All things Harare!

Our time in Harare was nourishing for both our bodies and our spirits. We are replenished and ready to continue our adventure to the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe.

Delightfully, Casabio Chronicles visited their first school, The Mutendi Montessori Day School where Mr D and his compliment of staff were welcoming, professional, curious, and shared with us their warmth and care. On Thursday, Shereen spent the morning within the 3-6 environment observing and connecting with the guides and children in that class. As part of school visits, we leave some material for the children to work with to further nurture their interest and appreciation for Botany. To this end, we were sure to leave a magnifying glass, hand lens, plant press, and sewing supplies for the children to use to mount their herbarium specimens on cardboard. The guides were so excited to receive these items and could hardly wait to put them on the shelf the following week. FriYAY morning saw David presenting to all ages of the school (2 – 15-year-olds) his passion for all things plants, weaving together many threads that could be later elaborated on by the teachers. The best way to spend a morning or two!

The Tree Society to Harare came together on Friday afternoon showing spectacular support for a talk David gave entitled “Up-close and Personal”. Obviously, David was on top form doing what he loves and thrilled the attendees with some of his more recent pictures taken on the journey thus far and showcased Casabio’s latest developments. Merriment was had by all; great botanical conversations were shared and witnessing the deep sense of community that this Society embodies was just beautiful. We greatly appreciate the generous donations that the members made to Casabio Chronicles and those funds we utilized to repair our dear Skyla, fill up with diesel, and attend to our solar panel palaver! Tada, we have a very happy Skyla as a result and are can confidently report that she is fit for journeying again!

What would a visit to Harare be without some Jui Jitsu? Most fortuitous for Shereen indeed, Coach Steve (from SBG Cape Town) was in Harare to help Lewis prepare for his upcoming MMA fight. It has been years since Shereen saw and trained with Lewis, who while in Cape Town was one of SBG’s die-hard students, making it to many if not all classes weekly. Lewis Mataya is now the head coach at Zimbabwe MMA & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu SBG ATG and a spectacular human being who deserves EVERYTHING that comes his way, you are a big, beautiful, smiley, happy heart indeed! Love you to the moon and back Lewis bear, thank you for being such an inspiration to me and my long, long, long stay away/train relationship with Jui Jitsu. Coach Steve, what timing we have hey, seeing you in Harare. When we get back home to CT, I will not pay for classes and stay away, but come and play rather, I greatly appreciate how you teach this art and despite myself, always go away feeling like I can roll! I had such a great time seeing you again. Thank you for all that you are, and for the many ways you show your care!

The name Harare means, “he who does not sleep”, and can I say that one of the things we did exceptionally well here is sleep, thanks to the love, hospitality, joy, and care of our gracious hosts Mark and Linda Hyde. Your astounding, bottomless capacity to have us in your home and extend your courtesy to us is unparalleled. Thank you for showing us how, should we get the privilege in the future to support weary travellers, exactly how to do it with grace. Deeply Grateful to you both, may you continue to stay well and be blessed!Read more