Two months in the village, five months in country, and each day is an adventure.
To begin where we left off …
After returning to my hut on May 14 I attended a “womanhood ceremony” to celebrate a young girl becoming a woman. Taken into the bush, the ceremony consisted of songs, dancing, and lessons. On Monday, I walked with my students to Chipoma Basic School to attend sports days. We stayed for two nights with the children competing in soccer, netball, and a variety of sprints and jumps. Although we got caught in the rain on the way there, the time at Chipoma with many teachers and students from my zone was fun and successful (with the creation of a Zonal Team to compete on the District level). After returning to Zombe, the final rain of the season welcomed me home and flooded the entire hut – bedroom, sitting room, and storage room. We will not have rain for four more months … plenty of time to get some extra thatch placed on the roof!
On Monday, my teaching load increased and I took on the grade 3 and 4 together, totaling over 100 students. In one classroom. With few desks. The weekend brought some Peace Corps friends for a ceremony at Chief Zombe’s palace. Dancing, singing, poetry, and traditional Zambian beer. And my first visitors! It was a nice ceremony and great to have house guests!
I have become quite the cook here in Zambia. Despite cooking with only a brazier, I have mastered flour tortillas, fritters, and Indian fry bread. Even had some friends over for an American dinner of tacos (which happens to be the Mambwe and Bemba word for butt …), two teachers and the two individuals who stayed at the school for two weeks for voter verification. It was a nice time, a fun opportunity to share some America, and for them to see my home and many pictures of family and friends. I’ve been in the classroom each day to teach from grade 1 (with no common language) to grade 9. There are very few teachers at the school and many circumstances that keep them from the classroom so each day there is a class that needs to be taken.
We have been in Kasama (Provincial capital of Northern) at the Peace Corps house to have meetings and a 50th Anniversary celebration. It allowed me to meet all the volunteers that live in the province, have a cold drink, some ice cream, take a shower, and upload photos. So without further delay …
More Photos!
Grades 3 and 4 together. 100+ students.
We did lessons together for three days. One entire day was about insects - we collected insects outside, learned about body parts, counted and multiplied, and read a few of Eric Carle's many bug books.
A few of the grade 8 and 9 boys.
A usual scene in the classroom - too many tacos and too little room.
A shot of a grade 3 student through a broken school window.
My new home!
On the left is my hut. You first walk into the sitting area where I have many photos up,
a large world map, and some great chitenge covered cushions. Then a small hallway leads you
to my bedroom filled with fake flowers, pictures of flowers, and flower chitenges.
On the right is my "ensaka". It has been used for many things ...
Hanging at the house with a few of my girls.
The women and their children at "Under 5", a traveling clinic that comes each month to weigh babies,
provide vacines, and handle any minor medical concerns. It is held at my neighbors house.
Cynthia Mutapa, the headman's daughter, and possibly my best friend in the village.
A grade 5 student, she knows exactly what I do and do not understand in Mambwe
and even when speaking with adults she will re-interpret phrases so I can understand.
And she is just too much fun!
The group of students I traveled to Chipoma with for sports days, before the rain.
The Chief's dancers during the ceremony at the palace.
All 700+ students at my school outside for an assembly before classes begin.
My ensaka as a school.
My front yard as a beauty salon.
My sandy yard as a chalkboard.
My front porch as a homework center.
My ensaka as an art studio.
A few of the girls heading to school.
Hanging with my boys before classes.
I have enjoyed my time at the Provincial house and all the luxuries that it offers, but am quite excited to return to the village this afternoon. And a busy couple of days coming up...
Thursday is VCT at a neighbor school where individuals can get tested and counseled for HIV/AIDs. I will be playing on the Zombe Village netball team and will hopefully be victorious over Musipazi. I also have students with some poems prepared and songs to present for the occasion. Then Saturday is a ceremony at Lake Chila, just outside Mbala, and we have many volunteers coming up for the festivities. And then 4th of July! We actually have off the 4th and 5th for Zambian holidays. Quite the convinient coinicidence!
But all is well, I am happy and safe, and I send you all lots of love from Northern Province!
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