Orf in Africa - Day Seven. A picture tells a thousand words

Coach Orf on the 'paddock'

Plenty of Hippos on the banks of the Zambezi



Pretty basic conditions...makes tackling practice pretty bloody hard!





<> 

Quite a language barrier so lots of sign language!

The Linda area is really quite poor

<> 

First attempt at scrums......

 

Linda Market Place





Orf in Africa - Day 3. First Day at Linda!

Fantastic Kids.....seconds before I was mobbed!

Local Markets where I bought a box of bananas for the kids

Locals doing what locals do

Orf and Joi - One of the four teachers for 200 kids



Hard earned Mosi with a couple of lads from Fawlty Towers...
Us and about 500 Zambians - Think we stood out?

My first impression of Livingston is the overwhelming warmth of the people. They love to shake and hold hands and they are nothing but smiles....not just with me but with each other.

First day at the orphanage today. I took along bananas because funds are low and they are running short on the maize porridge they feed the kids with twice a day. They were a big hit!

Rugby is about the weirdest game they have ever seen so coaching is going to be fun ..... Most of the kids are very athletic - they will pick up the fundamentals soon enough I reckon.

PS. Lost internet for two and a half days, so this post is old news now. Will post an update soon.

Cheers

Orf

Orf in Africa - Day 1



Today I met Lameck Mponda, my guide and project manager - terrific bloke who I hit it off with instantly. I learnt how to shake hands the proper Zambian way...quite cool. I met Miriam, the barmaid from 'Faulty Towers', Garby the barman from "The Spot',  Hans the mad Dutchman with his own safari tour business and Inga the German who swam in a local river and picked up some hideous parasite that has turned her legs into a festering mess.....yeah, not pretty!

I also learned today that the two dozen balls that I bought in Cape Town have still not arrived. Looks like I will have no alternative other than to teach the kids ribald rugger songs until they arrive : )

But, by far and away the most important thing I learnt today was that the local brew Mosi is excellent and only $1.50 over the bar. How good is that!

Countdown to 'Orf in Africa' - Zero Days to go.......Airport Time!

All ready to go!

 Last minute thanks to String and Wilko who helped out with a few last minute bits of kit. Thanks boys.

At the airport in a few hours and in Livingston at 1245 tomorrow after 23 hours flying time and five hours transit. I wonder if I get tomorrow off?? I think I'm going to need a few bevvies.......

What is not done now will stay not done but I think I got pretty close. Going to have to wing the program - don't have a clue what these kids know and don't know about rugby but I've got a million games and skills to practice.

Really looking forward to it and will keep the news flowing via the Blog.

Cheers and thanks for all the positive support!

Orf

Countdown to Orf in Africa - 8 Days to go!

I was touched this afternoon when the Quins turned up on my doorstep with a huge bag of stationery for the kids in Zambia. Superstars both of you - thanks Julia and Christopher Quin - legends in my books.

And so, to celebrate such generosity we accidentally drank three bottles of champagne and a bottle of sav blanc........ all in the name of a good cause of course.

Cheers

Orf 'Almost in Africa'

Countdown to Orf in Africa - 11 Days

One of the amazing and rewarding things about doing this project is the people I have interacted with as part of my preparation. It started when I was last in Aus, bouncing all the logistics off all my mates. And what do you know....people know people!

Thanks to Alex and Cam Feltham I got to share a beer with Paul Carozza at their kitchen table. Paul is a former Wallaby and currently part of the QRUs rugby development program and has put together a package of QRU love for the kids. Thanks mate.

Thanks to UE Walker I got an introduction to Marto of Wallaby and Triple M fame. And Marto tells me that George Gregan (most capped Wallaby ever) was actually born in Lusaka, Zambia. How's that! Marto is now trying to organise an intro to George who will hopefully be quite interested in a dopey Aussie bloke trying to teach rugby to a bunch of eager Zambian orphans. Thanks Marto, that's gold.

PS I'm hoping I haven't infringed any copyrights and that the headshots I've chosen are acceptable to the guilty!

Special mention must also go to Moorey who did his best to get me an in with the ARU - very ordinary when your contact decides to leave the country!

Cheers

Orf almost in Africa...

Countdown to Orf in Africa - 14 Days

Closing out more fine details each day.

Tonight I received my final info package - a couple bits of interest. First is a letter of welcome from the Head of Linda Community School - it's a bit hard to read but the message is clear enough............
 
Good to know that I will be giving them something to sink their teeth into during the school holidays!!

And, the school itself - needs no commentary but is interesting.....

Cheers

Orf 'almost' in Africa!

Welcome to my blog 'Orf in Africa'

The countdown is on! 16 Days until I arrive in Livingston, Zambia to teach kids from Linda Community School & Orphanage the finer points of rugby - or more probably, the absolute basics.

Stay tuned as I update this blog with my final preparations and my experiences once I hit the ground in Africa.....