It has been about one month since I left home and the U.S. Just some
quick information regarding my intake group: there are 42 of us total
forming 2 groups. My group is RAP and deals with helping farmers
integrate fish farming into their livelihoods. There are 18 Rappers.
The other group is CHIP and they are focused on community health. So
PC Zambia has been calling our intake “fish and chips.” Cute, huh?
I am learning the language Tumbuka (pronounced “Toom-boo-ka”). If you
wanna see the area I will be in for 2 years starting at the end of
September, or if you just wanna practice your geography skills, find a
map of Zambia and look up Eastern Province and then within it, the
Lundazi district. There are 4 of us going somewhere in there. I will
find out my exact site next week. Then the next week (1st week of
Sept.), I will be traveling to my site to check it out and set up my
new mailing address for all you love-letter-writers out there.
I have been living with a Zambian family for the last 3 weeks. They
are an unusual Zambian family in that there are only 3 of them: a
grandmother Ba-Patricia (age 48), her daughter Eneress (age 24), and
Eneress’ baby Patti (age 1.5). That’s it. No men, no cows, no goats,
and heavens-to-betsy no chickens! Speaking of animals, I have seen
nothing crazy….other than a herd of monkeys crossing a road. The only
“wildlife” around are lizards, small birds, dogs, cats, cows (not very
many), goats (quite a few), and a sushi-load of chickens (“sushi” is
Bemba for poop. Oh, and “taco” means butt, so you can imagine the
jokes).
My days are pretty full and busy. I wake up around 6:30am. After using
the chimbuzi (outhouse), I eat breakfast and walk to language class.
Language class lasts from 8am to noon. Then, I have 2 hours to eat
lunch and ride my neat Trek mountain bike to technical training. In
technical training, I learn all the ins and outs of rural fish
farming. It is pretty interesting and involves quite a bit. This lasts
from 2-5. Then, I bike home while rockin’ out to the Beatles
(obviously), Tom Petty, Bob Marley, and/or Vampire Weekend (thanks
Caitlin! And I hope you had a very Merry Birthday! I was thinkin’
about you August 2 and wishing I could’ve celebrated with you). The
trail I get to ride my bike on is really fun and you can haul buns (or
just water, on your head as most Zambian women do).
When I get home, my ba-mama has hot water ready for my bucket
bath!!!!! Hands down the best part of my day. It is very relaxing. The
African sun is usually just setting. The view from my bathing shelter
looks out across a valley. I can see other huts and sometimes people
walking around. Children are always playing and you can hear them
laughing and yelling at each other. There is a lot of singing here, as
well as some really fun bird sounds. And I get to stand there naked,
in a light breeze, surrounded by a straw enclosure that turns golden
as it catches the long, evening rays of a sunset, with my feet soaking
in warm water, completely immersed in this far-away land rich with its
sounds, smells, strangeness, and surreal moments. Then I dry off, dump
the dirty water, and get ready for supper.
I eat every lunch and supper with the family sitting on a reed mat.
The staple food here is shima (or nshima, or sima depending on your
language) which is made from corn flour and water. You ball it up and
use it to scoop up whatever else you are eating (potatoes, beans,
eggs, chicken, vegetables, etc.). After supper, I hang out and listen
to Patricia and Eneress talk really fast in Tumbuka and try to pick
out words I am learning. Then, I go to my hut and read/write in my
journal/study Tumbuka/brush my teeth/practice my aim in the
chimbuzi/occasionally talk to Jim, Mom, Dad, Birdy, anybody that
calls, and then fall asleep somewhere around 8 or 9. The sun goes down
around 6 and since there is no electricity, there is not much to do.
And it is REALLY nice getting a good 10 hours of sleep every night!
Oh yes, I should probably let you know the communication situation. I
am going to have very limited internet use. Good, fast internet
connection, that is. But please note: I have internet on my phone so I
can check my gmail. However, I’ve tried repeatedly (as well as other
volunteers here) to reply and send emails from gmail and it has never
worked. So feel free to send me quick emails any time you want. I’ll
get them, but won’t be able to reply. Just let me know what’s going on
with you and the outside world. I can reply to myspace and facebook
messages (I know I said I wasn't going to use them....but to
communicate with you I will make exceptions). I have almost zero
access to currentevents. There are very few places with internet fast
enough to upload pictures or to operate on Skype. But I do have a
phone that you can call anytime after 7ish my time, which is noon for
central time. BUT remember, I go to bed by 9…..so you only have a
2 hour window! This will change in October when I am at my site and
no longer have classes or any schedule for that matter.
I believe you must dial this to reach me: 011-260-977-746-154
I believe others have told me that calling cards are cheaper than
Skype for Zambia.
I also believe that all you need is love.
Ok, I guess this is all for now. Hopefully, I will be able to come
back to an internet café to upload another blog before I am posted at
my site. I’m not sure of the internet situation at site, but hopefully
I will be able to blog every month or two.
Keep on living courageously, all you fine folks out there. I miss you
dearly and look forward to hearing from you. And remember, love is all
you need. All together now! All you need is love! Everybody! Love!
Love…love is all you need.
