings at Pizza Inn bought by Chokie, very good reflection time. I’d work till 7 every day if that’s how it worked. As for the ride home, well, the fun and games never stop when there’s good music.

Day 4

When getting into the university I had to sit in the front, I was the free pass in, if they saw there was a white person in the car they wouldn’t ask what we wanted there. Once again some positive discrimination which I didn’t enjoy too much.

Second day of the workshop started slightly less active, less people managed to skip their lectures so we had less people to work with. But overall, the end of day ended up being very productive and a positive experience.

Day 5

The last day was purely for the students and lecturers to practice their own facilitating skills, we arrived at a surprising success. They were all very participative and motivated, and very good at facilitating. So next week’s set of workshops will not be a problem!

This was our last day of the week, so the next morning was a short sleep in and end of workshop, back to Harare!

We ended up leaving Harare quite a bit later than expected, and instead of arriving at 3pm like planned it was more like 6pm. For me this was a bit of a stress, I had my internship report to hand in and my evaluation that had to be done before end of month. As it turns out, though, I might still be in Harare next week, so those things can then be sorted out, luckily.

Weekend

The weekend started with a general low, but over the afternoon we went to the agricultural show, which turned out to be quite nice, after we endured some shoving, pushing and squeezing to get in. There were some music bands and just a lot of people and a lot of stuff to be bought. Tanya also did some horse riding. It was only afterwards that I learnt a couple of years ago people got squashed, resulting in 3 deaths. That will be the last time I wait till the last day to go to a show like this.

Over the evening there was a wedding, the son of one of our colleagues. It was beautiful (we just went to the dinner/afterparty and didn’t stay too long), but we did see them walking in and doing one dance. Really nice dress, the bridesmaids dresses and decorations. Wow, looking fancy! Mai Chikwanda, the mother of the groom was also looking very splendid:) Unfortunately cake cutting time was only at around 9, which everyone thought was too late to wait for - transport is always a very big deal breaker - so without wedding cake we left the wedding after about two hours. But I’m happy we went anyway:)

On Sunday we went to the movies at Eastgate. Nope, they have not changed a single bit in the last 9 years. There was not enough time to go in Eastgate itself so that’ll have to be for another time. The movies available seemed to be of a while ago, Kung-fu panda 2, No strings attached, Pirates of the Carribean and Prom. To come was Hall Pass. Of Harry Potter not a single sign, so very disappointing!! We ended up watching Prom, a Disney movie, not unlike High School Musical. The type of Sunday afternoon movie, which didn’t turn out to be so bad. And 3$ for a movie, I’ve definitely had worse!

Please tell me Harry Potter will still be on by the time I’m back!;)