| Page Views: 2,141 Last Visit to Luanshya: April, 1975 | Luanshya - what a beautiful town it was! by Bwana_Brown - last update: Mar 30, 2007 |
| A Flamboyant tree on the way to the Mine Club |
Luanshya, what can I say about this little mining town in the middle of nowhere in Zambia, Africa!? At 23 years old, I was invincible and had just graduated from university and suddenly here I was in fabled Africa - how could it possibly get any better?
I had the time of my life while living there, learning about and exploring this continent that I had read so much about but had thought that I would only ever experience through movies or books. Not only that, I became part of a championship softball team and the experience of living on another continent taught me to always pay attention to the people, animals, plants and everything around you. I had the most dangerous experience of my life during a break-in there (I think the guys were high on drugs) but also the greatest happiness, as I met and married my wife Susan - we are now coming up on 33 years of togetherness!
Previously, in New Brunswick, Canada, I had completed my 12 years of schooling followed by another 5 years of university to obtain my degree in Electrical Engineering. I had done what had to be done to get my 'piece of paper' and now I intended to see what 'real' life was all about! I was not interested in a Masters degree or the usual job offers that were available - my heart was set on Africa! Not having any actual job experience, I applied to the Canadian University Service Overseas volunteer agency, simply specifying that the job must be in 'Africa'. A couple of weeks later they told me I would be teaching electrical technology subjects at the Zambia Institute of Technology in Luanshya, Zambia - leaving in about 3 months time! That was exciting news!
This is just a flashback to what Luanshya was like way back then in the early 1970s - but we are hoping to return sometime soon! |
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| Pros: | "The best time of my life" | | Cons: | "Things have not gotten better for Zambians" | | In A Nutshell: | "It was a bygone era" |
Bwana_Brown's Luanshya Travel Tips
Comments for Bwana_Brown about Luanshya | | | | |
richiecdisc Wed Oct 7, 2009 00:48 UTC What an amazing adventure. Love the nightlife tip and what a find in James, especially the local foods and maggot saving laundry detail! It's good to see your "real life" wasn't ruined. In fact, it seems this was the beginning of the whole thing. | Gili_S Sun Aug 16, 2009 16:04 UTC Nice to see for a change how was life in Africa in the old days :) I wonder how much it have been developed since? I would have like to visit this country one day. | JohnMG Mon Aug 3, 2009 22:16 UTC Nice find! I worked here 76-81 in Power Plant then SE28# , then SE Baluba. Many memories, all good. I remember the jacaranda tree by Std Bank. Had a lovely place on 'E' Avenue. Thanks so much for this. John Gray | Nemorino Mon Jul 6, 2009 13:37 UTC Glenn, these are fascinating & moving accounts of your life in Zambia in the 1970s! Your account of meeting & marrying Sue right there in Luanshya reminds me of another VT member, tiabunna (George) who got engaged in Oodnadatta in the Australian outback. |
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