Well my first segment of being a volunteer is complete! Today marks the end of my 3 months of community entry!! I honestly can't believe how fast it went and that tomorrow I am on my way on my first (and hopefully not last) African holiday :)
Since my last posting almost one month ago I can say that not much changed and that everything is going well in Misengo. I have been not as busy with meetings lately due to caterpillar season being in full swing leading most of my villagers to be out in the fields daily to collect them. And it's also planting time so people are either planting crops or getting the fields ready to plant beans in a couple of months.
My adventures in farming continue slowly but surely. If anything this whole process is a community effort because I have no idea what I'm doing so I have invested the help of many of my community members who I think enjoy assisting me. And thankfully they don't laugh too hard when I ask stupid questions such as, "is this a weed or is this a vegetable?"
I've also been keeping my soya cooking going with my women's groups and our latest creation has been a chocolate cake which was VERY delicious. Hopefully one of these days in the future I will be able to arrange a cooking competition with all my soya making women with the winning group to receive new ingredients (flour, sugar, cooking oil etc) so they can keep on cooking! I'll keep you updated on any progress in Iron Chef: Zambia.
I have also been making progress in teaching my children that frequent my house a little english. Mutuka now will tell my cat Lunga "Stop it!" I finally asked him the other day if he knew what it meant and he said no so I said, "Stop it cimo cine Leka" (translation: stop it is the same as leka which is the bemba word for to stop." So now when Lunga is causing problems he says "Lunga, stop it cimo cine leka." It's not only adorable but also a big help to me :)When I return to site in January hopefully we'll be able to learn some more and also work on some basic math.
December 1st is World AIDS Day and for the day I went with the agriculture camp officer from Misengo to a neighboring village for a full day of festivities including a march, dances and skits put on by various groups, and my favorite was a tug of war competition between the bamaayos (women) and bataatas (men). The women I'm happy to report dominated the contest, which isn't so surprising given the fact they make large post of nshima multiple times daily.
Well since I will be doing A LOT of traveling over these next few weeks please be praying for safety and good health!
I hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year and I'll be back after some time in Zanzibar and then training in Lusaka and Kasama.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Turkey Day everyone!!
I just finished stuffing myself here in Kasama with so much turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and dessert that I can barely breathe comfortably. That is why I love this day oh so much.
I was also able to upload some new pictures so I hope that you all enjoy them by clicking on the link below.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2246322&id=59511885&l=54f3c48dcf
I just finished stuffing myself here in Kasama with so much turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and dessert that I can barely breathe comfortably. That is why I love this day oh so much.
I was also able to upload some new pictures so I hope that you all enjoy them by clicking on the link below.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2246322&id=59511885&l=54f3c48dcf
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Mwansa
Well I've been at my site for almost 2 months now...it's hard to believe!! Time is going by so quickly and each week seems to go by faster than the previous one!!
Since I have last updated I have a new name...my name is now Emily Mwansa, Mwansa being the bemba name given to me my first day by some kids at the school. It was mostly given to me because many people have a hard time saying Emily so Mwansa is just easier for them. I love my new name and say it with pride :)
During my time at site I have been busy setting up my house. I have worked with a carpenter (Isaac) in the neighboring village of Chishitu and he has been busy making my bed, table, nightstand, chairs, shelves, and currently on a couch for me.I have also painted inside my house!! The sitting room is now white on the top and "vivid green" on the bottom. I love having the color in there!! I have also finished cementing my insaka (which is like a gazebo thing outside that is where people can sit to escape the sun and where I do my cooking) and bathing shelter. I'm also working on setting up my garden, where I will be growing [hopefully] onions, cabbage, carrots, and the staple Zambian veg of rape. And I'm also planning on planting some sunflowers because I love them very much!
I've found my routine here in my new home. Each day I wake up between 0600 and 0700 and begin my daily chores which include sweeping inside my house and in my yard, doing the dishes, fetching my water from the borhole which is about 500m away at the school, and then once a week I do the washing of my clothes. Then most days I head out around 0830 on my bike to make it to a meeting at 0900 in one of my villages in my catchment area. So far my longest ride has been to the village of Kandulma, which is about 20km away. Other villages I have been to include Jackson, Kumbi, Kaoma, Musa, Chishitu, and Samba. In these villages I have been meeting with Neighborhood Health Committees (NHCs), Women's groups, Safe Motherhood Action Groups (SMAGs)and then helping out at the under 5 clinics weighing children. In the first meetings I just introduced myself and why I was here and now I'm beginning to do some teaching. I have done some soyabean cooking demonstrations with the women's groups which has been fun. It's been a great way to get to know them as well as educate about the importance of good nutrition and eating proteins.
I've also been making friends here in the village which has been great and prevents me from getting too bored or lonely in my downtime. I also have become a mother of sorts to several of the children that stay nearby. The most regular ones that I have, and subsequently my favorites, are Mulenga who is about 5 years old, Mutukangi (aka Mutuka), who is about 6, Kasoko, who is about 8, Musonda, also about 8, and my little Frida who is about 4. Mulenga and Mutuka usually come each morning around 0700 and sit with my as I do my chores or play with my kitten, Lunga (which in Bemba means to hunt). Then we normally color or they accompany me around the village or sometimes we do have the occasional dance party to a Zambian song that I have on my phone along with some photoshoots. They are very adorable and their dance moves at such a young age astound me! Then sometimes they stay for dinner which for me means usually cooking spaghetti which is a totally new food for them so that's been fun to share with them!
So as you can see all is going great here in Misengo and I'm enjoying everything very much and I'm happy to report no snake sitings as of yet :)
Be praying for patience, flexability, and good health for me!
Since I have last updated I have a new name...my name is now Emily Mwansa, Mwansa being the bemba name given to me my first day by some kids at the school. It was mostly given to me because many people have a hard time saying Emily so Mwansa is just easier for them. I love my new name and say it with pride :)
During my time at site I have been busy setting up my house. I have worked with a carpenter (Isaac) in the neighboring village of Chishitu and he has been busy making my bed, table, nightstand, chairs, shelves, and currently on a couch for me.I have also painted inside my house!! The sitting room is now white on the top and "vivid green" on the bottom. I love having the color in there!! I have also finished cementing my insaka (which is like a gazebo thing outside that is where people can sit to escape the sun and where I do my cooking) and bathing shelter. I'm also working on setting up my garden, where I will be growing [hopefully] onions, cabbage, carrots, and the staple Zambian veg of rape. And I'm also planning on planting some sunflowers because I love them very much!
I've found my routine here in my new home. Each day I wake up between 0600 and 0700 and begin my daily chores which include sweeping inside my house and in my yard, doing the dishes, fetching my water from the borhole which is about 500m away at the school, and then once a week I do the washing of my clothes. Then most days I head out around 0830 on my bike to make it to a meeting at 0900 in one of my villages in my catchment area. So far my longest ride has been to the village of Kandulma, which is about 20km away. Other villages I have been to include Jackson, Kumbi, Kaoma, Musa, Chishitu, and Samba. In these villages I have been meeting with Neighborhood Health Committees (NHCs), Women's groups, Safe Motherhood Action Groups (SMAGs)and then helping out at the under 5 clinics weighing children. In the first meetings I just introduced myself and why I was here and now I'm beginning to do some teaching. I have done some soyabean cooking demonstrations with the women's groups which has been fun. It's been a great way to get to know them as well as educate about the importance of good nutrition and eating proteins.
I've also been making friends here in the village which has been great and prevents me from getting too bored or lonely in my downtime. I also have become a mother of sorts to several of the children that stay nearby. The most regular ones that I have, and subsequently my favorites, are Mulenga who is about 5 years old, Mutukangi (aka Mutuka), who is about 6, Kasoko, who is about 8, Musonda, also about 8, and my little Frida who is about 4. Mulenga and Mutuka usually come each morning around 0700 and sit with my as I do my chores or play with my kitten, Lunga (which in Bemba means to hunt). Then we normally color or they accompany me around the village or sometimes we do have the occasional dance party to a Zambian song that I have on my phone along with some photoshoots. They are very adorable and their dance moves at such a young age astound me! Then sometimes they stay for dinner which for me means usually cooking spaghetti which is a totally new food for them so that's been fun to share with them!
So as you can see all is going great here in Misengo and I'm enjoying everything very much and I'm happy to report no snake sitings as of yet :)
Be praying for patience, flexability, and good health for me!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Goodbyes and new beginnings...
As of 24 September 2010 I am now officially a Peace Corps Volunteer!!
I'll try and give you a quick update on my life in my final days in training and my first few as a volunteer...
We ended our training with language tests, technical test/presentations, and a medical exam. The best day was our cultural farewell party we had at our training place (FTI) with all of us trainees and our host families. We cooked American foods (pizza, mashed potatoes, rice krispie bars, etc)for probably about 300 people and then had a program featuring cultural dances, speeches, and a gift exchange. At the very end we volunteers were welcomed up to dance Zambian style, and of course I jumped at the chance to break it down. Afterward my host family said, "ba Emily, we saw you dancing...and you know how to dance!" I think it was one of the highest compliments I have received since arriving in country. I credit these skills to the many dance parties I had back in the States...
After a great day of partying with our families and enjoying one last family dinner under the stars at my home stay, I had to say goodbye to my wonderful Mulolo family the following morning. It was a bittersweet goodbye and as I hugged my bamaayo one last time with tears in my eyes she said, "now don't make this goodbye for forever, I need to see my daughter again so come back and visit us." I said "don't worry bamaayo, tukamoonana" (which in Bemba is we will see each other). I plan on going back to see them in January when I'm in Lusaka for a week for our in-service training!
Friday was our big day...swear in! We were brought to the US Ambassador's house for the event, and let me tell you I would totally consider becoming an ambassador if it meant I got to live in a place like that. It was HUGE with a pool and tennis court! Unreal! After some much needed photoshoots with friends and teachers because I was wearing a handmade dress AND make-up for the first time in months, the ceremony began. There were speeches from a representative of the Chieftainess, Minister of Health, Peace Corps staff and directors and one representative from each of the 6 languages. I was selected to speak for the Bemba Chippers and my part was to talk about what we have learned about culture. I was nervous beforehand about speaking in bemba in front of many natives, but I'm glad I had the opportunity to do so :)Then we raised our right hands, took our oath and committed to our service for 2 years.It feels great to finally be a volunteer after months of applying and weeks of training!!
Now I'm up in Kasama waiting at our provincial house until Wednesday when I will be posted at my site. Then begins the process of community entry...this is a three month period where I will focus on integrating into my community and settling into my house. It'll be so strange to finally be at my home, not living out of a suitcase, and being the only person that looks like me for miles and miles. Please pray for me during this transition as I begin making Misengo my home.
Also, if you're thinking to yourself, "man, I'd really like to send something small to Emily, but I don't know what she could need/want!" Well my friends in America I'm here to give you some tips!! If you want to spend a couple dollars to send me something light consider the following:
-pictures of you doing something fun! (and it doesn't have to be fun even, I'll take anything and I'll put it in my hut)
-Mix CD...we have a computer at the house so I can upload it onto my ipod! Please feel free to add any Bieber (I've got the fever...)
-Crystal light type things (water sometimes gets a little boring for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between)
Okay thanks for reading!!!Hope you all are enjoying the lovely fall time :)
I'll try and give you a quick update on my life in my final days in training and my first few as a volunteer...
We ended our training with language tests, technical test/presentations, and a medical exam. The best day was our cultural farewell party we had at our training place (FTI) with all of us trainees and our host families. We cooked American foods (pizza, mashed potatoes, rice krispie bars, etc)for probably about 300 people and then had a program featuring cultural dances, speeches, and a gift exchange. At the very end we volunteers were welcomed up to dance Zambian style, and of course I jumped at the chance to break it down. Afterward my host family said, "ba Emily, we saw you dancing...and you know how to dance!" I think it was one of the highest compliments I have received since arriving in country. I credit these skills to the many dance parties I had back in the States...
After a great day of partying with our families and enjoying one last family dinner under the stars at my home stay, I had to say goodbye to my wonderful Mulolo family the following morning. It was a bittersweet goodbye and as I hugged my bamaayo one last time with tears in my eyes she said, "now don't make this goodbye for forever, I need to see my daughter again so come back and visit us." I said "don't worry bamaayo, tukamoonana" (which in Bemba is we will see each other). I plan on going back to see them in January when I'm in Lusaka for a week for our in-service training!
Friday was our big day...swear in! We were brought to the US Ambassador's house for the event, and let me tell you I would totally consider becoming an ambassador if it meant I got to live in a place like that. It was HUGE with a pool and tennis court! Unreal! After some much needed photoshoots with friends and teachers because I was wearing a handmade dress AND make-up for the first time in months, the ceremony began. There were speeches from a representative of the Chieftainess, Minister of Health, Peace Corps staff and directors and one representative from each of the 6 languages. I was selected to speak for the Bemba Chippers and my part was to talk about what we have learned about culture. I was nervous beforehand about speaking in bemba in front of many natives, but I'm glad I had the opportunity to do so :)Then we raised our right hands, took our oath and committed to our service for 2 years.It feels great to finally be a volunteer after months of applying and weeks of training!!
Now I'm up in Kasama waiting at our provincial house until Wednesday when I will be posted at my site. Then begins the process of community entry...this is a three month period where I will focus on integrating into my community and settling into my house. It'll be so strange to finally be at my home, not living out of a suitcase, and being the only person that looks like me for miles and miles. Please pray for me during this transition as I begin making Misengo my home.
Also, if you're thinking to yourself, "man, I'd really like to send something small to Emily, but I don't know what she could need/want!" Well my friends in America I'm here to give you some tips!! If you want to spend a couple dollars to send me something light consider the following:
-pictures of you doing something fun! (and it doesn't have to be fun even, I'll take anything and I'll put it in my hut)
-Mix CD...we have a computer at the house so I can upload it onto my ipod! Please feel free to add any Bieber (I've got the fever...)
-Crystal light type things (water sometimes gets a little boring for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between)
Okay thanks for reading!!!Hope you all are enjoying the lovely fall time :)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Culture Lesson
Today we had day one of our 'host workshop.' This workshop is for us pcvs and for our counterparts who will help us get integrated into our community. We tried to start off the first session, but not first without getting ground rules... obviously. Here are the rules the zambians came up with:
Speak through the chair, observe punctuality, full participation, no noise, no smoking, phones on silent, no beer, no necessary movement, all equal participants. The penalty for breaking any of these: dancing.
We all had to keep from laughing at this seemingly crazy and obvious rules. It was a cultural lesson for sure and got me prepared for my next 2 years worth of meetings
Speak through the chair, observe punctuality, full participation, no noise, no smoking, phones on silent, no beer, no necessary movement, all equal participants. The penalty for breaking any of these: dancing.
We all had to keep from laughing at this seemingly crazy and obvious rules. It was a cultural lesson for sure and got me prepared for my next 2 years worth of meetings
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
CONGRATS!!
My dear friends Justin and Sarah are engaged!!!!!
A big congratulations to the both of you...I love you both so so much :)
A big congratulations to the both of you...I love you both so so much :)
Home Sweet Home
Hello from the Northern Province Peace Corps house in Kasama, Zambia. Tonight I will be here at the house with the rest of the volunteers before we head back to Lusaka early tomorrow morning. We just finished watching Mean Girls here and let me tell you that movie is hilarious....did I think it was hilarious when I was in the States? Nope not really, but having gone nearly 2 months with zero films I am pretty sure I would have loved anything.
So since I last updated a LOT has gone on! I am just finishing up second site visit like I mentioned above. Myself and three other CHIP volunteers, along with 2 bemba language teachers (including my favorite ba Whiteson) made the trek up to Mpepo to stay with a current volunteer for the week. The week was a busy busy one that included the following: meetings with many NGOs in the area (such as DAPP, DOPE, Africare), having lunch with the Chief at this palace, listening in on a STAR circle meeting (people come together who either are HIV positive or at least know someone who is HIV positive), giving a good nutrition lecture to grade 9 students, and just getting used to village life.
It was also a great time spent getting to know Ba Whiteson more...each week we would have medical sessions where pretty much we would learn about some ailment or animal that could either have us get medically separated or killed. I was fine with all of the talks because most things are very controllable...all except for snakes. That talk made me not so happy and left me feeling at any moment I may cross paths with some snake and would die. So I told ba Whiteson this the following day in class and ask for ways I could prevent any sort of snake from entering my home. This conversation was close to 3 weeks ago and still he assures me not to worry that I will be okay...I think he does this because he is fearful that I will go back to America haha. Well over the site visit I learned his greatest fear, or at least the one that equaled my fear of snakes: shots. Even us talking about them got him so freaked out that all I could do was laugh and laugh. He hasn't had them since 1991! He was shocked I was able to not only receive them easily, but also be the one to give them. It was a bonding moment for sure that we could assure each other how absurd the other persons fear actually was.
Another big day has happened: I have been to MY site :) I am in Misengo village, which is about 70km from Kasama, and 30km from site is a waterfall national park. If you know me even a little you should know the love that I have for waterfalls :) I was nervous/excited for this big day. I arrived at my mansion and was greeted by many children and several Zambians all ready to bring my bags inside. As you see I said mansion and not house...this place is HUGE!
It's a 3 room house with a foyer even! I have no idea what I am going to do with all of this space. Walking in the door into the foyer there are 2 rooms on either side...one I think will be used for kitchen storage and the other maybe my bedroom? Then in the back is one room that spans 21 ft long! Some serious dance parties could be had there for sure. So as you can see there will be plenty of space for any guests that would like to come and stay with me :)
During my views days at my site I was kept very busy meeting many many people. I went and greeted the sub-chief who just kept thanking me for coming to work. I also had the privilege of having a meeting to welcome me to the village. The headmen from my village, the surrounding villages, and the sub-chief all came as well as about 40 other community members to meet me and introduce themselves. I was able to introduce myself (name, nationality, profession) and talk about what the peace corps is and what I was coming to do in Misengo...all in Bemba! Who thought that after such a short time I'd be able to do that!
So it's been a great time on second site visit, but I am ready to get back to my host family. I miss them very much and will soak up as much time as I can with them over my last couple weeks of training. I was so touched to receive a text from them the other day saying they missed me as well. It's going to be a hard goodbye I think....
Prayer Requests:
1. Good Health: My body is doing some weird things I'd rather not go into as I adjust to the new diet and surroundings.
2. Prepare the hearts for my villagers as I come to move in in a few short weeks!
3. Patience as I make the transition into my new home
4. Safety
Again, thanks for reading!! Take note of my new address:
Emily Skurla/PCV
PO BOX 410374
Kasama, Northern Province
Zambia
So since I last updated a LOT has gone on! I am just finishing up second site visit like I mentioned above. Myself and three other CHIP volunteers, along with 2 bemba language teachers (including my favorite ba Whiteson) made the trek up to Mpepo to stay with a current volunteer for the week. The week was a busy busy one that included the following: meetings with many NGOs in the area (such as DAPP, DOPE, Africare), having lunch with the Chief at this palace, listening in on a STAR circle meeting (people come together who either are HIV positive or at least know someone who is HIV positive), giving a good nutrition lecture to grade 9 students, and just getting used to village life.
It was also a great time spent getting to know Ba Whiteson more...each week we would have medical sessions where pretty much we would learn about some ailment or animal that could either have us get medically separated or killed. I was fine with all of the talks because most things are very controllable...all except for snakes. That talk made me not so happy and left me feeling at any moment I may cross paths with some snake and would die. So I told ba Whiteson this the following day in class and ask for ways I could prevent any sort of snake from entering my home. This conversation was close to 3 weeks ago and still he assures me not to worry that I will be okay...I think he does this because he is fearful that I will go back to America haha. Well over the site visit I learned his greatest fear, or at least the one that equaled my fear of snakes: shots. Even us talking about them got him so freaked out that all I could do was laugh and laugh. He hasn't had them since 1991! He was shocked I was able to not only receive them easily, but also be the one to give them. It was a bonding moment for sure that we could assure each other how absurd the other persons fear actually was.
Another big day has happened: I have been to MY site :) I am in Misengo village, which is about 70km from Kasama, and 30km from site is a waterfall national park. If you know me even a little you should know the love that I have for waterfalls :) I was nervous/excited for this big day. I arrived at my mansion and was greeted by many children and several Zambians all ready to bring my bags inside. As you see I said mansion and not house...this place is HUGE!
It's a 3 room house with a foyer even! I have no idea what I am going to do with all of this space. Walking in the door into the foyer there are 2 rooms on either side...one I think will be used for kitchen storage and the other maybe my bedroom? Then in the back is one room that spans 21 ft long! Some serious dance parties could be had there for sure. So as you can see there will be plenty of space for any guests that would like to come and stay with me :)
During my views days at my site I was kept very busy meeting many many people. I went and greeted the sub-chief who just kept thanking me for coming to work. I also had the privilege of having a meeting to welcome me to the village. The headmen from my village, the surrounding villages, and the sub-chief all came as well as about 40 other community members to meet me and introduce themselves. I was able to introduce myself (name, nationality, profession) and talk about what the peace corps is and what I was coming to do in Misengo...all in Bemba! Who thought that after such a short time I'd be able to do that!
So it's been a great time on second site visit, but I am ready to get back to my host family. I miss them very much and will soak up as much time as I can with them over my last couple weeks of training. I was so touched to receive a text from them the other day saying they missed me as well. It's going to be a hard goodbye I think....
Prayer Requests:
1. Good Health: My body is doing some weird things I'd rather not go into as I adjust to the new diet and surroundings.
2. Prepare the hearts for my villagers as I come to move in in a few short weeks!
3. Patience as I make the transition into my new home
4. Safety
Again, thanks for reading!! Take note of my new address:
Emily Skurla/PCV
PO BOX 410374
Kasama, Northern Province
Zambia
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