Monthly Archives: August 2011

    August 30, 2011: “Who’s going to start the show this year?” Every year farmers in the Schleitheim valley could count on Hans Jürg Meier to be the first to seed canola. The village is still reeling from the … Continue reading →

August 22, 2011:  It’s hot in Switzerland. So hot that even this water shy girl joined her friends at the outdoor pool in Schleitheim yesterday. “Finally it’s summer!” everyone here is saying. It feels just like Zambia to me. So … Continue reading →

August 16, 2011: Stone rain, they call it in Africa. The damage it did here in Schleitheim, Switzerland does the name justice. The old folks say they’ve never seen such a hail storm in their life. It was the timing … Continue reading →

     It’s an idyllic picture: a large boisterous family gathers around the big wooden kitchen table of this organic farm. The food is from the family garden – fresh carrots, a big bowl of salad, potatoes and meat. There’s always … Continue reading →

     We talk about tribalism in Africa. “What tribe are you from?” can be a good, or a dangerous question. During the riots after the election in Kenya in 2007 tribal affiliation decided your life. In Zambia, it reminds me … Continue reading →