David Berger

Author: David Berger

  • Mayoka Lodge and Scuba diving in Lake Malawi.

    Now that you’ve heard a little about the rigors of our transport adventure, I want to share with you our experiences once we reached our first destination, Mayoka Lodge on Nkhata bay. We’d arrived exhausted and battered at Big Blue Star backpackers the night before, and although captivated by the lake, we were unfortunately not…

  • A complicated matter: Issues of Race

    Race. Ouch. Well, at least it’s out there. I’ve been putting this post off for a long time – about 9 months. It’s time to step into a dark, painful, and very frustrating corner – all typed on the touch screen of an IPhone. Here goes. In Zambia I’m generally greeted in public with one…

  • A Halloween to Remember

    Ladies and gentlemen, friends and admirers! This Halloween was a special day. That’s an excited introduction I know, but with good reason. On this, the 31st day of October 2012, I had the distinct pleasure and honor to welcome U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Mr. Mark C. Storella to my village. Better yet, I was privileged…

  • A Wonderful Adventure

    I hope that this note finds you well. I want to share the events of the last few days with you. On Monday morning, Mrs. Dixon from the U.S. Embassy arrived in Chisunka. She had come to check on the final preparations of a fantastic opportunity for my clinic and community (not to mention myself!!)…

  • Traveling to Malawi!

    Lake Malawi: The Adventure Begins We left Lusaka at 6:30, tucked into the back of a Toyota truck, hiding from the wind whipping by as we sped along the highway. We were on our way to the “hitching spot,” a lay-by area where we’d be able to pick up the transport that would take us…

  • Before I left the states

    Coming up on my birthday (just 4 days and it’ll be my second birthday in Zambia!!) I’m reminded of my last few weeks stateside before I left for this magnificent journey! Before I left the US I encouraged and pushed my mother to record and put together all of her original songs for me, so…

  • Modified delegation scheme:

    Well here’s gonna be a darned blog, A bit of insight into the process of delegation and the frustrations of working with youth and partially-motivated volunteers – maybe. I’m gonna start with an excerpt from Marcus Aurelius’s journals written among the Quadi on the River Gran. “First thing every morning tell yourself: Today I am…

  • Emperor Aurelius: wisdom without end

    For every moment of doubt or self reproach it seems Marcus Aurelius’s handbook has an answer. I take funerals in my community to heart – perhaps needlessly, but I feel every death is a failure on my part – needless waste of productive human life that could have changes our world. Entry 6 from his…

  • Knowledge Is Power

    Before I get into more details about Livingstone and our week exploring southern Zambia and Botswana, I thought I’d revisit this great post! Knowledge is power, power is education, education is empowerment, empowerment is knowledge. Marcus Aurelius stood as a great philosopher king in his time. Today his memoirs offer us a glimpse of the…

  • From Kaingo to Livingstone, a brief summary

    We packed up and with light hearts had our last breakfast at Kaingo. It had been a truly special, and spectacular experience. Without a doubt one of the most beautiful and stunning series of days, in terms of natural beauty and connecting with the “wild” Africa, in my service so far. What’s more is that…