What Do Zambians Talk to Me the Most About?

What do Zambians talk to me the most about? That’s a good question, and the answer will probably surprise you.

You might think it’s the gospel or HIV/AIDS or why I live in Zambia or where I come from or that I’m mzungu (white person) or what I believe about such and such or how do I like being the new AZ Country Director. Well, I do talk to Zambians a lot about those things, but that’s not what they broach with me the most.

Apparently, I’ve found out, I must be one of the very few people in this country that uses the air conditioning in my car. Wait, you say, what does that have to do with talking. Well, when you use your air conditioner in a hot climate, condensation builds up on the a/c unit and drips down onto the ground.

This has been extremely perplexing and worrying to so many people. Whenever I’m waiting in my car to pick up John Chitambo for the CROSS Project HIV/AIDS ministry, at least once a week, if not more, someone knocks on my window to let me know that, “Sir (panic in their voice), there is some kind of water leaking from your vehicle!” Even the other day at a stop light, the guy behind me, who was in a suit, ran up, knocked on my window to inform me that water was leaking from my vehicle and that I should pull over as soon as possible. I tried to explain that it was ok, but I don’t think he believed me.

So, as much as I give a defense for the gospel in Zambia, especially in the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, I also, at least weekly, give a defense about my air conditioning to someone who is very worried about why my vehicle is leaking water.