Training was exhausting but has truely prepared me for my service.
Language, medical, technical, HIV/AIDs, coping, cultural - no area of want or need was left untouched.
Swear-In went smashingly at the Ambassador's house. Fine, American-emblem china, full of real coffee, tons of people ... I gave a speach in Mambwe that talked about our homestay experience *, sang a Mambwe song, and attempted a Mambwe traditional dance called the "Nsimba" that is done primarily with the shoulders.
* Homestay refers to the Zambian homes that we stayed with in Chongwe during training. I stayed with Vinence Masaiti and her adult son, Ken. I'm not sure I've ever been welcomed to such an extent. I will truely miss her and look forward to visiting her in August when we return to Lusaka for two additional weeks of training.
Now for the good stuff ... PICTURES! Slow internet, shotty electricity, but I will get as many up as possible!
As we arrived in Lusaka, we were met by Peace Corps staff, rushed through immigration, and thrown into a "mini-bus", our baggage tied to the tops of cruisers. The adventure truely began immediately!
Meredith (Southern), April (Northwestern), and Vannessa (Lulapula).
Our trusty "mini-bus" that got us through training.
29 people and 24 seats
We all got really close!
The large ensaka at Peace Corps Headquaters in Lusaka.
To celebrate Peace Corps' 50th Anniversary, we were the first intake to "ring in".
We had a special ceremony, featuring the Ambassador and Johnny Carson,
the Secretary for Africa Affairs,
and a larger-than-life photo of John F. Kennedy.
Our intake after "ring in" with Tom Kennedy, the Country Director, front and center.
The first few nights in country we stayed in Lusaka in dorms at a local farmer's university.
The kids came out of the surrounding neighborhoods each night to play
soccer and ring-around-the-rosie.
In Chongwe District for training, I didn't have any small children on my compound,
but did get close to my neighbors.
This is Melda who remains my favorite Zambian to date!
This HUGE ensaka is where we had technical, medical, and cultural training.
Rosa (Lulapula), Katelynn (Lulapula), Richard (Central), Joe (Northern!), and Aniela (Northern!)
sitting by the Zambian flag sharring photos and stories from home during a break from training.
My homestay mother cooking nshima.
Nshima : made of "milly-meal", or pounded maize (and sometimes millet and kasava)
To cook: boil water, add milly-meal slowly and stir vigorously
Much harder to make than expected. I still have not mastered the art!
Me with some of the boys that come to our training spot to play during breaks.
Darriso, Steven, and Alex
All my Chongwe kids.
Once I pulled my camera out once they kept coming back for more.
Zambians love to take "snaps"!
Felicity, one of my neighbors.
Yes, a foot picture!
Me and the other Chishiko village trainees taking a hitch home.
One of our last days in Chongwe, took a long walk around the surrounding villages.
Beautiful area!
The dam in Chongwe!
Melda and her father.
The gator nation continues to grow ...
My compound in Chongwe District, Chishiko Village.
Starting on the left, the first building is the ensaka where all the
kitchen supplies, fire wood, coal, and such are kept.
Then is my mayo's home and the dining room where we ate lunch and dinner each day.
On the far right is the corner of my hut. Two rooms!
Behind you is my chimbusu (or pit latrine) and ulusasa (shower).
Out my front door, a hen, rooster, and their most recent batch of chicks
eating the milly-meal that we surrounded the houses with when red ants swarmed the village.
The Mambwe's of Chishiko!
Memory, Dre, and her mayo. Then my mayo and me.
After our "cultural day", or graduation ceremony before leaving the village.
We cooked American food for our families, some speaches, and an amazing Zambian dance crew!
Me and Dre with our Mambwe teacher, Rave, at Swear In at the Ambassador's house.
Me and Vannessa (Lulapula) on the Ambassador's yard by the 50th Anniversary sign.
Shannon (Northern!), Me, Vannessa (Lulapula), and Heather (Central) at Swear In.
All the volunteers that stayed in Chishiko village for training!
Easter at Chishimba Falls with the other new Northern PCVs!
Dre, Aniela, Me, and Shannon
A picture of me with my Chishiko mother.
Tomorrow we head to our sites.
Wish me luck!
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