So my last month in Zambia went well, and definitely went fast. At the start of the month I went to the Zambian National Agricultural show. It was sort of similar to fairs in Canada. I spent most of my 4 days there walking around and interviewing people at other booths and working on my market research. I could only do this till about 11 or 12 though as it got really busy after that and interviews were almost impossible and definitely stressful. Some of the more interesting points were:
- an EU funded project for Mining Sector Diversification Project. Basically they help people to mine gemstones and precious metals in a country that has trouble seeing past their large amounts of copper.
- the Environmental department which are working really hard to educate people on the Kyoto accord and are working on their promise of getting rid of all ozone UN friendly products like CFC's in aerosol and refridgerators
- The energy regulation board which is trying to market a waste product from the energy industry as a replacement for propane.
- cultural dances including a man in a large scary mask who would dance if he got money and then headbut the person who gave the money (pretty sure it was meant to be a kiss though)
- DAPP who have developed a manual borehole driller and swear to me that it works
- The Young farmers stand which was actually run by people nearing middle age, but that is just semantics. In this stand there was a booth for all the different provinces that highlighted the different agricultural practices that take place.
- OPPAZ, GART and KATC which work together to develop new agricultural techniques tin the areas of conservation and organic farming. Absolutely fantastic groups working to help alleviate poverty with education and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

so I could go on for pages and pages, but that wouldn't be very interesting so I will just not. Instead I will move on to the rest of my month. Basically i spent the rest of the month of August working on my market analysis of TDAU, which I gave to TDAU and the new business development officer. I also worked on some small market related projects.

Oh yeah and I went white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi river! and saw Victoria Falls (mosy-oa-tunya) but that has nothing to do with development at all.

I spent the last week going out for lunch and supper with friends in Zambia to say goodbye. Was sad but also really good because I didn't have to pay for anything (Zambian tradition I swear) and everyone made me really awesome food. ESPECIALLY my host mom Patricia who made an entire spread for me and we finally got to bed at like 12 that night after a really awesome supper. And some nonalcoholic champagne and some alcolic beer and red wine. no hangovers though which is more than I can say for some of the other JF's who met us at the airport the next day. After a 32 hour flight, couple days of laid back in Toronto, a week of playing with my new nephew who is the cutest baby ever, I am now in Winnipeg again paying my tuition fees late, and getting to class late as per usual.

Hope everyone who read my blog enjoyed my ride as much as I did.

SJ