A few things I have found out and things I have seen in my first two weeks:
· The currency is the Kwacha and the exchange rate is 7500 to the GBP.
· Cashpoints allow you draw out a million at a time (about £133). A very wierd feeling when you first do it
· There are no coins – all paper
· The smallest note is the Kw50
· Supermarket and petrol station tills have to round down to the nearest Kw50
· When you go to a supermarket it is like going back in time. You can get Stork margarine, OMO washing powder, Lifebouy soap, all glass bottles have a deposit on them
· No self service petrol stations – all attendant operated
· Diesel is around £1 litre
· Driving through Lusaka you can buy anything along the way from guys in the road. Kitchen day when there are sink plungers, fly swatters, sink plugs. Games day when it is Monopoly, Scrabble, drafts. Electrical day for phone chargers, radios, toys.
· Everyone has a mobile phone and if you get a call it takes priority over everything no matter where you are or what you are doing; driving, in a meeting, in a presentation whatever. A little annoying.
· Top up phone cards available everywhere from Kw500 to Kw50000
· The biggest and most overloaded trucks I have ever seen and the most broken down!
· The buses consist of a small Toyota minibus designed for 9 people into which they squeeze 18 (have done this and it is not great!)
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