I'm 23! Don't feel much different than I did yesterday, yet 22 began what feels like an epic chapter that will continue to be filled with stories of adventure, inspiration, frustration, and beauty. The past weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. After IST I moved into a temporary homebase, in Kalomo which is a boma (small town) 40 minutes south of Choma. Not really diggin the town vibe, I miss the quiet communal feel of the village, so I am traveling from village to village working with other Peace Corps volunteers on various programs. Just came back from doing a cheese-making demo at my friend's school, which was a success! Cheese-making, particularly as hungry season begins (in between planting and harvesting time), is a great way to improve food security, especially because at this time the cows are producing lots of milk due to the rains and abundance of grasses for them to eat. All you need is milk, vinegar or lemon juice, and salt to make village cheese! The kids really loved our cooking demo. I spent my birthday evening with this same friend, listening to music and enjoying the clear, starry, moon-filled sky.
All of the Southern volunteers had a giant January birthday party on Saturday. The theme was mustaches, machetes, mini skirts, and mohawks. Tons of fun and overwhelming celebration. Headed to a friend's village before the party to do a malaria prevention talk at the Under 5 clinic. The sun has been shining the past 2 weeks, so we bathed and swam in his river for almost an entire day. Got tons of vitamin D, which I have been missing in the rain! Headed to another friend's village today to do an HIV prevention talk in her class, and then doing both cheese-making and HIV education in yet another village next week. Then to visit a close friend in central province. Keep moving, that's my current slogan. I want to teach myself how to make fruit jam this weekend as well, so I can teach villagers how to preserve the abundance of a single fruit before it spoils (for example, now mangoes are falling everywhere, and many rot before they can be eaten).
Saw photos of my new hut... I can't believe how much work Peace Corps staff and my village have put into this new home! I am expecting to move in at the end of February, and I really cannot wait. I cannot wait to re-decorate my hut with paintings, wall-hangings, citenges, collages, photographs, etc. I am also planning a vegetable garden and kitchen compost, hoping to grow kale, lettuce, carrot, onion, and sunflowers. Hopefully the chicken wire can prevent the goats and cows from eating the vegetables! My new hut is located on top of a hill that overlooks the entire village, as well as the nightly golden sunsets. I have a mango tree, a bit more privacy, probably better cell service than I had before (which was next to nothing, so anything will be an improvement!), and hopefully a comfortable new home. Sending so much love to you all back home <3
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Changes Changes!
I am currently in Lusaka at IST and have completed my Community Entry... I can't believe how quickly it went by! I am beyond happy to be with all of the friends I came into country with, and a bit sad that I will not see many of them until midway through my service. Let's see... I have a new hut being built because the flooding destroyed my hut, so I will be staying with two Peace Corps Response volunteers in Kalomo (a small boma) until my hut is finished. I want to get back to my village so badly, I miss everyone so much and I miss having a home. I am, however, excited to decorate my new home... the paintings and collages from my old hut may not make it in the move up the hill to my new hut, but I will make them again. Impermanence of things, and patience. I will be hopping around to friends' villages to do nutritious cooking demos, health talks, and will also visit the District Health Office and a number of NGOs in the boma so that I can bring back ideas and resources back to my village in a month (hopefully it won't take much longer than that, but time is elastic here in Zambia).
My counterpart from my clinic Judy and I have come up with a plan to have a program at our clinic where we take 10 to 15 of the most malnourished children from our Under 5s, have a cooking demo once a week where the mothers each bring an ingredient to a potluck and we will teach the mothers to cook balanced meals for their children, and we will monitor their weight gain. Once they reach their target weight (which I will collaborate with the nurses to determine), the women and their children will graduate from the program and we will rotate in another child and his/her mother. I am also hoping to start an HIV/AIDS support group at my clinic. I am so energized to get back to my village and begin working on these programs. Love you all!
My counterpart from my clinic Judy and I have come up with a plan to have a program at our clinic where we take 10 to 15 of the most malnourished children from our Under 5s, have a cooking demo once a week where the mothers each bring an ingredient to a potluck and we will teach the mothers to cook balanced meals for their children, and we will monitor their weight gain. Once they reach their target weight (which I will collaborate with the nurses to determine), the women and their children will graduate from the program and we will rotate in another child and his/her mother. I am also hoping to start an HIV/AIDS support group at my clinic. I am so energized to get back to my village and begin working on these programs. Love you all!
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Happy Holidays From Zambia!
It's Christmas here in Zambia, and though I miss sitting under the Christmas tree with family, I am at the Provincial House with 10 of my PCV friends singing Christmas music, baking, and enjoying one another's company. We have a mini Christmas tree that we decorated last night, and though it's raining instead of snowing, it's a cozy kind of day. There are a few major things that have happened in the past few weeks, so I'll start with the good. I have given some really successful health talks at my clinic, mostly to pregnant women teaching them about HIV prevention, malaria prevention, and nutrition. I have an incredible translator named Judy who is also one of my really close friends at the clinic, and who I have chosen as a counterpart to take with me to Lusaka for IST in just 2 weeks. I am also hoping to start an HIV positive support group at my clinic, and I began mentioning my idea to the clinic staff, who seem to be excited. My clinic is by the tarmac and gets very busy, so I think this group has the potential to be successful! I would also like to do an income generating project with this group (particularly because of the wonderful location of the clinic by the roadside), so I am excited to get back from IST to begin this project. I have a trip to Malawi coming up after IST for about 4 days (plus 2 days of travel on each end, which will inevitable be chaotic), and being by the water with friends who I haven't seen in a while should be so peaceful.
On the flip side, I returned to my hut after a heavy rainstorm to find what I have been worried about since I was stuck in a flood in Panama some years ago... my home was flooded. Completely flooded, from the front door all the way across my hut and underneath my bed. This is not a usual occurrence, because most volunteers have huts that are elevated on a layer or 2 of brick foundation, and not located on a slope. My hut, however, is not elevated at all and is located on a slope-- not great for rainy season. So, I have to get a new hut built in my village. I have worked tirelessly to make my hut homey, putting up pictures and collages and shelves, spending weeks painting my walls and a beautiful tree on door #2 (the first door broke and this tree painted door resides at the provincial house). However, I will be grateful to be in a new home where I feel safe and comfortable, it will just take some time and energy. I feel a bit like a wanderer without a home; my mantra has been 'patience is a virtue.' I am trying my hardest to stay present, accept that I will feel at home in the not-too-distant future, and I am feeling appreciative that I have so many beautiful friends here who constantly make me feel like I have a home and a family whenever I'm with them. I know that the Universe tends to work in mysterious ways, and though the road now looks a bit windy and fogged, I'm still smiling and feeling grateful and loved.
For the holidays I wish for you to all feel thankful for family and friends, for sustenance, shelter, and love. I am sending my love to you all from Zambia!
On the flip side, I returned to my hut after a heavy rainstorm to find what I have been worried about since I was stuck in a flood in Panama some years ago... my home was flooded. Completely flooded, from the front door all the way across my hut and underneath my bed. This is not a usual occurrence, because most volunteers have huts that are elevated on a layer or 2 of brick foundation, and not located on a slope. My hut, however, is not elevated at all and is located on a slope-- not great for rainy season. So, I have to get a new hut built in my village. I have worked tirelessly to make my hut homey, putting up pictures and collages and shelves, spending weeks painting my walls and a beautiful tree on door #2 (the first door broke and this tree painted door resides at the provincial house). However, I will be grateful to be in a new home where I feel safe and comfortable, it will just take some time and energy. I feel a bit like a wanderer without a home; my mantra has been 'patience is a virtue.' I am trying my hardest to stay present, accept that I will feel at home in the not-too-distant future, and I am feeling appreciative that I have so many beautiful friends here who constantly make me feel like I have a home and a family whenever I'm with them. I know that the Universe tends to work in mysterious ways, and though the road now looks a bit windy and fogged, I'm still smiling and feeling grateful and loved.
For the holidays I wish for you to all feel thankful for family and friends, for sustenance, shelter, and love. I am sending my love to you all from Zambia!
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Finally Feeling Comfy
It has been a bit since I last blogged, and so much has changed... I don't know where to begin! First thing is that I biked 80km with 10 of my friends to Lake Kariba. It was incredibly difficult, probably one of the hardest physical challenges I have ever embarked upon...but I did it! We camped for 3 nights, relaxing together by the lake and swimming pool (the first pool I've been to in Zambia). After our trip we had Provs, where all of the 30 volunteers in my province come together for 4 days of meetings (dancing and celebrating at night of course), and on the last day we had a lovely Thanksgiving with staff members and volunteers together at the house. After our bike trip and provs, I felt like I have a family here in Zambia. The volunteers in my province are some of the most beautiful people I have ever met, and I know that this support system can carry me through anything here in Zambia.
I have also begun to feel completely comfortable in my hut. I used to be very nervous at night, when all of the critters come out, the noises in the dark used to be foreign to me. But now "I am used" as we say here, and I feel at home. The shift happened after provs, when I put up shelves, collaged candle holders, put up pictures of family and friends, and of my favorite musicians from Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. If I ever feel sad, Jimmy Hendrix, George Harrison, and Joni Mitchell keep me company in my hut. One night when it was raining, I lit candles, blasted my ipod speakers, soaked my feet in a warm water bucket, and then painted in my hut. It was beautiful. I thought, I am home. My host family and the clinic staff help me when I need, they give me their love and smiling faces every day. And now, I also enjoy being alone, writing and reading and creating. Thank you Zambia! Sending my love to you all
I have also begun to feel completely comfortable in my hut. I used to be very nervous at night, when all of the critters come out, the noises in the dark used to be foreign to me. But now "I am used" as we say here, and I feel at home. The shift happened after provs, when I put up shelves, collaged candle holders, put up pictures of family and friends, and of my favorite musicians from Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. If I ever feel sad, Jimmy Hendrix, George Harrison, and Joni Mitchell keep me company in my hut. One night when it was raining, I lit candles, blasted my ipod speakers, soaked my feet in a warm water bucket, and then painted in my hut. It was beautiful. I thought, I am home. My host family and the clinic staff help me when I need, they give me their love and smiling faces every day. And now, I also enjoy being alone, writing and reading and creating. Thank you Zambia! Sending my love to you all
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Village Life
Hello to my beautiful family and friends! I have been in the village for about a month, I'm sorry to be so out of touch. My cell phone service is spotty, I climb an ant hill to make and receive phone calls. My days are long, but the weeks are flying by. I love my work at the clinic and teaching at the school, traveling with friends, the sky. Things are slow in the village, which is alright unless it concerns my hut door and roof. I am learning patience, I am finding my voice, I am learning my strength. Testing my strength more than I could have ever imagined. Zambia is changing me every day, pushing me to grow up quickly. My best friend at the clinic is named Judy, and on slow days I sit and talk with her, Vivian (the HIV psychosocial counselor) and the nurses (who work day and night because there is no doctor at the clinic) and eat fruits called masuku. My clinic consists mostly of community health workers who come from far away villages and get paid next to nothing.
I give health talks to pregnant mothers on HIV testing, malaria prevention, and proper nutrition during their pregnancy and for their children. I have spoken to students about setting goals, both finding and being role models, and about gender roles. That boys and girls can BOTH do anything they want to do. I have begun to work with a women's group, and we are hoping to begin making citenge clothing to sell at the market and in our village. I will begin working with an AIDS club at the school next week. I splatter painted my hut, but the rains have put brown stains on my colorful walls. Zambia is teaching me to let go, completely and totally. Things take time, and it's finding peace in the long processes that is the key. I love and miss you all, and I can't wait to hear from you!
I give health talks to pregnant mothers on HIV testing, malaria prevention, and proper nutrition during their pregnancy and for their children. I have spoken to students about setting goals, both finding and being role models, and about gender roles. That boys and girls can BOTH do anything they want to do. I have begun to work with a women's group, and we are hoping to begin making citenge clothing to sell at the market and in our village. I will begin working with an AIDS club at the school next week. I splatter painted my hut, but the rains have put brown stains on my colorful walls. Zambia is teaching me to let go, completely and totally. Things take time, and it's finding peace in the long processes that is the key. I love and miss you all, and I can't wait to hear from you!
Monday, October 8, 2012
Beginning Again
I have one more day of preparation, and then I will be posted to my village, my new home for the next 2 years. I am incredibly nervous, yet excited to begin to build and paint and make my hut a home, to create close relationships with those in my village, as well as other Peace Corps Volunteers in my province. I will not say much as my stomach is in knots of anxiety, but there are a few things I already know: the other PCVs in my province are amazing people with whom I cannot wait to continue getting to know these next 2 years, and I am exactly where I need to be.
On a bit of a different note, today we had to go to the Ministry of Health in Livingstone, not far from Victoria Falls. After meeting with the District Health Office, we went to see zebras, giraffe, and the Zambezi River! We will be able to see the actual falls most likely around Christmas time, and I feel so lucky to live only 2 hours away from the falls. Sending peace and love to you all as the adventure continues.
On a bit of a different note, today we had to go to the Ministry of Health in Livingstone, not far from Victoria Falls. After meeting with the District Health Office, we went to see zebras, giraffe, and the Zambezi River! We will be able to see the actual falls most likely around Christmas time, and I feel so lucky to live only 2 hours away from the falls. Sending peace and love to you all as the adventure continues.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
A Peace Corps Volunteer!
Hello all! Tomorrow I swear in as a Peace Corps Volunteer after 3 months of Pre-Service Training... I can't believe it! It is bittersweet, celebrating with all my friends before we leave each other for some time as we begin our service in our respective villages. The next few days will be a bit chaotic, buying things for our new huts and preparing for Community Entry, but I feel ready for it all.
For a good story... about a week ago I heard a noise under my door around 7pm as I was sitting on the floor of my hut. I turned to shine my headlamp towards the noise... it was a snake! The only thing I have ever seen Zambians fear is snakes, because most of them are very poisonous. I jumped onto my table, called my host Mom, and before I knew it the snake had slithered out the way it came in. My host Mom saw the snake, but it slithered back into the bush. It was all quite terrifying! Now I know I need to always put something to block the space between my door and the ground, especially at night.
I had to say goodbye to my Bamaama 2 days ago after cultural day (a goodbye celebration with our host families with tons of singing and dancing), which was incredibly difficult. We developed such a meaningful relationship, and I will never forget spending time fetching water, washing clothes and dancing to Paul Simon, talking and laughing for hours after dinner with my host Mom. She is one of the strongest, most beautiful women I have ever met, and I know we will stay connected in one way or another.
We are currently staying in a hotel in Lusaka, taking REAL SHOWERS before 2 years of life in the Zambian bush... I have never appreciated warm running water more in my life. On Saturday we move to our provincial house where we shop for our new homes, and then next week I will be posted in my village. Cell service in my hut is spotty (texts are much easier, as I have to climb an ant hill on the side of my hut to make phone calls), but at least I am 4km from the main road. I am ready to become a part of my village, I am ready for the ups and downs of the toughest job I will ever love, and I am ready to continue allowing Zambia to fill my spirit with the deepest inner peace I have ever experienced. Sending you all love and light!
For a good story... about a week ago I heard a noise under my door around 7pm as I was sitting on the floor of my hut. I turned to shine my headlamp towards the noise... it was a snake! The only thing I have ever seen Zambians fear is snakes, because most of them are very poisonous. I jumped onto my table, called my host Mom, and before I knew it the snake had slithered out the way it came in. My host Mom saw the snake, but it slithered back into the bush. It was all quite terrifying! Now I know I need to always put something to block the space between my door and the ground, especially at night.
I had to say goodbye to my Bamaama 2 days ago after cultural day (a goodbye celebration with our host families with tons of singing and dancing), which was incredibly difficult. We developed such a meaningful relationship, and I will never forget spending time fetching water, washing clothes and dancing to Paul Simon, talking and laughing for hours after dinner with my host Mom. She is one of the strongest, most beautiful women I have ever met, and I know we will stay connected in one way or another.
We are currently staying in a hotel in Lusaka, taking REAL SHOWERS before 2 years of life in the Zambian bush... I have never appreciated warm running water more in my life. On Saturday we move to our provincial house where we shop for our new homes, and then next week I will be posted in my village. Cell service in my hut is spotty (texts are much easier, as I have to climb an ant hill on the side of my hut to make phone calls), but at least I am 4km from the main road. I am ready to become a part of my village, I am ready for the ups and downs of the toughest job I will ever love, and I am ready to continue allowing Zambia to fill my spirit with the deepest inner peace I have ever experienced. Sending you all love and light!
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