Did you know that you can fit over two continental United States within the confines of the African continent? The reason I mention this is because I am constantly learning how amazingly diverse life is over here. Right now I’m in Zimbabwe (click here for your crash course and geographic orientation), and I am constantly struck at the differences between here and Senegal.
The morning of my run, I pulled out my shorts a crinkly 2000 CFA bank note (West African currency). I always run with a little bit of money on me, and now that I’m not in Dakar I had to scrounge around for a few U.S. dollars to stash in my pocket. Yes, here in Zimbabwe the old currency is worthless (check out the banknotes in the background). I bought billions and billions of Zimbabwe dollars during my stay for a rock bottom price of….well…next to nothing.
And while we’re talking about it, I should allay any familial concern and say that I also always run with an “in case of emergency” note in my pocket. Normally this kind of initiative demonstrates superior contingency planning skills putting myself on foreign terrains- but as my pal Meaghan informed me, my notes aren’t always accurate- or helpful. Here she came across a note that I had penned one morning when leaving her house for a run. You can see that the address and family name are oddly similar…so much so, that had I fallen into the Seine, I’d be a goner. Drink more coffee before running.
Okay, back to Zim. Did you know that this country is known as Africa’s breadbasket? You dont even need to venture outside of the capital to see that this distinction is justly earned. Corn fields crop up on street corners, and Harare really is a sprawling capital of high rises and fields for farming. It’s pretty here.
Zimbabwe is a former British colony formerly known as Rhodesia, and much like The Gambia you will see traces of rather British (and Irish) sounding names like Churchill Street and Connemara House. While driving around the capital, I found this name to be my most favorite, and I have no idea why.
And just because I mentioned my dear friend Meaghan up above, I feel that this is the appropriate posting to mention that Harare has not one but many Bon Marché stores. Alas, they are nothing like what you’ll find on the Left Bank of Paris. Le Sigh.
I’ve got loads more neat stuff to show, but I’ll stop my entry here.