STOLL/Falling Uphill ©2005
4
smkstoll@yahoo.com
"Then you must dump your girlfriend, stop drinking beer, stop smoking cigarettes and stop chewing
khat. You must work everyday, save all your money, and maybe in eight years, like me, you can go."
"It is true," his friend says. "You have to save money. You think muzungos are rich, but they know
how to plan for the future." I have stumbled upon some very thoughtful Zambians.
I met a Peace Corp worker who had been working in Malawi for two years. Once he asked some
villagers if they would like to learn how to farm. One man replied, matter of fact, "Why should we learn
how to farm? You already do the farming." After much observation and ruminating, I have concluded that
Africa has a much bigger problem than AIDS, malaria, famine, drought, war or poverty. I met a group of
students who studied for years and came to Kenya to apply their academics. They reminded me of Zim
and Zam's "elephant problem" or the "kangaroo plague" in Australia, and were displeased when I said,
"Animal management isn't the problem, you should have gone to school for human management." I think
lack of education and over-population are parts of the fundamental problem; more so, I believe Africans
suffer from poverty of the spirit perpetuated by greedy dictators and do-good missionaries.
I prepare to depart. I won half my games, besides the kid is trying to roll my bike away. "Believe me.
It won't be easy for you in America. You have everything you need here. Don't worry. Enjoy your life.
And, remember the number two rule of life: God made suffering to teach you a lesson." I'm about to
leave, but after a second thought I hold up a checker, "Do you know which man is the most important?"
They consult each other and agree, "The king."
"No, they are all the same -- every man can become a king."
