One Singaporean. Two Ukrainians. Three Bicycles.

I had the luck of meeting two crazy Ukrainian cyclists in Livingstone who cycled from Nairobi (Kenya) to Johannesburg (South Africa). They were journalists writing for National Geographic Ukraine and other adventure/travel publications that targeted Eastern Europe and Western Russia.

My zeal for cycling and eagerness to help them awarded me the designation of “Livingstone Tour Guide” for a week. Sasha and Ievgen’s knowledge of English was elementary at best and my Russian and Ukrainian language skills are non-existent. Regardless, they found it easier to communicate to me and I “translate” their intentions to the locals more effective than their broken English attempts confusing Zambians. Every culture has different interpretations and use of English; Zambians, as hospitable as they are, still confuse the heck out of tourists with English idiosyncrasies. Being here for five months has made Kate and I sensitive to this, and thus, perfect translators of Ukrainian accented and broken English into Zambian idiosyncratic English.



So, armed with local knowledge, Ukrainians in tow, and their official journalistic credentials in our saddlebags, we pedaled to the major tourist attractions and enjoyed them either free, or at resident rates. We rode everywhere (about 25 miles a day) on tarred, dirt and sandy roads so bad we had to push our bikes. We saw crocodiles, a (shot) dead elephant, Victoria Falls, Bungee Jumping, Gorge Swing, the official Livingstone Baobab tree, and the local villages.

They introduced Kate and I to Ukrainian drinking practices that involved beer and alcohol (ethanol, i.e. rubbing alcohol). We politely drank it hoping a tidal buzz would follow. The only thing that came was a queasy stomach and early rest. Note to self: ride bikes with Ukrainians, but don’t drink with them.

The week with the Ukrainians left me tired. Not just from all our riding, but our language differences and the subsequent “translations” to the Zambians. But a lesson was reinforced: a common interest, willingness to “listen” to hand, body, face signals and linguistic tones will overcome any language obstacles.

Now, if I could only understand the wife.