Norway – Chanters Lodge Livingstone

The Norwegian Experience 2015!

Meet Rakel Trondal and Robert Hovde (above) from Trondheim, Norway. Rakel and Robert were Guests on the most recent edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Jay Hillz, our weekly Sunday night radio show airing on Zambezi 94.1 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station. Robert is the Deputy Head Teacher at Saksvik Primary School and Rakel is a secondary school teacher at Hommelvik Secondary School in Norway. Both were staying at Chanters Lodge as part of a group of 17 educationalists from Norway on a visit to Zambia.

For both Robert and Rakel it was, they told our listeners, their first visit to both Africa and Zambia. “Is it what you expected?” wondered Milli Jam. “Far, far better!” Replied Rakel quickly. So far they had visited Chobe National Park in Botswana and had loved the wide range of animals they had seen ‘in the wild and not in a zoo”. They had experienced a real tropical thunderstorm during the night on that trip. They had plans for a visit to Victoria Falls during their stay and would be spending three nights in Mongu, Western Province.

“Mongu’s not usually on the tourist itinerary” commented Milli Jam. Our Norwegian guests explained that the purpose of their visit to Zambia was to make physical contact with the schools in Zambia with whom their schools in Norway were ‘twinned’. In Robert’s case his school is a friendship school with Zambezi Basic School in Livingstone and Rakel’s school is a friendship school with Holy Cross School in Mongu. They had brought letters and books to give to the students in the Zambian schools with love from their fellow students in Norway. They expected to collect similar from the Zambian schools to take back to Norway.

The music on the show was good as usual. We opened with tracks from DJ Fresh ft Ella Eyre and Ne-Yo. The guys dropped work from West African Wizkid as well as Zambia’s T-Sean ft Tyce. Other were from Chef ft Macky 2, Ed Sheeran and Ozzy. Ozzy’s ‘If Only’ was our oldie of the week and the prize we give to the first listener to text us the name of the artist on the track was quickly snapped up. Our pick of the week was Sam Hunt’s major country smash ‘Take Your Time’ We closed with 5AM from Calvin Harris ft Tinashe.

Rakel told us that she’s married with three children, two boys and a girl. Robert is also married and has a boy and a girl with ‘another one on the way’. Didn’t they wish that their families had travelled with them to Zambia. Of course they did but pointed out, rightly, that it was an expensive undertaking. Robert revealed that he’s a fan of Rosenberg FC in Norway and of Watford FC in UK. But, he told us ‘handball’s my game’. Rakel loves ballroom dancing and travel. She and her family had visited many countries in Europe in the past including Turkey, Spain and Germany. She is an ardent fan of U2 and is looking forward to attending their concert in Berlin later this year – a treat afforded by her husband.

Asked where they would like to be and what they would like to be doing in ten years’ time, Robert hoped to still be involved in education, Rakel in education and in politics. We wished them the best of luck, thanked them for coming on the show, and for supporting Zambian schools as well as our lodge!

20
FEB

activities, Africa, Botswana, broadcasting, Chanters, children, Chobe, education, entertainment, football, livingstone, Mongu, music, Norway, recording, tourism, training, travel, wildlife, Zambia

The Chanters Lodge Experience With The Milli Jam Ingredient Featuring Jay-Hillz!

Meet Paul Larsson (above left) and Lars Skimmerland (above right) recent Guests at Chanters Lodge, Livingstone as well as stars on the most recent edition of the lodge’s weekly radio show, the name of which is in the title above! The show airs every Sunday evening live from 20.30-21.30 hrs on Zambezi 107.7 fm, Livingstone’s longest established and leading commercial radio station. Milli Jam the show’s host is one of Livingstone best known club and radio DJ’s, while Jay is co-host of 107.7 fm’s great Breakfast Show 06.00-08.30 hrs Monday-Friday.

Paul and Lars told listeners that they are both from Norway and working in Oslo the capital. Paul originally hails from Bergen, Lars from Stavanger. They explained that they were on a short weekend break in Livingstone, following a week’s work in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital. Milli Jam wondered where they stayed while in Lusaka and our Guests told us that they used the city’s Hotel Intercontinental and that it was ‘great’. Paul and Lars both work for the Norwegian Ministry of Finance, tax department, and were in Zambia conducting a study for ZRA – Zambia Revenue Authority. We swallowed. It was their second visit to Zambia for this purpose, the first had been in March 2014. Paul is a qualified political scientist and statistician, whilst Lars is a lawyer. They have both worked for the Norwegian Ministry for a long time.

The music on the show was latest as usual, opening with Avicii’s ‘Hey Brother!’. We dropped Ed Sheeran’s ‘Sing’ – top of the UK top 40 as we went on air. Tracks from Rehab ft Nervo, T-Sean, Katy Perry, B1 and Aloe Blacc followed, interspersed with chat with our interesting Guests. The prize we give to the first person to text us the name of the artist on our oldie of the week was quickly snapped up by regular listener Gift – the answer? The Ting Tings! My pick of the week was a new Lily Allen number and we closed with a track from Lethal Bizzle. Who else?!

Paul and Lars told listeners that since they arrived in Livingstone they had enjoyed their first sight of Victoria Falls even though, while they were looking, they got very wet from the spray! They had taken the sunset cruise on Lady Livingstone and had felt Livingstone’s winter chill as they came off the boat after the sun had gone down. “We thought you Norwegians were well used to the cold weather!” We said. “Africa’s supposed to be hot not cold!” The swift retort from lawyer Lars. The gentlemen also said how much they had enjoyed their one day safari to Chobe NP in Botswana on the day of the show and had been lucky to see lots of game, apart from big cats.

Lars told us he is a life long supporter of Leeds United, Paul that he is not much interested in football. They both thought Brazil would win the World Cup. Paul told us he loves jazz music and that they had enjoyed a performance by the Sakala Brothers when they had gone out to the Kalahari Club in Lusaka. They had not had time to rock the Livingstone clubs!

Asked where they would like to be and what they would like to be doing ten years’ from now, Paul, a bachelor was not sure, Lars, married with three teenage children wanted still to be working with the Norwegian Ministry of Finance but edging very close to retirement. “Grand children?” I asked. “That too” he said.

15
JUN

activities, Africa, Botswana, broadcasting, Chanters, entertainment, football, hotels, livingstone, Lusaka, music, Norway, radioshow, Zambia

The Richard C Nyathi Experience!

Meet Richard Nyathi (above) – half South African, half Zimbabwean, born and brought up in Zambia, Richard has spent the past fifteen years or so in the far north of Norway – if that doesn’t make him truly Zambian then I’d better look for another reason! Got it! Richard arrived at the studios of Zambezi 107.7 fm to feature as the Guest on our radio show about ten minutes after we’d gone on air with the latest edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient, featuring Jay Hillz last Sunday. Truly Zambian as I said! Milli Jam stood in for Richard at the start of the show telling us about his son’s gold and bronze medals in an Under 16’s athletics meeting in Botswana. Great stuff!

The Chanters Lodge Experience airs every Sunday night from 20.30 – 21.30 hrs on Livingstone’s leading local radio station. At the top of the show Milli Jam wanted to know how Richard and I had come to know each other, and we explained to listeners that Richard was one of the first Guests at Chanters Lodge when we opened way back in 1998.

I went on to tell Milli Jam that Richard, and one or two of his friends, were very keen on a group of Norwegian volunteers working in Livingstone back then! The Norwegian girls spent a lot of time at Chanters accompanied by Richard and his friends – so much so that Richard ended up marrying one of them – Marianne Olsen (who has also been a Guest on our show) – and moving to Tromsoe in the far north of Norway. Richard, a civil Engineer by profession, now works in maintenance for Moi i Rana town council. Mo i Rana is a town and administrative centre of the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. It is located just south of the Arctic Circle. Richard told us that socially Norway is a non racial country but professionally it can be difficult for people with non-Norwegian qualifications to get ahead. Things, however, had been better for him since he moved to Moi i Rana.

The music on the show was good with latest tracks from Mr Probz and Indiana at the top of the show, followed by tracks from KCee, Owl City, Katy Perry and Chiko Wise. Our oldie of the week was Beyonce’s ‘Naughty Girl’ and the prize we give to the first person to text us the name of the artist on the track was quickly snapped up. My pick of the week was MNEK’s ‘Every Little Word’ and we closed with a new track from Joel Compass.

Richard told listeners that he had definite plans to move back to Zambia and revealed that he had recently remarried – his new bride was Zambian and the couple were busy trying to finish building their house in Livingstone. Richard had also acquired a plot in Kazungula on the banks of the Zambezi. Milli Jam and I were happy that for once we had a fellow ‘Gunner’ alongside in the studio. Richard revealed that he had been to the Emirates Stadium many times to watch Arsenal ‘live’. His favourite player at the moment – Tomas Rosicky, favourite all time – Dennis Bergkamp. About the manager. “Why can’t he re-invent himself?” was Richard’s question! Music wise Richard is into jazz and reeled off a list of favourite artists, unknown to the rest of us!

Asked where he would like to be and what he would like to be doing ten years from now our Guest said he would like to be retired, living in his house on the Zambezi and fishing! Milli Jam, who had stood in for our Guest in the early part of the show said he wanted to be the owner of a radio station. “This one?” I wondered. “Why not!” The reply. It was a good show.

2
MAY

Africa, Arsenal, broadcasting, Chanters, entertainment, football, friends, livingstone, music, Norway, radioshow, Zambia

Trym & Torkel Fjortoft Guest On The Experience!

Meet Torkel (left) and Trym Fjortoft, Norwegian brothers on their first visit to Africa therefore also Zambia, and guests on the most recent edition of The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Jay-Hillz. The Experience is our weekly Sunday night radio show, airing from 20.30 – 21.30 hrs (CAT) live on Zambezi 107.7 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station. You can listen on line too with the right app.

Torkel and Trym told listeners that although they hail from Tromsoe in the far north of Norway, inside the Arctic Circle, they are currently living in Oslo, the capital of Norway. Trym, the older of the two brothers, explained that having finished a degree course in international relations at the University of Oslo, he is currently working at a youth information centre in Oslo, but hopes to return to university soon to study for a Masters Degree. Torkel is still at Oslo University also studying international relations, specifically American history and politics. “Do you like Oslo?” Milli Jam wondered. “Oslo’s great!” replied the boys in unison!

Torkel and Trym told listeners that they were in Zambia with several other members of their family. Their grandfather, also on the trip, was in Livingstone as part of a group of educationalists visiting student teachers on practicals at various primary schools in the area. The boys had grabbed the opportunity to visit Zambia. “Is Zambia what you expected?” We asked. These tall, handsome young Norwegians said that it was everything they expected and more, they said that Zambian people were amongst the nicest and friendliest people they had ever met. (Not at all an uncommon observation amongst visitors to this country).

The brothers went on to explain that they had been very busy since arriving in the country a week ago. They had visited Mongu in Western Province, where they had been given Lozi names and sampled Zambian food, as well as Chobe NP in Botswana where they had seen a lot of game but unfortunately no big cats. They described Victoria Falls as totally amazing and said they had not realised the Falls were ‘so big and so magnificent’. We nodded knowingly and sagely!

The boys, especially Torkel, a self confessed ‘chart junky’ when it comes to music, loved the tracks we played on the show. We opened, as usual, with Avicii’s ‘Hey Brother’ followed by the latest from Sam Smith. We followed this with A Great Big World’s ‘Say Something’ featuring Christina Aguilera, as well as the latest from Zambia’s Franciar. Milli Jam chose tracks from Shakira and Zambia’s Petersen. Our oldie of the week was Baby Love by The Supremes, but local network problems meant that listeners texting in to try to win the prize we give each week to the first person to text us the name of the artist on the oldie, went unwon. My pick of the week was a new track from Guy Sebastian and we closed with an effort from John Martin.

When asked about sport the boys bemoaned the fact that Norway’s medal haul in the just ended Sochi Winter Olympics had been far below national expectations, plus the fact that Ole Gunnar Solskjær recently appointed Norwegian manager of Wales’s Cardiff City, had made a poor start to his new job.

On the social scene “Do you go clubbing?” Milli Jam wondered, and the boys said that both Oslo and Tromsoe had great clubs. Trym and Torkel then started to discuss why they had not found time to go clubbing in Livingstone, and seemed to decide that this was exactly what they would do after they’d been out to dinner at Olga’s, right after the show!

Asked where they would like to be and what they would like to be doing ten years’ from now, they both said they were involved in music and wanted to be pop stars. On a more serious note Trym said he would be very happy to be in Zambia but felt it more likely that he would have finished studying and would possibly be teaching, as that profession ran in the family. Torkel the younger brother was insistent that he would be making money ‘doing music’.

Great guests, great presentation, great music, good show!

28
FEB

Africa, Botswana, Chobe, education, entertainment, football, guests, livingstone, Mongu, music, Norway, politics, radioshow, restaurants, sport, training, travel, wildlife, Zambia

Another Norwegian Experience!

In the six and a half years that our regular Sunday night local radio show has been on air we’ve had lots of Norwegian guests on the programme. The Chanters Lodge Experience goes out live every Sunday between 20.30 and 21.30 hrs (CAT) on Zambezi 107.7 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station. So, last Sunday we were delighted to welcome three more Norwegian ladies on to the show (left to right above) Ingrid Krogstad, Kristin Alfer and Kristel Linset. All wives, all mums, all Norwegian, all from Trondheim or near Trondheim, all educationalists and all staying at Chanters Lodge! Trondheim is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway, with a population of 181,513. It is the third most populous municipality in Norway, the ladies told us.

Ingrid and Kristel are primary school principals, while Kristin is an education adviser. The ladies were all visiting Zambia as part of their co-operation with several primary schools in the Livingstone area, where they have Norwegian student teachers undergoing practical teaching as part of their college courses. The ladies had brought letters from their Norwegian pupils for their Zambian counterparts and would go back with letters from Zambian children for Norwegian children. Kristin told listeners it was her fourth visit to Zambia but for Ingrid and Kristel it was their first time to be in the country. The ladies also mentioned that in May this year it was hoped to take a group of six Zambian student teachers to Norway for practical experience.

The show was different for us, to the extent that it was the first time for many years our show had not been co-hosted by George da Soulchild Kaufela, who, regular readers will know, had hosted his last show the previous Sunday before heading off to college in Lusaka. We were delighted to welcome Jay Hillz to the show as Milli Jam’s new co-host, thus the title becomes The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Jay Hillz. The guys chose great music. We opened with a track from Zedd, back to back with a new single from Canadian Nelly Furtado. Jay rocked us with Rihanna’s ‘What Now’ and a Zambian track from Tyce – ‘Kazizi’. Milli Jam dropped Ne-Yo’s ‘Bigger Than This’ while his Zambian choice was by B1 with Sokola Bonzo. Our oldie of the week was a Nicky Minaj track and the prize we offer each week to the first person to text us the name of the performing artist on the oldie, was quickly snapped up.

The ladies explained to listeners that as well as having student teachers on practicals in Livingstone, there were others in Mongu. Kristel and Ingrid would be leaving for Mongu in Western Province with other members of the group the following Wednesday and they were looking forward to seeing a different part of Zambia. They had much enjoyed a two day one night safari to Chobe NP in Botswana, from which they had returned the same day as our show went on air. They were only slightly disappointed that they had not seen any big cats. The ladies were looking forward to seeing Victoria Falls and maybe doing some of the other activities available in the Livingstone area during their visit.

Asked where they would like to be and what they would like to be doing ten years’ from now, Ingrid said she would like to be retired. Kristel wanted still to be healthy and a school principal while Kristin wanted still to be working, with her successful family doing fine. Were their husbands missing them at home? We wondered. They laughed and said “seeing we left home on Valentine’s Day, they probably are!” It was a pleasure to host these lively, funny, bright Norwegian mums on our show!

21
FEB

Africa, broadcasting, Chanters, Chobe, education, entertainment, livingstone, Mongu, Norway, radioshow, training, Zambia

The Latest Norwegian Experience

Since 2007, when we first launched The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George da Soulchild Kaufela, our regular Sunday night radio show, on to an unsuspecting Livingstone public on Zambezi 107.7 fm the city’s leading local radio station, we have had many Guests from Norway on the show, but few as bubbly and lively as Mariell Konstanse Rydningen (and you try saying that on radio!) (left above) and Marita Isaksen!

Mariell and Marita are third year students at the University of Tromso in northern Norway studying for a bachelor’s degree in pre-school teaching. They told listeners they had been in Livingstone for the past two weeks, part of a proposed six week stay, to gain experience at Rainbow School as part of their course. They were staying at Chanters Lodge. Milli Jam wanted to know how they were coping with the extremely hot temperatures the city was experiencing but the girls gave the impression that they loved the hot sun! Marita had been to Africa before (Egypt on holiday) but for Mariell this was her first trip to the continent. Was it what they expected? They weren’t sure but they were loving it, especially the warm and friendly people, if not quite so much the traditional Zambian food, though they had enjoyed eating crocodile meat at Cafe Zambezi in town.

Milli Jam wanted to know how the girls’ families had felt when they had announced that they were ‘off to Africa for a couple of months’ and the girls replied ‘happy’, ‘scared’ and ‘worried about losing control’ in no particular order! George wanted to know if the girls were married or single (he would wouldn’t he?). Mariell announced forcefully ‘I have a boyfriend’ which made Marita laugh at her friend Konstanse, then revealed that she too had a boyfriend back in Norway.

The music on the show was latest with tracks from Martin Garrix, Lily Allen, Exile, B1, Rihanna, Avicii, James Blunt and Dido. Our oldie of the week was Ray Charles’ ‘Hit The Road Jack’ but listeners found it hard to tell us who was the artist on the track and the prize went unwon. My pick of the week was James Blunt’s tribute to Whitney Houston ‘Miss America’.

Milli Jam wanted to know if the girls had had the chance to do any of the many tourist activities available in Livingstone and they replied that they had taken the one day safari to Chobe NP in Botswana, spent a night on Bovu Island and that afternoon had been quad biking. Mariell replied that she’d been quite scared on the river and at night on Bovu Island. They had plans to do quite a few of the other activities available and would also be spending four nights in a village on a volunteer project. They also convinced George and Millii Jam to take them clubbing!

Marita revealed that she was a fan of Manchester United but Mariell had no interest in football. they both loved rock and pop music and Mariell told us that her brother was a successful musician with Tellus Requiem currently touring in Germany warming up for Kamelot.

Asked where they would like to be and what they would like to be doing in ten years’ time, Mariell said that she hoped that she had a good job and the chance to travel, Marita the same but added that she also hoped to have a husband, children and to be driving a station wagon!

Nice show!

21
NOV

activities, Africa, Botswana, broadcasting, Chanters, Chobe, education, entertainment, livingstone, music, Norway, radioshow, sport, victoriafalls, Zambia

Like Daughter Like Parents!

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of hosting Frida Haavik with two of her friends, as Guests on the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring George Soulchild, our weekly Sunday night radio show airing at 20.30 hrs CAT on Zambezi 107.7 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station. Frida is a Norwegian student living in Zambia for some three months as part of her university course in occupational therapy. It was great therefore to be able to welcome Frida’s parents, Janne and Trond Haavik as Guests on the most recent edition of the show. Janne and Trond told our listeners they had jumped at the chance to come to Zambia – visiting Frida making an ideal excuse!

Janne, a kitchen designer and fitter, as well as a part time tour guide in Norway, and Trond, a business consultant live in Nordfjordeid, a stunningly beautiful part of Norway north of Bergen, and have been married for twenty four years, though they have been together for thirty three. “It took her a long time to agree to marry me!” Laughed Trond. “Was it love at first sight?” Milli Jam wanted to know, “for me it was anyway” said Trond. They told listeners they had only arrived in Zambia two days before the show but that they had already been busy. Their first day they had spent in and around Livingstone’s markets shopping, then on the afternoon of the show they had taken a trip out to ‘The Secret Island’ upstream from Victoria Falls where they had a great time with Frida and some of her friends. Janne admitted to having been ‘rather worried’ about the proximity of hippos. They had a two day/ one night safari to Chobe NP in Botswana planned for the day after the show and then they would spend a night in the village with Frida, seeing where she was working and what she was doing.

The music on the show was great, we opened with tracks from Wilkinson and Lawson. George chose Zambian tracks from Crisis Mr Swagger featuring Paul Ngozi as well as Izreal. Milli Jam preferred numbers from Drake and Avicii. Our oldie of the week was ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ a compilation single from the 80’s in aid of HIV Aids support. The track is generally credited to Stevie Wonder and we gave the prize of a lunch for two with drinks and a swim to the listener who texted that answer! Well done Musa! My pick of the week was Katy Perry’s super ‘Legendary Lovers’ and we closed with Eminem’s ‘Rap God’ for George, who raps.

Trond told listeners that one of their favourite artists is Bruce Springsteen and they were lucky enough to have been able to attend two of his concerts in Norway. Sports wise Trond admitted to being a Liverpool supporter, which pleased George and which allowed Milli Jam and I the chance to discuss the relative league positions of that club and Arsenal! Janne explained that back in Norway they love the Biathlon, a combination of cross country skiing and shooting. In certain months of the year at home in Norway, due to the warm water in the fijords from the gulf stream, you could swim and then go skiing, they told listeners. They were happy they had chosen to stay at Chanters Lodge during their visit to Zambia.

Asked where they would like to be and what they would like to be doing ten years from now, Trond replied that it would be nice to be in Zambia helping Zambian businesses develop and grow, while Janne said she would be at home in Norway looking after their small farm and their horses.

What funny, loving and happy parents Frida is lucky to have!

25
OCT

activities, Africa, Chanters, entertainment, music, Norway, radioshow, tourism, victoriafalls, Zambia

Occupational Therapy On ‘The Experience’

When you check the photo you can imagine Milli Jam and I were pretty happy to discuss occupational therapy with Paula Holthe, Frida Haavik and Jeanette Andersen (left to right above) on the latest edition of the Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient, our weekly Sunday night radio show on Zambezi 107.7 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station!

Paula, Frida and Jeanette are all third year occupational therapy students at the University of Tromso in northern Norway, currently in Zambia as volunteers attached to Response Network a non-profit based in Livingstone, set up to motivate villages to start and run self-help activities to improve their life situations. To this end the girls told listeners that during their visit to Zambia, which will last until early November, they would be spending four or five days per week in rural villages ‘helping people to self help’. They had already been in Livingstone for a week and had spent some time in a village during that week.

Somewhat surprised at this information, we asked the girls if they had enjoyed the ‘village experience’ and they said they had. They loved the Zambian people whom they described as being warm, hospitable and friendly. Laughing they described having seen a large black snake coming out of the toilet area in the village and being told that they could not go near the area for the rest of the night in case the snake was a Black Mamba – this forced them to relieve themselves ‘elsewhere’! “Welcome to Africa!” We said. They told us the children in the village were very scared of them and cried a lot when they first arrived, not being at all used to white faces!

The music on the show was good. We opened with tracks from Shane Filan and Olly Murs. Milli Jam chose tracks from Roberto, Afunika, Miguel and John Legend. Our oldie of the week was a Blink 182 track, ‘All The Small Things’ and I was surprised when a lucky listener guessed right and texted us the name of the performing band, winning himself a dinner for two at the lodge – a prize we give out each week on the show. My pick of the week was Jason Derulo’s ‘Marry Me’ and we closed with Kodaline’s ‘Brand New Day’.

The girls told listeners that they were all single and only Frida owned up to having a boyfriend back in Norway. This was their first visit to Africa. Milli Jam wanted to know their parents’ reaction when the girls first told them they would be spending months in Africa. Jeanette admitted that her mum had been quite scared but was now used to the situation, Paula said her parents had no worries as her sister had already spent a year in Tanzania without any problems. Frida revealed that her parents just said ‘we’re coming to visit you’ and so they were in October! I angled on air for the accommodation reservation!

The girls had not yet had time to do any of the tourist activities in Livingstone but were looking forward to seeing Victoria Falls and swimming in Devil’s Pool. Asked where they would like to be and what they would like to be doing ten years from now, Jeanette said that she hoped to have a ‘100% job’ in occupational therapy helping youths, as well as a husband and a family. Frida’s ambitions were similar. Paula – about as unfarmer like girl as you’d ever hope to meet (more like a model opined Milli Jam) – hoped to have her masters degree in occupational therapy, to be married with a family and living on a small farm in the middle of Norway!

There you are then!

5
SEP

Africa, education, entertainment, livingstone, music, Norway, radioshow, victoriafalls, volunteers, Zambia

Solborg Folk On ‘The Experience’!

Once again we were delighted to welcome a group of Norwegians as Guests on the latest edition of ‘The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Kaufela’, our regular Sunday night radio show airing on Zambezi 107.7 fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station, from 20.30 – 21.30 hrs live each week. Meet (from left to right above) Caroline Nordahl, Terje Todnem and Simen Hauge, all from Solborg Folk High School in Stavanger. Terje explained that “Norwegian Folk High Schools are one-year boarding schools offering a variety of exciting non-traditional and non-academic subjects, as well as academic subjects. The idea of folk high schools is learning for life, an opportunity to grow both individually, socially, and academically in small learning communities”. He also informed us that Solborg has 150 students and 8 courses. Caroline and Simen were part of a sports course.

Terje is one of the teachers at Solborg and Caroline and Simen students at the same institution. The three were part of a group of fifteen staying at Chanters Lodge as part of their visit to Zambia. Terje told listeners that he usually took a group to Kenya during the Norwegian winter, but had hesitated to do so this year due to the elections in that country and the possible threat of violence. He had chosen Zambia instead. He said he was happy that he had done so and that he and the students were having a great time in this country.

The students told listeners that they had spent time in Lusaka as well as in Kafue National Park before moving down to Livingstone where they had, amongst other activities, spent two nights living in a village some 20 kms from Livingstone. “How was it?” We wondered. “Interesting!” Seemed to be the reply! “No electricity and purely Zambian food” They added! The group had also had a wonderful two day one night safari to Chobe NP in Botswana and had been excited to see both lion and leopard, as well of course, as hundreds of elephant. For all of the group it was their first visit to Zambia.

The music on the show was great, featuring tracks from Maroon 5, Bastille, K.Koke ft Rita Ora and Justin Timberlake. George dropped tracks from Mampi – ‘Nikutantule’ (‘let me put you out of stock’!) and our very own Shyman’s ‘Longa Katundu’ (‘pack your bags if you’re being abused’). Milli Jam featured awesome tracks from Emeli Sande and Brandy. Our oldie of the week was a Buddy Holly track ‘Peggy Sue Got Married’ but no-one could text us the name of the artist on the record to win the prize of a dinner for two at the lodge! I won! (I’d watched the movie of the same name during the week!).

Whilst in Livingstone for a few days following the show, the group would have a ‘Surprise Day’ the next day and then would continue with school visits and interacting with the local population which was part and parcel of their visit to Zambia. Surprisingly Milli Jam did not start interrogating our Guests about relationships on this show! Our Guests did not show a huge amount of interest in football, though Caroline admitted to being a Manchester United fan and Simen Real Madrid. Simen, Caroline and Terje told listeners that they were very excited to have been granted an audience with former Zambian Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda before their return to Norway, and that they were very much looking forward to the meeting in Lusaka.

Asked where they would like to be and what they would like to be doing 10 years from now, Simen said he wanted to be involved in sales and marketing as well as boxing, telling listeners that he was a former junior amateur boxing champion back in Norway. Caroline wanted to be involved in helping people with special needs such as Down’s Syndrome. Terje hoped to be retired but still bringing groups to Africa twice per year and given their great experience this year in Zambia, he hoped this country would be very much on their itinerary!

We wished the group the best of luck for the rest of their visit to Zambia, and in the future.

24
MAR

activities, Africa, Botswana, Chanters, Chobe, education, entertainment, Kafue, Kenya, livingstone, Lusaka, music, Norway, victoriafalls, Zambia

Norwegian Educators On ‘The Experience’

“How do I pronounce your surname?” I asked Geir and Brit Hoass (pictured above) on our way to the studio last Sunday for the latest edition of ‘The Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Kaufela’. “Hoowass” was the reply. “It means ‘high hill’ in Norwegian” they added helpfully! ‘The Experience’ is the radio show we sponsor weekly on Sunday nights from 20.30-21.30 hrs on Zambezi 107.7fm, Livingstone’s leading local radio station. The show is a mixture of latest international and Zambian music, interspersed by chat with our weekly Guests.The show’s popularity is enhanced locally each week when we give away a dinner for two with drinks at the lodge to one lucky listener – usually to the first person to text us the name of the artist singing our ‘oldie of the week’.

Geir and Brit told listeners that they had been in Zambia for some ten days and in Livingstone for the past week. They were in the country to renew links between Oslo University College in Norway and Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation on the Copperbelt, as well as David Livingstone College of Education in Livingstone. This humble and friendly couple are both teachers of student teachers in Oslo, specializing in ‘early childhood studies’ – kindergarten they explained. There is a programme of student exchange between Zambia and Norway – Geir and Brit were happy to report that they had successfully concluded negotiations with both Zambian institutions. It was Geir’s fourth visit to Zambia but for Brit it was her first time to visit the country and she reported that she was ‘loving it’! They said that twelve students from Norway could be expected soon in Zambia, split between Kitwe and Livingstone.

The music on the show was good. We opened with the latest from Iyaz – ‘Da Da Da’ (brilliant title!) back to back with Justin Timberlake’s ‘Mirrors’ – number one in UK as we went on air. George chose Zambian tracks from Salma ft O. c and their track ‘Folo Folo’, as well as MackyZ ft K’Millian with no more love. Milli Jam dropped Thrift Shop by Macklemore and Ne-Yo’s ‘Get In’. We closed with Bastille’s smash ‘Pompeii’.

Brit and Geir told listeners about the one day safari to Chobe National Park in Botswana they had enjoyed the previous day and thrilled our audience with their account of seeing a lion on an impala kill – though they admitted to having some sympathy for the impala. “Lunch!” I said. They had also seen a multitude of elephant – as you do in Chobe and a plethora of other animals too. They had loved the Victoria Falls and said that although there were waterfalls in Norway there was nothing like that! They were very much looking forward to their lion encounter and sunset cruise the following day.

Asked why they had chosen Chanters Lodge Geir said that on previous occasions he had stayed at backpackers but as this time he was travelling with his wife, he preferred a higher standard of establishment. They said they had been very happy at Chanters, especially with the food and the staff. They greeted Patrick Kayawe at David Livingstone College Of Education, telling listeners that he was one person in Livingstone who had done so much for student exchange visits.

Asked where they would like to be and what they would like to be doing in ten years’ time, they replied that they would like to be retired, enjoying their grand daughter, travelling and perhaps volunteering back in Africa.

8
MAR

activities, Africa, Chobe, education, entertainment, livingstone, music, Norway, radioshow, victoriafalls, wildlife, Zambia

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