A beginner’s guide to the sounds of Lusaka

• A repeated, metallic squeak. This is someone trying to get their brazier going (because there is no power again). See photo.
• A cow bell. It’s not a cow. It’s the ice cream man on his bicycle!
•  Crazed barking, usually at night. Full moon or not, the dogs in Lusaka (which from my auditory observations must number in the thousands) bark all night. There may be a moment of silence, before one starts barking again and they all join in. Don’t worry – with time it becomes soothing. Sort of.
• Meeeeeeeeeeeee. Mosquito. I hope you are sleeping under a net. If you are, you will feel a sense of victory at knowing that the mosquito cannot get you.
• Crash. Or rather CRASH!!!!!!! Like the sound of an horrendous car accident. This is a ripe mango falling from the tree onto our ceiling-less, corrugated iron roof. It is the sound of free, labour-less deliciousness.
• Yay!!!!!! This is me and Atkins celebrating that there is power and water on AT THE SAME TIME. Bliss!
•  Thunderous thunder. You can feel it in your bones. This is one of the magnificent thunderstorms we get. I adore them.
• Swish, swish, swish. People sweeping. Sweeping their house, or porch, or yard. With the best brooms in the whole world! Just straw-like sticks tied together. Why don’t we have these in New Zealand? Please customs, may I bring some home with me? Because I really enjoy sweeping when I have one of these.

Best broom ever!

Getting the brazier going