Last Days of Ordinary Time

I’ve had this title for a week, but then I get stuck with condensing my thoughts into one cohesive blog. Thanks to recent conversations about faith with priests in my village, letters from friends, etc, I’ve decided on the title. Alluding to advent, yes, but these past few weeks in my village were the last of the ordinary time of my service. After New Years I’ll be in the last three months during which Peace Corps doesn’t allow any official traveling and wants us to focus on wrapping up projects so they are uber-sustainable.

These past weeks have been very rewarding in multiple senses: personally, project-wise, and food-wise. I spent time reflecting on the phases of learning and understanding I’ve gone through since living under a thatched-grass roof. It has been insightful to reread journals and remember how I adapted to struggles, or remember when I was first understood different cultural subtleties. I’m proud of my personal growth but won’t bore more with details. I’m happy with my current state in the village and am starting to look at my time from a larger perspective. My also 24-year-old neighbor and I just got comfortable giving each other a hard time in local language- I’m not looking forward to packing and leaving these people! It will be one of the hardest things I’ll ever have to do.

Project-wise, I had a very successful tree- planting at my basic school during LDOOT. I got mature seedlings from a government ministry to plant as a windbreak measure on school grounds. It was so rewarding to have many teachers supporting and helping, and many of my favorite pupils planting. After so many failures and small successes, it was a great group project and one we can watch grow for years. The school has had roofing sheets blown off during gusts of windy season so these trees will serve as they sound; to break the wind. The species we planted produces red flowers so it’ll be beautiful too.

It’s mango season again. This means my favorite pasttime is again standing on my stoop with a knife and working through a few delicious mangoes while watching the always gorgeous Zambian sunset. Appetizer and entertainment – can’t beat it. Then I start the brazier and cook with my posse of three. We had the first roasted cobs of maize last week, also delicious. I’m very proud of this lead farmer of mine who is taking risks and trying new things in his farming system. He therefore has fresh maize 3 months before others and can then share it with a very grateful peace corps volunteer.
It gives me such a good feeling to live within a culture where food has seasons and everything isn’t always available. It’s so much more natural and adds another element of life to look forward to. All my comments on sweet potatoes have made me miss them, but good news! I was accepted this week for a third year of service in the GRZ so I will get more sweet potatoes! This unfortunately means I have to endure additional medical check-ups (protocol) and I’m still in the process of finding a project to work on, stay tuned. Exciting, nonetheless.

In other news, politics of my district are again being contested. Just before there will be another election. Ah, politics in a developing country. Right. Sigh.

In the category of lighter anecdotes, I’ll say that men here never cease to amuse me with their advances. Even if you did find the 12 cows my uncle (tradition) wants for my lobola (bride price) I still am not going to marry you. I was joking when I claimed my uncle was charging 12 cows for me but 3 months later I run into the same man who claims to have arranged to pay them. No thanks, I think your current wife might object.

Merry Christmas all, feel free to be jealous of my canoe- safari in Botswana. Mwende mutende.