6 months in and look at me now!

I have just returned from 2 weeks of training int he capitol of Lusaka. I had a blast being able to reconnect with all my friends from Pre-Service Training. While Lusaka is quite expensive, I definitely wouldn't mind spending 2 years around all the folks from my intake. It's a great group of people and I look forward to going on vacations with some of them in the future.

In Lusaka I was able to get a taste of the night life which was quite interesting... I also was able to see the movie 'Inception'. Whether the lack of new movies in my life for 6 months has made me more appreciative of any new flick, I can't be sure, but I loved this film! It blew my mind, and I highly recommend it to everyone! Other indulgences in Lusaka included pizza, ice cream, and Chinese food. I've already had a village tell me Lusaka has made me fat and I can't necessarily disagree. On our one free day during training I went back to Chongwe to visit my host family. Sadly, my 2 favorite sisters were in the Copperbelt visiting family, but it was great to see Ba Mayo, my aunt, Mowriah, and others. They are hosting a fish-farming volunteer from the newest intake right now. They have made some improvements to the house and have had some children move out and new ones move in.

While hitching for a ride back to Lsuaka from Chongwe (about 45k), a friend of mine and I got picked up by a very 'buana' car (very nice and upscale). 4 men were in the car and took us for beers on the way back. Like any Zambian with a phone they asked for our numbers and haven't stopped calling since. Zambians with phones make for a strange combo... Most villages barely ever have talk time (all phones run on a pre-paid deal) so they will Zam-page you if they want to talk. Essentially they call and let it ring once with the expectation that you have talk time and will call back. I don't know if it's just the excitement of having a misungu's phone number or what- but once they get my number - it's not stop calling. Quite annoying after a while.

While in Lusaka I was also able to officially register 2 of my schools in the 'chongololo club' (environmental education clubs)organization. The Zambian Wildlife Federation gave me posters and work books to take back to the clubs- they will be SO excited... Speaking of excited children. Before I left for IST- my parents sent me a soccer ball, volleyball, and a playground ball to share with the kids of my village. Like most of the world- people here LOVE football. So while they are still pretty timid and shy around me, and my house- the children are always asking for the 'bola' (soccerball). Hopefully I can get some girls to play net ball with me- a school game similar to basketball but played mostly by girls.

Before leaving for Lusaka I also ordered some shelves and stools for when the extension to my house is complete. I had employed a local carpenter to make 4 stools for me way back in early June, but he was obviously not taking things seriously. I grew frustrated with his excuses and finally decided o use a carpenter in town. The big problem now will be getting the furniture to my site (yet again returning to my arch enemy of transport in Zambia). I am extremely excited at the idea of not having to live out of my duffel bag anymore. While I was gone, the father from my family, Phillip, took it upon himself to start a fence for my garden. I was pleasantly shocked at this as I was expecting to have to hire someone to do it! There are only posts right now for the grass fence, but I am thrilled and can't wait to start. My family from home sent me loads of seeds and now with all my new knowledge about perma-gardening from IST, I should have a great garden (or at least potential for a great garden).

Now for a funny little story... my favorite part. Upon returning to the village Saturday morning- I was looking for my cat Lucy. Poulin took care of her while I was away but apparently Lucy now likes to spend tiem at Ba Mama's house (my closest neighbor and Phillip's mother). Anyways Lucy was hanging out at Ba Mama's with her and Ba Anna (another really old grandma we call Bambuya- Nyanja for grandma). These 2 old ladies were brewing African beer- ubwalwa. It's made from millet, so it's kind of thick and has a consistency of vomit. Tasty huh?!?! Well I had my first taste of it and haven't gone blind yet so I guess that's good. What's more is that they were also firing up their snuff- don't ask me what it is because I have no clue. I'm glad they didn't offer that up to me... They said it would make me sneeze by the looks of it - it would probably erode a hole in my sinuses as well. Haha- I love the Ba Mamas!