Thanksgiving 2011

I now have my third bed of service. While it proved a bit difficult to get the mattress and bed to my site for Peace Corps staff, they are both brand new. It’s so much smaller than my last bed, I feel like I have significantly more space in my house. I can’t really do much with it as it’s in my bedroom, but it’s nice. Hopefully this new furniture will now eliminate the insect problem that I had been having of late. Who knows if the bed or mattress were really the problem to begin with, but at least it’s a solution other than moving. Keeping fingers crossed. Currently , I am up at our provincial house for what we call provs. This is a series of meetings where all of the 41 volunteers in Northern Province come together once every six months to talk about house issues and other Peace Corps administrative news. We have a member of the administration travel from Lusaka to be with us and update us on any new policies, developments, etc. Since we have so many people, and our house has a limited number of beds, some of us had to stay at a guest house around the corner. It just so happens that the November provs fall through Thanksgiving. It’s nice that our little family here is able to be all together and celebrate an American holiday that most Zambians have never heard of. I can't believe that a year ago, my parents were here with my celebrating Thanksgiving... Things were hectic trying to cook with a dinky electric stove, but we were really organized and shared all the duties well. We had a feast to rival most Thanksgiving dinners including two turkeys, 5 chickens, mashed potatoes, stuffing, applesauce (prepared by yours truly), green bean casserole, and salad, along with a plethora of desserts. It’s really nice to be able to have most of the traditional Thanksgiving foods even though I didn’t have my real family to share it with. Along with the meetings and cooking, we traditionally have a party to celebrate our togetherness. They are themed, much like many of the college parties I went to, and this year was no different. The theme was based around the alcoholic beverages here known as packets. They package different flavored liquor in plastic satchels a little bit bigger than a deck of cards. They are named things like double punch, fighter, leader, don’t kubeba, 500k, etc. I decided to dress like the ‘black panther’ packet and wear black, cat ears, and some whiskers. A good time was had by all. Back in the village, we’re gearing up for planting season which will come with the rains. While a lot of the country is already in the midst of rainy season, Luchembe is still fairly dry. Once it starts raining every day, the farmers will begin planting all of their crops. They’ll also do things like fix roofs as they want the grass to expand with the water and have a chance to settle with the rain. I’m anxiously awaiting these rains so I can plant my personal garden. I also am excited for two conservation farming plots I’m planning on helping with. My family and my counterpart will be employing various CF techniques like intercropping, pot holing maize planting, and incorporating agroforestry tree species into their fields. Hopefully they will do well, other villagers will take notice, and begin to use some of the ideas. I would just like to end by saying how very thankful I am for this experience I am having. I know I probably say this a lot, but sometimes I just have to sit back and look at my life in awe. Who in the world gets to do this? Live in an African village and try to help people. I’ve met some of the most amazing people here including Zambians and other volunteers. I am so thankful that the Peace Corps Zambia community has become my family here, especially those volunteers in Northern Province with me. We have such a great time when we’re together, and I am so very thankful that God has kept us safe and healthy. Here, in this place at this time, I am the happiest I have ever been. Of course there are days that seem like they’re the worst I’ve ever had, the good always outweighs the bad here. I am also thankful for my wonderful family back home. They have been such a rock of support for me for the past year and a half, I don’t know what I would do without them.