Some Zimbabweans and Americans living in South Carolina, USA, say they are anxiously waiting for a total solar eclipse Monday as they have purchased the necessary sunglasses and moved to areas where there will be total darkness.
Several residents of Powdersville in Greenville will have their eyes glued to the sky for almost two minutes thirty seconds to watch one of the most spectacular events provided by nature.
“I will have time to get out of my work place to watch this event which occurs once in a very long time,” says South African-born Zimbabwean industrial mechanic, Tshaka Tshabalala, living in Powdersville.
According to another local resident, Quincy Hunter, this will be one of the most watched events in this part of the country and elsewhere. He adds that the event is exciting though some people are concerned about a total solar eclipse.
“I will say I’m a little excited, a little happy. I have seen a lot of people coming here (for the solar eclipse). Some people say it’s gonna be dark for three minutes or so … It’s a good surprise for me.”
But one of them, Evelyn Cooper, won’t watch the eclipse. ‘I am not gonna watch it because I am blind in one eye and they say they are safe but I am afraid to wear them because I do not want to ruin my other eye.”
Thousands of miles north of Powdersville, people have been queueing outside the National Air and Space Museum, to collect free sunglasses recommended by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.