The Real Africa!

First post from Zambia – the real Africa!  Today is day 23 in-country and our training group got an un-expected trip to the big city to use the internet and eat dairy.   That’s the entirety of my goals for the day.  First off, things are going really well.  We arrived without problems to Lusaka airport with a cheering welcome from some current Volunteers.  Few days later we went in small groups to visit current PCVs.  I visited one in Southern Province (google a map to reference this and future place names!) which is the heart of Tongaland.  Beautiful area, but none of my current group will be posted their.    The visit was great though for re-confirming my desire to be here.  Returning to Lusaka was the next big day b/c we learned our language assignments and moved in with our host families for our 2 months of training.  I was placed with 2 other LIFE (my environment program) trainees to learn Kikaonde.  This means the language of the Kaonde people, and in my case automatically meant that my permanent placement will be the the NW province of ZAMBIA!!  (now is another good time to google a map)

This is the land of pineapples, the longest rainy season, and many other great things I’m sure I will learn to love.  Others in my LIFE group are learning a second language which places them in Eastern province, and the majority are learning Bemba and will go to either Central or Luapula (land of the lakes).  So the three of us were the smallest group.  THEN, midway during our second language class we became a language class of 2.  Thanks to my disclaimer on the right column I can say that the PC sometimes seems to be too beaurocratic for its own good.  Someone in Washington didn’t pass the right papers to someone else in Zambia and 2 weeks into service someone was separated for a medical reason.  This should’ve been seen sooner b/c it will take time for this person to get re-invited somewhere else.  Yet life goes on.

So my host family is great.  I would have some pictures but then how would I keep up my readership?  Suspense!  Really, I forgot it in my hut.  I have my own perfect little hut (about 10×12), a kimbusu (pit latrine), and bathing shelter.  Here’s the non PG section:  Yes,  a pit latrine is literally a hole covering the deep pit.  Toilet seats are for the weak!   I have hot bucket baths which are stellar, but washing your hair takes skill.  Alot of skill.  Back to PG.   My host parents and older brother know the most Kikaonde to help me, but the younger nieces and nephew speak mostly another language.  They understand enough and love to laugh at me.  I don’t think there’s enough space on the blog to explain how hard they laughed at my first attempt to dance the other night.  Zambians, especially females of any age can just move it!  In good time, I’ll learn.

Food is good but most of us hit the low point of adjusting this week.  Thank goodness for yoghurt today.  As I wrote before I think, the staple is a cornmeal ball with relishes like sauteed vegetables.  Whole cobs of roasted corn are delicious!  I’ve been eating alot of soya pieces which are my protein and it’s not a problem at all to stay veggie.  I have had some chicken – this is culturally always served as a guest’s first meal, and some goat which is a story for later.

So, I’m wrapping up, but keep those letters coming ::hint, hint::  I am working on some myself.  The address above ^ is still where you should send all letters and packages, and I will have another in NW province later.  Overall, I personally can’t imagine not being a LIFE Volunteer in Zambia.