Fashion Show and Independence Day

Friday was the fashion show that lasted from 8:30pm to around 1am (but we only stayed until 12am). I must admit that I have not been in my 'college student' mode. I was beat by around 10:30pm while the fashion show was still lively and energetic. However, the night was young as the 10 contestants came out to model what they were wearing. The different categories consisted of: office wear, sports wear, summer wear, traditional, and cocktail. The category that interested me the most was the traditional wear because they dressed like the different province tribes in Africa and the significance of each costume.

This picture shows the model in a nursing outfit. The person who was modeling actually wants to be a nurse as a profession. Other models wanted to be a soldier, social worker, secretary, among other jobs that I am not remembering at the

present moment. Between each modeling category, there were groups of young men who were on the stage to do a performance of entertainment. A couple groups did lip-sync raps and songs. There were two groups who did break dancing, which was very impressive. The music was very loud - all of us were the honored guests so we sat right in front on the right side with the speakers blasting into our ears. However, I did not hear anyone who had informed of ringing in their ears. I guess our ears can take more than what we give them credit for.

Independence day was Saturday, October 24th (a.k.a. Yesterday). The entertainment and celebration of the morning and afternoon consisted of frequent school who either sang songs or who performed the 'social dance' with both boys and girls. I think that s

ame dance was done about 4 or 5 times by different schools. The dance didn't change much, but the costumes and the number of people changed. There was also a boy who had a sack on his head and danced in front of the guest of honor. In the middle of his dance, he opened up his hands and

a whole bunch of people began to fill his hands with Kwatcha because he was dancing very well. Songs were sung by secondary schools as well as a disability school, St. Mulumba. The pictures shows a group of kids in the trees. The area around the performance square was packed with kids - about 85-90% of the audience seemed to be kids. There were guards and tape around the area. It was also really neat to see 'soldiers' march into the square with rifles (no bullets included) and saluted Zambia and its people in the beginning and the end of the program. After the entertainment of the morning, we headed back to the compound and were greeted with turkey, baked potatoes, potato salad, salad cuts, carrots, green veggies, and FROSTED cake. It was so very good! And the rest of the day was filled with catching up on homework and lovely napping. Out of the entire experience, I think I will remember the most about sitting behind the guest of honor in the shade of a small tin-roof stand and being served chilled peach-flavored water.