And here are some of the links to my facebook albums. It's easier for me to put them online there, and just share the links.
&
Enjoy!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Quick, but lengthy update...
Hey yall, I am really sorry I havn't been able to post about all that has happened in the past month. ALOT has happened.
To start, I finished training. I scored intermediate low on my language test, which I was ok with, because after 2nd site visit I lost all motivation to study and keep up. I knew I was already passing, so I just kinda let it ride... I also passed my technical exam, obviously. Swear in was a blast! My intake was invited by the newly elected president of Zambia, Michael Sata, to join him and a ton of other foreign dignitaries at the State House (their White House...). It was pretty cool, was broadcasted nationally here and on the radio. The actual swearing in took only 20 mins, but then moved outside to a huge banquet where they fed us some amazing food (not nshima!!! yay) and all of the other dignitaries and the president got a chance to make a speech. It was a huge deal, because it was Sata's first official State House function of his presidency, it was the first time in P.C. -Zambia's history of a swearing in ceremony hosted by the president, AND it was (I think, or I was told) only the 3rd time in P.C. history of such an event. PRETTY awesome.
Ok so the days after were spent shopping in Solwezi for my move in. I bought all sorts of things, but didn't have to worry about much, because the previous volunteer left me a bunch of stuff (I will explain my house later in the post). But some of the items I really am happy I got was a little bush hoe/axe (the blade can be knocked out and turned 90 degrees to change from hoe to axe whenever I want), a new mattress, lots of food, and my big ticket item: a flag pole! Welding in this country is done on the ground by metal workers that do not wear anything but sunglasses... it is crazy. but after 20 mins of my trying to explain to them what I want, it took another 45 mins to fabricate it, but finally when all was said and done, and 250,000 kwacha later ($50), I had myself a flag pole ready for pick up by the land cruiser. The pole is made up of two 3m lengths (18ft), that one pole slides into the other, and there are 2 sets of holes that go through both poles where I can secure them together with bolts. All I have to do is buy some paint, and wait for my American flag to get here.
I was suppose to post on a thursday, but instead last minute they asked if I would be cool with going on Wednesday a day early, and of course I complied with the request. My village is awesome, it is full of as many motivated and hardworking farmers as drunks. But I guess the mix is what makes it so homey. I am located in the middle of no where, but I am only a stones throw (literally) from the main tar-mac. I live right next door to my local headman (not a chief, but the guy that has to deal with all the local issues and disputes), and behind me is nothing but miles and miles of African bush until you hit the Congo. I have a huge avocado tree inside my fence in my front yard, as well as 2 clusters of banana trees and two single banana trees I transplanted recently outside my fence towards the bush. Here is a small layout I made on my computer just now with paint (took me forever, so enjoy!):
I had a full day to move in, and I spent the whole night putting up mealie meal sacs (they are pure white) on my ceiling to increase the brightness of inside. I also hung up a few shelves, decorated the walls with my map of Narragansett, and other things. I was pleasantly surprised to see that my co-op had finished the construction of my fence around my new home which we can call "Fortress America" for names sake. I also got to work immediately on staking out where I wanted to have my garden, and putting to work my army of little children, cutting down, carrying back, digging holes, and erecting all 50 of the support poles for the fence. as well as cutting down,...,...,... all of the bamboo to line the fence with to keep the goats out. Over the following week, my co-op cut grass and put up grass about 4 ft high, so the goats can't see what I am growing and be tempted to push through or down my fence...
I also had the chance to make myself a little mud brick oven out of soil from a termite mound (clay) and water. It took me a total of 5 or 6 days, but I successfully baked 3 loaves of bread when I fired it up for my trial run. It worked awesome and I am really happy I can now have fresh bread on a consistent basis, because it is really hard to get fresh bread in the village. RAIN RAIN RAIN, I haven't had too much of it really, BUT the times it rains, IT POURS! Literally these storms are so intense they almost scare me.
OH, and the best part of my day, going down and swimming in the river. Now instead of my regular bucket bath, I was shown the swimming hole by my closest PC neighbor, Joe. The top part and bottom part are slow moving (where crocodiles hangout), but in the middle is a 25-30 yard set of very fast rapids. Over the years Adam (the volunteer I am replacing) and Joe, have dammed off some sections here and there, so that the water is still rushing through, but there are little jacoozi pools where we can sit and relax, and recently where I take all of my baths and now wash all my clothes. I should have pictures of this place, and all the above soon on facebook, and I will be sure to share a link on the blog.
SO, everyone might be wondering what am I doing online when I am suppose to be in my village for community entry for 3 months... well, Adam (again, the previous volunteer in Kanzala), had started a project where he got a grant to purchase a hammer mill and supplies to build a Chigayo in Kanzala. So I was cleared to go to Solwezi with 3 members of my co-op to begin work with the project. It calls for me to have quotations for all items to be purchased, opening a bank account, ect. So, yesterday after unsuccessfully catching a bus to Solwezi, (another long story I will write about in a sec), we came to Solwezi this morning, and found prices, haggled, and quoted door frames, doors, nails, roofing sheets (metal), lumber, concrete, hammer mill and engine, jerry can's to hold diesel, diesel fuel itself, and other little extras. we came out under budget considerably, so we think we will get extra cement, roof sheets, nails, door frame, ect and build an office of business next door to the chigayo for the co-op to manage itself with. Should be good.
Before I go, a quick story about waiting for the bus yesterday (Tuesday). So I got up at 6:30 to get ready, we planned to begin waiting road side at 7:30, and the two big buses that come by usually arrive between 8-9. So 7:30 I am by the road side with my 3 counterparts in my co-op, and there are 10 people completely shitfaced, and another 10 villagers drunk, some are sober, but they are the ones opening up their shops and selling Jilli-jilli packets to these people.
---side note--- Jilli-jilli is really cheap booze that is 50% alcohol made from cane spirits. they come in little packets that are 3ounces (ish) and they are dirt cheap, and what most of these people drink, because it is affordable and packs a very heavy punch. there are many down sides; it's cheap enough that they drink all the time, it keeps people from being productive (obviously) even though some claim to be very functional even while drunk, and the worst part is that the ground around the tuck shops and the road are littered with not 100, 1000, but 10,000+ empty 2x3inch plastic packets... I meanthink about it my village drinks combined probably 50-100 packets a day, and the ground never gets cleaned up... ---- long side note, sorry----
So anyways, all morning long I am listening to drunk after drunk asking me to give them things, which every time the answer is always no. They will get upset every so often, because "I don't like them" because I don't give them tons of free shit, but they understand eventually after my counterpart and I begin trying to explain to them that I am a volunteer, not an ATM. well regardless "I want your glasses," "Give me just one pin" (for a packet), "give me this, give me that..." It gets old quick. Well anyways this one guy showed up during one of my quick visits to my house, and he looked horrible. Poor guy, had no shoes, pants and a shirt that were both at least 10 years old, no one would talk to him, he sat alone in the middle of the pull off staring at the dirt. He wasn't close to me, but close enough, and all of the drunks thought they were impressing me when they started making fun and saying jokes about this guy. Everyone but he was laughing... I got so mad, I think I scared a few of them, because immediately it was me yelling at them. I asked them all if they were Christian, and they all agreed. And I told them for about 5 minutes, what shitty Christians they are, and how they should feel ashamed of themselves. Also, and this is a trick for anyone who ever goes to Zambia or a Christian African country, tell them that God is watching and that he is judging them. It really freaks them out.
After my scolding, I returned to my house, got a nice button down shirt of mine, and filled a quart size zip lock with an oat trail mix like thing I had, and returned to give them to the poor man in the dirt. Well, I hope they learned a few things from my example, but the sick thing is that I could see in some of these drunk people's faces they were upset that I refused giving them stuff all morning, and gave the poor outcast a ton of stuff. My counterpart later explained that the guy has a mental issue (which I don't really believe), and that he roams from place to place staying with anyone who will take him in, but all I saw was a guy who needs friends and a job (HE was one of the ONLY people there NOT drinking... might be a hard worker if anyone gave him half a chance). Regardless I will be sure to follow up on this guy, and see if I can't get him tending to someone's gardens, or something.
OOOOKKKK, well I wish I had time to tell another 20 stories just like that one about all the other crazy stuff I see and do each day, but I got to go to sleep, because tomorrow is a very long day. OH, wait just one last thing. I saw my first snake yesterday. I was so tired and hot from waiting by the road for 4 hours, that I went and sat in the river for 3... on my return home I was walking my bike on the bush path, and out of no where a snake was all of the sudden in the grass running away from me. Scared the daylights out of me, but at the same time it was cool to finally see. It was pitch black, and all the villagers concurred that it was a cobra. of some sort. it was about 4 ft long, so big, and probably dangerous. It won't stop me from going to my watering hole every afternoon, but I will probably tread carefully, with my eyes peeled.
Love you all! hope that this will quench any of your thirsts for info, until I get back to the house in a few weeks for our provincial meetings and Thanksgiving. Shalenuhu!!! OH, please forgive any spelling mistakes, I don't have the time to read through this whole thing and spell check. If there are any questions that need clarification, please feel free. Love
To start, I finished training. I scored intermediate low on my language test, which I was ok with, because after 2nd site visit I lost all motivation to study and keep up. I knew I was already passing, so I just kinda let it ride... I also passed my technical exam, obviously. Swear in was a blast! My intake was invited by the newly elected president of Zambia, Michael Sata, to join him and a ton of other foreign dignitaries at the State House (their White House...). It was pretty cool, was broadcasted nationally here and on the radio. The actual swearing in took only 20 mins, but then moved outside to a huge banquet where they fed us some amazing food (not nshima!!! yay) and all of the other dignitaries and the president got a chance to make a speech. It was a huge deal, because it was Sata's first official State House function of his presidency, it was the first time in P.C. -Zambia's history of a swearing in ceremony hosted by the president, AND it was (I think, or I was told) only the 3rd time in P.C. history of such an event. PRETTY awesome.
Ok so the days after were spent shopping in Solwezi for my move in. I bought all sorts of things, but didn't have to worry about much, because the previous volunteer left me a bunch of stuff (I will explain my house later in the post). But some of the items I really am happy I got was a little bush hoe/axe (the blade can be knocked out and turned 90 degrees to change from hoe to axe whenever I want), a new mattress, lots of food, and my big ticket item: a flag pole! Welding in this country is done on the ground by metal workers that do not wear anything but sunglasses... it is crazy. but after 20 mins of my trying to explain to them what I want, it took another 45 mins to fabricate it, but finally when all was said and done, and 250,000 kwacha later ($50), I had myself a flag pole ready for pick up by the land cruiser. The pole is made up of two 3m lengths (18ft), that one pole slides into the other, and there are 2 sets of holes that go through both poles where I can secure them together with bolts. All I have to do is buy some paint, and wait for my American flag to get here.
I was suppose to post on a thursday, but instead last minute they asked if I would be cool with going on Wednesday a day early, and of course I complied with the request. My village is awesome, it is full of as many motivated and hardworking farmers as drunks. But I guess the mix is what makes it so homey. I am located in the middle of no where, but I am only a stones throw (literally) from the main tar-mac. I live right next door to my local headman (not a chief, but the guy that has to deal with all the local issues and disputes), and behind me is nothing but miles and miles of African bush until you hit the Congo. I have a huge avocado tree inside my fence in my front yard, as well as 2 clusters of banana trees and two single banana trees I transplanted recently outside my fence towards the bush. Here is a small layout I made on my computer just now with paint (took me forever, so enjoy!):
I had a full day to move in, and I spent the whole night putting up mealie meal sacs (they are pure white) on my ceiling to increase the brightness of inside. I also hung up a few shelves, decorated the walls with my map of Narragansett, and other things. I was pleasantly surprised to see that my co-op had finished the construction of my fence around my new home which we can call "Fortress America" for names sake. I also got to work immediately on staking out where I wanted to have my garden, and putting to work my army of little children, cutting down, carrying back, digging holes, and erecting all 50 of the support poles for the fence. as well as cutting down,...,...,... all of the bamboo to line the fence with to keep the goats out. Over the following week, my co-op cut grass and put up grass about 4 ft high, so the goats can't see what I am growing and be tempted to push through or down my fence...
I also had the chance to make myself a little mud brick oven out of soil from a termite mound (clay) and water. It took me a total of 5 or 6 days, but I successfully baked 3 loaves of bread when I fired it up for my trial run. It worked awesome and I am really happy I can now have fresh bread on a consistent basis, because it is really hard to get fresh bread in the village. RAIN RAIN RAIN, I haven't had too much of it really, BUT the times it rains, IT POURS! Literally these storms are so intense they almost scare me.
OH, and the best part of my day, going down and swimming in the river. Now instead of my regular bucket bath, I was shown the swimming hole by my closest PC neighbor, Joe. The top part and bottom part are slow moving (where crocodiles hangout), but in the middle is a 25-30 yard set of very fast rapids. Over the years Adam (the volunteer I am replacing) and Joe, have dammed off some sections here and there, so that the water is still rushing through, but there are little jacoozi pools where we can sit and relax, and recently where I take all of my baths and now wash all my clothes. I should have pictures of this place, and all the above soon on facebook, and I will be sure to share a link on the blog.
SO, everyone might be wondering what am I doing online when I am suppose to be in my village for community entry for 3 months... well, Adam (again, the previous volunteer in Kanzala), had started a project where he got a grant to purchase a hammer mill and supplies to build a Chigayo in Kanzala. So I was cleared to go to Solwezi with 3 members of my co-op to begin work with the project. It calls for me to have quotations for all items to be purchased, opening a bank account, ect. So, yesterday after unsuccessfully catching a bus to Solwezi, (another long story I will write about in a sec), we came to Solwezi this morning, and found prices, haggled, and quoted door frames, doors, nails, roofing sheets (metal), lumber, concrete, hammer mill and engine, jerry can's to hold diesel, diesel fuel itself, and other little extras. we came out under budget considerably, so we think we will get extra cement, roof sheets, nails, door frame, ect and build an office of business next door to the chigayo for the co-op to manage itself with. Should be good.
Before I go, a quick story about waiting for the bus yesterday (Tuesday). So I got up at 6:30 to get ready, we planned to begin waiting road side at 7:30, and the two big buses that come by usually arrive between 8-9. So 7:30 I am by the road side with my 3 counterparts in my co-op, and there are 10 people completely shitfaced, and another 10 villagers drunk, some are sober, but they are the ones opening up their shops and selling Jilli-jilli packets to these people.
---side note--- Jilli-jilli is really cheap booze that is 50% alcohol made from cane spirits. they come in little packets that are 3ounces (ish) and they are dirt cheap, and what most of these people drink, because it is affordable and packs a very heavy punch. there are many down sides; it's cheap enough that they drink all the time, it keeps people from being productive (obviously) even though some claim to be very functional even while drunk, and the worst part is that the ground around the tuck shops and the road are littered with not 100, 1000, but 10,000+ empty 2x3inch plastic packets... I meanthink about it my village drinks combined probably 50-100 packets a day, and the ground never gets cleaned up... ---- long side note, sorry----
So anyways, all morning long I am listening to drunk after drunk asking me to give them things, which every time the answer is always no. They will get upset every so often, because "I don't like them" because I don't give them tons of free shit, but they understand eventually after my counterpart and I begin trying to explain to them that I am a volunteer, not an ATM. well regardless "I want your glasses," "Give me just one pin" (for a packet), "give me this, give me that..." It gets old quick. Well anyways this one guy showed up during one of my quick visits to my house, and he looked horrible. Poor guy, had no shoes, pants and a shirt that were both at least 10 years old, no one would talk to him, he sat alone in the middle of the pull off staring at the dirt. He wasn't close to me, but close enough, and all of the drunks thought they were impressing me when they started making fun and saying jokes about this guy. Everyone but he was laughing... I got so mad, I think I scared a few of them, because immediately it was me yelling at them. I asked them all if they were Christian, and they all agreed. And I told them for about 5 minutes, what shitty Christians they are, and how they should feel ashamed of themselves. Also, and this is a trick for anyone who ever goes to Zambia or a Christian African country, tell them that God is watching and that he is judging them. It really freaks them out.
After my scolding, I returned to my house, got a nice button down shirt of mine, and filled a quart size zip lock with an oat trail mix like thing I had, and returned to give them to the poor man in the dirt. Well, I hope they learned a few things from my example, but the sick thing is that I could see in some of these drunk people's faces they were upset that I refused giving them stuff all morning, and gave the poor outcast a ton of stuff. My counterpart later explained that the guy has a mental issue (which I don't really believe), and that he roams from place to place staying with anyone who will take him in, but all I saw was a guy who needs friends and a job (HE was one of the ONLY people there NOT drinking... might be a hard worker if anyone gave him half a chance). Regardless I will be sure to follow up on this guy, and see if I can't get him tending to someone's gardens, or something.
OOOOKKKK, well I wish I had time to tell another 20 stories just like that one about all the other crazy stuff I see and do each day, but I got to go to sleep, because tomorrow is a very long day. OH, wait just one last thing. I saw my first snake yesterday. I was so tired and hot from waiting by the road for 4 hours, that I went and sat in the river for 3... on my return home I was walking my bike on the bush path, and out of no where a snake was all of the sudden in the grass running away from me. Scared the daylights out of me, but at the same time it was cool to finally see. It was pitch black, and all the villagers concurred that it was a cobra. of some sort. it was about 4 ft long, so big, and probably dangerous. It won't stop me from going to my watering hole every afternoon, but I will probably tread carefully, with my eyes peeled.
Love you all! hope that this will quench any of your thirsts for info, until I get back to the house in a few weeks for our provincial meetings and Thanksgiving. Shalenuhu!!! OH, please forgive any spelling mistakes, I don't have the time to read through this whole thing and spell check. If there are any questions that need clarification, please feel free. Love
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
So Close, yet soooo far....
I am so close to finishing training and swearing in, but yet so far from the end of this journey.
Where to begin...
I guess trainging. training is almost over. I am in Solwezi now with internet, after finishing my 3rd and final site visit where I got a chance to live alone in the village I will spend the next 2 years of my life in, but more on that later. Tomorrow we return to Chipembi to start are final 2 weeks of training. I have to pass my final language exam, as well as take my technical training test, but I am not worried about either. Two Land Cruisers have flipped over in 2 weeks. Only once was it full of trainees, and, thank God, all are alive and well. I am anxious to gtfo of there and get to site.
3rd site visit was amazing. It is a very long car ride to get to my district and site. One day we spend on the road from Lusaka to Solwezi, spend the night, and then the following day head out further west. When I showed up, no one really was expecting me to be there, so for the first hour I was entertained by a local drunk. There is alot of drinking that goes on here in Zambia. Culturally is it only acceptable for the men, but it is very prevalent due to the lack of work. Too many people are out of work...
Finally my counterpart, Edward Ngundu and my headman Mr. Kapupa came with my house key. I was home at last. I was able to unpack some things, and sweep the hut. I found my cat, Honkers, and discovered she has 5 baby kittens. They have all been claimed already by other Volunteers, and one for the provincial house. They are really cute, and it helps keep me less lonely at night when they are there meowing and crying for mom. I didn't really do much my first day, but walk around and see the fish ponds, and also refuse drunken request after drunken request from people that see the white guy as a free ticket to anything they want.
One man, wanted me to send him to Tanzania to continue school, so that he could then go and take car of his mother who "is crying, she's crying right now for me..." Constantly saying "God is great and God loves all, and shares." Christianity is all well and good, but anyone could lead these people to believe anything so long as it was in the name of Jesus. I went to my Catholic church on Sunday, and the "priest" was (I didn't know at the time) one of my fish farmers. He was dressed in a Green Bay Packer's Jersey with a cross around his neck. The mass was quite entertaining because customs here in Zambia say that all the women sit on the left side, and all the men sit on the right. I tried to "break the gender roles" like they want us to do, and I sat with the women. BIG mistake. there was a young girl about 14 (age to begin thinking about marriage here in Zambia) and she sat right next to me. she kept sitting very close, and every time I would inch over she would inch with me... Then all the other women kept handing me their babies to hold and play with, and this sucks because I am not the biggest fan children here in Zambia. PVCs who play with the kids and spend time with them, are known to be chronically ill throughout their service. They cough, and are really dirty.
>>Side Note: This is also one of the things I really admire though. American mothers are overly protective of their children. 99% of them, and if any mother wishes to contest that, please come visit, because what you consider not being overly protective, you have no idea. Here kids are allowed to be kids. they play in very dangerous places, they drink and eat out of and off of very dirty dishes, they run around all the time bare foot, kids 10 years old swinging axes.... It is awesome.<<
So anyways mass went on with alot of singing, with drums and guitar like instruments. But only scripture was read, there was no Eucharistic part of the mass, because like I said the "priest" is actually more just like a leader of the readings.
Also on Sunday I had my first meeting with my co-op. We started by introductions, me introducing myself and my family back home in Lunda. It took a while but I explained what I used to do, what I went to school for, who my brothers and sisters are, where they live, what they do, and how old. Also all about my parents and about Manie. Then it was on to business. The previous volunteer Adam has put together a very capable group of fish farmers. They have many ponds and are highly organized. He also started a project that was awarded a grant, but to see that through to completion is up to me. The farmers are concerned about getting a hammer mill to begin producing fish feed. It is a really good project but it requires bank accounts, lots of invoices, and logistics to transport and build everything. The last part of the meeting was bitching about how I do not want to be annoyed by drunken men wanting cigarettes or whatever else this miracle worker can do for them. It was a serious discussion, and the conclusion to the meeting was that I will build a very large fence around my house, AND that anyone who would like to have words with me, must first go to my Headman (my closest neighbor and the boss of the entire village) and ask permission to see Mr. Bryanie. Only if he deems them of a clear mind and with important enough business, then they may come ask for me.
So, that said Monday I went to visit the school and the clinic. I met all the teachers and discussed the possibilities of building a library in Kanzala. I also met the local doctor who is a very bright young kid. The trouble with age in Zambia is that is it very hard to tell how old someone is. It is nothing like in the Western world. Literally a man might look 30, but is actually 21, or he looks 25, but is actually 40. There are kids, adults (no matter what age they look about the same), and then the very old... Spent the rest of the day reading, cooking, doing laundry, and contemplating where I wanted my fence to be built.
Today, the final day, I decided to stake out where I wanted my fence to be, but instead I put to work an army of young kids and we went hiking into the bush to cut down trees. We dropped 25 perfect trees; straight, strong, and thick. Then I had them dig 25 really deep holes, and put the posts in. A project that was really simple and only suppose to take 10 mins, turned into a huge project that would have taken me 2 days on my own, but instead it was finished in 2.5 hours. Now that I am gone, I have left it in the hands of my headman and the co-op to cut the bamboo and grass, and to thatch the actual fence all the way around. It is going to look really good, because my Chota (cooking shelter) is very big and round, and has a beautiful new thatched roof. the fence intersects it perfectly through the middle, so I have a semi circle "castle" like thing sticking out of my Fortress America. I can't wait to return and see how it came out.
Lastly the RAINS!!!! Holy holy holy RAIN. I had my first real storm, because it is the beginning of the rainy season, and it POURED. I think I have seen it rain that hard maybe 2 or 3 times in my entire life. and the lightening was out of this world. for 5 hours straight huge loud claps of thunder would shake the area. I would look our my front door into pitch black, and every 1-2 seconds a flash would temporarily light up the entire area! I felt like I was in a movie about Vietnam, waiting for some viet cong to come creeping out of the banana trees towards my hut. I am really looking forward to the rains to come.
OK well, I don't have my camera, I left it in Carlsie's backpack in Lusaka, so I once again can not post any pictures. But, when I do there might be just a few on here, but most of them will be in the form of albums on my facebook page. It is easier to upload lots of pics there. Love you all and hope this suffices for a little while!
Where to begin...
I guess trainging. training is almost over. I am in Solwezi now with internet, after finishing my 3rd and final site visit where I got a chance to live alone in the village I will spend the next 2 years of my life in, but more on that later. Tomorrow we return to Chipembi to start are final 2 weeks of training. I have to pass my final language exam, as well as take my technical training test, but I am not worried about either. Two Land Cruisers have flipped over in 2 weeks. Only once was it full of trainees, and, thank God, all are alive and well. I am anxious to gtfo of there and get to site.
3rd site visit was amazing. It is a very long car ride to get to my district and site. One day we spend on the road from Lusaka to Solwezi, spend the night, and then the following day head out further west. When I showed up, no one really was expecting me to be there, so for the first hour I was entertained by a local drunk. There is alot of drinking that goes on here in Zambia. Culturally is it only acceptable for the men, but it is very prevalent due to the lack of work. Too many people are out of work...
Finally my counterpart, Edward Ngundu and my headman Mr. Kapupa came with my house key. I was home at last. I was able to unpack some things, and sweep the hut. I found my cat, Honkers, and discovered she has 5 baby kittens. They have all been claimed already by other Volunteers, and one for the provincial house. They are really cute, and it helps keep me less lonely at night when they are there meowing and crying for mom. I didn't really do much my first day, but walk around and see the fish ponds, and also refuse drunken request after drunken request from people that see the white guy as a free ticket to anything they want.
One man, wanted me to send him to Tanzania to continue school, so that he could then go and take car of his mother who "is crying, she's crying right now for me..." Constantly saying "God is great and God loves all, and shares." Christianity is all well and good, but anyone could lead these people to believe anything so long as it was in the name of Jesus. I went to my Catholic church on Sunday, and the "priest" was (I didn't know at the time) one of my fish farmers. He was dressed in a Green Bay Packer's Jersey with a cross around his neck. The mass was quite entertaining because customs here in Zambia say that all the women sit on the left side, and all the men sit on the right. I tried to "break the gender roles" like they want us to do, and I sat with the women. BIG mistake. there was a young girl about 14 (age to begin thinking about marriage here in Zambia) and she sat right next to me. she kept sitting very close, and every time I would inch over she would inch with me... Then all the other women kept handing me their babies to hold and play with, and this sucks because I am not the biggest fan children here in Zambia. PVCs who play with the kids and spend time with them, are known to be chronically ill throughout their service. They cough, and are really dirty.
>>Side Note: This is also one of the things I really admire though. American mothers are overly protective of their children. 99% of them, and if any mother wishes to contest that, please come visit, because what you consider not being overly protective, you have no idea. Here kids are allowed to be kids. they play in very dangerous places, they drink and eat out of and off of very dirty dishes, they run around all the time bare foot, kids 10 years old swinging axes.... It is awesome.<<
So anyways mass went on with alot of singing, with drums and guitar like instruments. But only scripture was read, there was no Eucharistic part of the mass, because like I said the "priest" is actually more just like a leader of the readings.
Also on Sunday I had my first meeting with my co-op. We started by introductions, me introducing myself and my family back home in Lunda. It took a while but I explained what I used to do, what I went to school for, who my brothers and sisters are, where they live, what they do, and how old. Also all about my parents and about Manie. Then it was on to business. The previous volunteer Adam has put together a very capable group of fish farmers. They have many ponds and are highly organized. He also started a project that was awarded a grant, but to see that through to completion is up to me. The farmers are concerned about getting a hammer mill to begin producing fish feed. It is a really good project but it requires bank accounts, lots of invoices, and logistics to transport and build everything. The last part of the meeting was bitching about how I do not want to be annoyed by drunken men wanting cigarettes or whatever else this miracle worker can do for them. It was a serious discussion, and the conclusion to the meeting was that I will build a very large fence around my house, AND that anyone who would like to have words with me, must first go to my Headman (my closest neighbor and the boss of the entire village) and ask permission to see Mr. Bryanie. Only if he deems them of a clear mind and with important enough business, then they may come ask for me.
So, that said Monday I went to visit the school and the clinic. I met all the teachers and discussed the possibilities of building a library in Kanzala. I also met the local doctor who is a very bright young kid. The trouble with age in Zambia is that is it very hard to tell how old someone is. It is nothing like in the Western world. Literally a man might look 30, but is actually 21, or he looks 25, but is actually 40. There are kids, adults (no matter what age they look about the same), and then the very old... Spent the rest of the day reading, cooking, doing laundry, and contemplating where I wanted my fence to be built.
Today, the final day, I decided to stake out where I wanted my fence to be, but instead I put to work an army of young kids and we went hiking into the bush to cut down trees. We dropped 25 perfect trees; straight, strong, and thick. Then I had them dig 25 really deep holes, and put the posts in. A project that was really simple and only suppose to take 10 mins, turned into a huge project that would have taken me 2 days on my own, but instead it was finished in 2.5 hours. Now that I am gone, I have left it in the hands of my headman and the co-op to cut the bamboo and grass, and to thatch the actual fence all the way around. It is going to look really good, because my Chota (cooking shelter) is very big and round, and has a beautiful new thatched roof. the fence intersects it perfectly through the middle, so I have a semi circle "castle" like thing sticking out of my Fortress America. I can't wait to return and see how it came out.
Lastly the RAINS!!!! Holy holy holy RAIN. I had my first real storm, because it is the beginning of the rainy season, and it POURED. I think I have seen it rain that hard maybe 2 or 3 times in my entire life. and the lightening was out of this world. for 5 hours straight huge loud claps of thunder would shake the area. I would look our my front door into pitch black, and every 1-2 seconds a flash would temporarily light up the entire area! I felt like I was in a movie about Vietnam, waiting for some viet cong to come creeping out of the banana trees towards my hut. I am really looking forward to the rains to come.
OK well, I don't have my camera, I left it in Carlsie's backpack in Lusaka, so I once again can not post any pictures. But, when I do there might be just a few on here, but most of them will be in the form of albums on my facebook page. It is easier to upload lots of pics there. Love you all and hope this suffices for a little while!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Sorry that my last post was so short, but it is very hard to upload pictures where I was because the internet is very slow. Zambia has taught me many things, but the biggest thing is that time slows down and nothing is immediate.
I just got off of second site visit, where I actually got to go to Hunter's village and hangout a while. On he way I also got to stop and visit my village that I will be posted in! Might site is pretty amazing. I have a cat named Honkers that just gave birth two 5 kittens that are not even a week old. I also have 50ish fish ponds in my area owned by a very motivated fish farming co-op.
There are too many things I see everyday to talk about, but I did hear a pretty interesting story about witchcraft at site visit. The low down is that any animal that is active at night is probably possessed or owned by a witch. Also women are more powerful witches then men. Witch doctors are ok because they help the villages find witches. AND all witches are afraid of tobacco, so as long as you are chain smoking cigarettes walking around at night, you are safe... but the story is about these "things" that walk around my area at night. I don't remember the exact name but will begin writting down these tales when I get posted. They are masks, that are made by very powerful witches. They have to collect the hair, heart, and shadow of someone so that with these items they can inchant the mask. Then, at night they command the mask to go out and either kill someone specific, or protect the area. It is said that you can die just looking them in the eyes, and if you see one in the woods to run. But basically these maskes come alive and walk around looking for people. The freaky thing is that there are some volunteers that have actually seen AND been chased by these things before! Its pretty wild, how far into the African bush I am being posted. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I am being placed directly in the heart of Africa.
Country elections are happening this week. It is a wild race between 3 big parties and tensions are running pretty high. It is pretty exciting to watch their process at work, but 29 people have died as of today! Don't worry though, we are all safe! But politics are so different here it is insane. Cars drive around all day with loud speakers ontop of them broadcasting campain speaches. Different parties will show up in our villages every other day and hand out chitenges (skirts/blankets), bikes, fertilizer for farmers, t-shirts, or anything else to get people to vote. In the village where we are training they just brought in a bunch of construction vehicles to "build" a road that they have been promising for years. They parked the bull dozer infront of the watering hole for a week and rebuilt the road about 2 miles to convince everyone in the area to keep the ruling party in place. But, the sad thing is that they only made the road look nice and added no gravel to it. So, come rainy season a month from now and after elections, everything is going to wash away and the village will have the same old shitty road. I won't mention party names, and I do not actually care who wins or not, but it is just fun to observe a political system so different.
Don't worry, By January these posts will be come much more regular. I have been kind of lucky to have extra access to computers recently, and I should be able to post again soonish. Love yall!
I just got off of second site visit, where I actually got to go to Hunter's village and hangout a while. On he way I also got to stop and visit my village that I will be posted in! Might site is pretty amazing. I have a cat named Honkers that just gave birth two 5 kittens that are not even a week old. I also have 50ish fish ponds in my area owned by a very motivated fish farming co-op.
There are too many things I see everyday to talk about, but I did hear a pretty interesting story about witchcraft at site visit. The low down is that any animal that is active at night is probably possessed or owned by a witch. Also women are more powerful witches then men. Witch doctors are ok because they help the villages find witches. AND all witches are afraid of tobacco, so as long as you are chain smoking cigarettes walking around at night, you are safe... but the story is about these "things" that walk around my area at night. I don't remember the exact name but will begin writting down these tales when I get posted. They are masks, that are made by very powerful witches. They have to collect the hair, heart, and shadow of someone so that with these items they can inchant the mask. Then, at night they command the mask to go out and either kill someone specific, or protect the area. It is said that you can die just looking them in the eyes, and if you see one in the woods to run. But basically these maskes come alive and walk around looking for people. The freaky thing is that there are some volunteers that have actually seen AND been chased by these things before! Its pretty wild, how far into the African bush I am being posted. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I am being placed directly in the heart of Africa.
Country elections are happening this week. It is a wild race between 3 big parties and tensions are running pretty high. It is pretty exciting to watch their process at work, but 29 people have died as of today! Don't worry though, we are all safe! But politics are so different here it is insane. Cars drive around all day with loud speakers ontop of them broadcasting campain speaches. Different parties will show up in our villages every other day and hand out chitenges (skirts/blankets), bikes, fertilizer for farmers, t-shirts, or anything else to get people to vote. In the village where we are training they just brought in a bunch of construction vehicles to "build" a road that they have been promising for years. They parked the bull dozer infront of the watering hole for a week and rebuilt the road about 2 miles to convince everyone in the area to keep the ruling party in place. But, the sad thing is that they only made the road look nice and added no gravel to it. So, come rainy season a month from now and after elections, everything is going to wash away and the village will have the same old shitty road. I won't mention party names, and I do not actually care who wins or not, but it is just fun to observe a political system so different.
Don't worry, By January these posts will be come much more regular. I have been kind of lucky to have extra access to computers recently, and I should be able to post again soonish. Love yall!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
I lied, I'm back!
Just bought more time because I was able to load pictures onto this computer!!! here are some shots and I think one video of the village I visited during first site visit singing to us!
sorry they take forever to load I will get back with more later!
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| Me at the wedding with a random cling on |
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| Paul my language teacher |
I made it to Zambia!
Hey everyone I know it has been a long time since I have last posted but it is really hard to get onto the internet when you only have a really shitty phone and no service. I am in Lusaka today shopping and getting ready for my second site visit. I am going to Hunter's site for the visit but also have the advantage of getting to see my own site and where I will be living on the way. I know this has to be a very brief post because I have already spent 23 mins of my 30 minute allowance just trying to load this page.
Training is going great. At our first site visit we everyone I went with got food poisoning. It was very interesting, but I blame it on the vegetarian lifestyle... Zambia is really amazing. I have never met nicer people in my life. Everyone here believes that everyone is brothers and to be free. I am training in a place called Chipembi it is north of Lusaka and I am pretty sure that you can find it on Google Earth. I am staying with a really nice host family in Suse village. Michael and I both live there. It is really hard getting used to all the biking we have to do all the time, but hopefully soon my legs will be conditioned.
My language is Lunda, so I will be posted up in the Northwest province of Zambia. I am headed to the village of Kanzala right on the Kabompo river between Solwezi and Mwinilunga. Since I have been in training I have build a chicken house with my host family, acquired a sling shot that I am becoming very good with, but have seen no real "african" wildlife. Many years ago there was a bad drought in Zambia and to feed themselves the Zambians killed just about every living thing they could find besides each other. But there are lots of game reserves around that you can visit to see elephants and the like.
Staging in Philadelphia went over pretty well without much problems. I was running on very little sleep, and to make matters worse we had to catch a bus to New York at 2:30a.m. on Wednesday. I volunteered to be one of 4 team leaders, but after a night out in Philly with all the new friends I became only one of 2 leaders that morning to get everyone to Africa. It as actually really funny, and we all still tease Sam about it now and again.
I got to go see a traditional wedding the other day which was very fun! There is a lot of dancing involved and it is custom that when dancing or seeing the bride and groom to shove money down her chest into her wedding dress. I think it is really funny how different it is between America and here, and I will post soon about only that! But for example little 14 year old girls in the states listen to taylor swift and constantly are glued to their ipods and phones. Here in Zambia and most of Africa they are carrying 5 gallon buckets of water filled to the top perfectly balanced on their heads! I will post pictures and videos of everything I am explaining. I have great pictures of my host family, some of the other trainees, and of life in general so far.
Hope all is well back home, and I will try to get back on soon! Love yall much!
Training is going great. At our first site visit we everyone I went with got food poisoning. It was very interesting, but I blame it on the vegetarian lifestyle... Zambia is really amazing. I have never met nicer people in my life. Everyone here believes that everyone is brothers and to be free. I am training in a place called Chipembi it is north of Lusaka and I am pretty sure that you can find it on Google Earth. I am staying with a really nice host family in Suse village. Michael and I both live there. It is really hard getting used to all the biking we have to do all the time, but hopefully soon my legs will be conditioned.
My language is Lunda, so I will be posted up in the Northwest province of Zambia. I am headed to the village of Kanzala right on the Kabompo river between Solwezi and Mwinilunga. Since I have been in training I have build a chicken house with my host family, acquired a sling shot that I am becoming very good with, but have seen no real "african" wildlife. Many years ago there was a bad drought in Zambia and to feed themselves the Zambians killed just about every living thing they could find besides each other. But there are lots of game reserves around that you can visit to see elephants and the like.
Staging in Philadelphia went over pretty well without much problems. I was running on very little sleep, and to make matters worse we had to catch a bus to New York at 2:30a.m. on Wednesday. I volunteered to be one of 4 team leaders, but after a night out in Philly with all the new friends I became only one of 2 leaders that morning to get everyone to Africa. It as actually really funny, and we all still tease Sam about it now and again.
I got to go see a traditional wedding the other day which was very fun! There is a lot of dancing involved and it is custom that when dancing or seeing the bride and groom to shove money down her chest into her wedding dress. I think it is really funny how different it is between America and here, and I will post soon about only that! But for example little 14 year old girls in the states listen to taylor swift and constantly are glued to their ipods and phones. Here in Zambia and most of Africa they are carrying 5 gallon buckets of water filled to the top perfectly balanced on their heads! I will post pictures and videos of everything I am explaining. I have great pictures of my host family, some of the other trainees, and of life in general so far.
Hope all is well back home, and I will try to get back on soon! Love yall much!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Time to fly, because time flies.
So the adventure begins, here 30 mins before my cellphone number goes dead, after calling many friends, and an afternoon of last minute shopping and rearranging/repacking all of my luggage...
Well to sum up this last two weeks: Fun, relaxing, decompression, more fun rafting w/ Tom (really going to miss you bro), swimming, and Bandit. I also got a visit from Bri, Elise, and Ashton during which time I realized that I am just amazing at making dreams come true. I got a chance to do lots of four-wheeling, helping dad out here and there (a little), and reading my book. Mom (I love you and you are amazing) slaved over her sewing machine time and again to prepare me for my African adventure! She made me a pillow protector for my new camping pillow, as well as some pillow cases for it. But even better, was the truly remarkable hammock stuff sack she made for me! I don't have a picture of it now, but I will put one up soon! It is even better than the one that the hammock came in, and looks very spiffy. Thanks mom! It was very nice to escape to Maine, it truly is God's country and surely the way life should be.
I just want to say that I am not very nervous... everyone keeps asking me if I am. But I do feel very anxious to get started. The anxiety is dulled due to the severe lack of sleep from last night. Even tonight I might get just a few hours. I do find it weird that after all the months of counting down, it is finally the last night. Its a weird feeling knowing that in two days I will be falling asleep on a completely different continent!
Tomorrow morning I head to the airport in Portland, Maine to catch a flight to Philadelphia. Tomorrow I will begin Peace Corps orientation at 2:30, and end at 7:30ish. No rest for the weary, we get to catch about 4-5 hours sleep (if I am not out catching a couple beers with my new friends) before we have to meet outside the hotel at 2:30am!!!!! We will then ride a bus to NYC and leave on a big jet around 11. I fly non-stop from NCY to Johannesburg, South Africa. It is a 15.5 hour flight and I intend to catch up on all this lost sleep then. I will first be stepping foot on African soil on Wednesday early in the morning, and pausing for a short layover. then TO ZAMBIA!!!!
I can't wait to tell yall about training, and what the people are like. I will most definitely be complaining about the heat, how hot it is, how much I'm sweating, and again about the heat... I apologize now in advance to all my family down south; complaining about the heat is nothing new, but I am sure that it falls upon sore ears. My only hope is that all my luggage makes it there in once piece theft and damage free.
I will surely miss not being just a text or phone call away from y'all, but I promise I will due my best to stay safe and have fun. I do not look forward to saying good-bye to mom and dad tomorrow, because I know deep down it hurts all of us a little or a lot. Tomorrow is a new day beginning a new chapter, I love you all! Please pray for me. Cheers!
p.s. I know I leave the country in times that are rocky and tough. There are many problems and issues that continue to arise and never find answers (or the answers we do find are lost in the battle for power and control). May God watch over, protect, and BLESS the United States of America!
Well to sum up this last two weeks: Fun, relaxing, decompression, more fun rafting w/ Tom (really going to miss you bro), swimming, and Bandit. I also got a visit from Bri, Elise, and Ashton during which time I realized that I am just amazing at making dreams come true. I got a chance to do lots of four-wheeling, helping dad out here and there (a little), and reading my book. Mom (I love you and you are amazing) slaved over her sewing machine time and again to prepare me for my African adventure! She made me a pillow protector for my new camping pillow, as well as some pillow cases for it. But even better, was the truly remarkable hammock stuff sack she made for me! I don't have a picture of it now, but I will put one up soon! It is even better than the one that the hammock came in, and looks very spiffy. Thanks mom! It was very nice to escape to Maine, it truly is God's country and surely the way life should be.
I just want to say that I am not very nervous... everyone keeps asking me if I am. But I do feel very anxious to get started. The anxiety is dulled due to the severe lack of sleep from last night. Even tonight I might get just a few hours. I do find it weird that after all the months of counting down, it is finally the last night. Its a weird feeling knowing that in two days I will be falling asleep on a completely different continent!
Tomorrow morning I head to the airport in Portland, Maine to catch a flight to Philadelphia. Tomorrow I will begin Peace Corps orientation at 2:30, and end at 7:30ish. No rest for the weary, we get to catch about 4-5 hours sleep (if I am not out catching a couple beers with my new friends) before we have to meet outside the hotel at 2:30am!!!!! We will then ride a bus to NYC and leave on a big jet around 11. I fly non-stop from NCY to Johannesburg, South Africa. It is a 15.5 hour flight and I intend to catch up on all this lost sleep then. I will first be stepping foot on African soil on Wednesday early in the morning, and pausing for a short layover. then TO ZAMBIA!!!!
I can't wait to tell yall about training, and what the people are like. I will most definitely be complaining about the heat, how hot it is, how much I'm sweating, and again about the heat... I apologize now in advance to all my family down south; complaining about the heat is nothing new, but I am sure that it falls upon sore ears. My only hope is that all my luggage makes it there in once piece theft and damage free.
I will surely miss not being just a text or phone call away from y'all, but I promise I will due my best to stay safe and have fun. I do not look forward to saying good-bye to mom and dad tomorrow, because I know deep down it hurts all of us a little or a lot. Tomorrow is a new day beginning a new chapter, I love you all! Please pray for me. Cheers!
p.s. I know I leave the country in times that are rocky and tough. There are many problems and issues that continue to arise and never find answers (or the answers we do find are lost in the battle for power and control). May God watch over, protect, and BLESS the United States of America!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Almost Home
So I am almost home but got an email with a bunch of information!
first for the official description of my position out of my welcome book:
Rural Aquaculture Promotion (RAP) Project :
Volunteers are helping the Department of Fisheries to develop fish-farming projects that will improve livelihoods in rural communities. After determining rural farmers’ needs and resources, Volunteers provide technical assistance in establishing dams, furrows, fishponds, and integrated agriculture. In addition
to providing an excellent source of nutrition for rural families, surplus fish and agricultural products are sold to provide substantial supplementary income. Volunteers provide training in small agribusiness skills to assist farmers in applying a business orientation toward their farming activities. Volunteers also help build the organizational development capacity of fish-farming associations.
Now for some contact information! My phone number as yall know it now will forever be discontinued. I will take my blackberry with me to Zambia and I will be getting a new number and local service over there, WHERE you can text me or facebook me pretty much all you want. no calls please, and the number will be posted as soon as I get the new phone plan.
ADDRESS: you can write to me for the first 3 months of service here:
Bryan Watkin, US Peace Corps/Zambia, PO Box 50707, Lusaka, Zambia
That is where I will be for a while. Tomorrow I go to Maine, and begin my final two weeks here in the US. It was a real treat to visit with so many friends and family members, but I know I couldn't visit with everyone. But, all will remain in my memory and prayers.
Mad love ~Bryan
first for the official description of my position out of my welcome book:
Rural Aquaculture Promotion (RAP) Project :
Volunteers are helping the Department of Fisheries to develop fish-farming projects that will improve livelihoods in rural communities. After determining rural farmers’ needs and resources, Volunteers provide technical assistance in establishing dams, furrows, fishponds, and integrated agriculture. In addition
to providing an excellent source of nutrition for rural families, surplus fish and agricultural products are sold to provide substantial supplementary income. Volunteers provide training in small agribusiness skills to assist farmers in applying a business orientation toward their farming activities. Volunteers also help build the organizational development capacity of fish-farming associations.
Now for some contact information! My phone number as yall know it now will forever be discontinued. I will take my blackberry with me to Zambia and I will be getting a new number and local service over there, WHERE you can text me or facebook me pretty much all you want. no calls please, and the number will be posted as soon as I get the new phone plan.
ADDRESS: you can write to me for the first 3 months of service here:
Bryan Watkin, US Peace Corps/Zambia, PO Box 50707, Lusaka, Zambia
That is where I will be for a while. Tomorrow I go to Maine, and begin my final two weeks here in the US. It was a real treat to visit with so many friends and family members, but I know I couldn't visit with everyone. But, all will remain in my memory and prayers.
Mad love ~Bryan
Friday, July 8, 2011
"Deep" South Tour... & more (did I just rhyme?)
Hey yall, it is hard to believe that in just a matter of a few weeks I will be living on another continent. I finally received my staging materials, and I am booked on a flight to Philadelphia, at 7:07am on the 1st of August, where my staging event will take place. I report to staging at 12:30pm on the 1st and will begin my Peace Corps Orientation. I will sign paperwork, go over rules and regulations, receive shots, and most importantly begin getting to know all the other volunteers I will be working with over the next two years, and some of whom I am certain I will be friends with for a very long time. Everything is a GO for Africa in just a few weeks!!!!
I have began my southern tour, but as usual not everything goes perfectly to plan (I know my plans are vague as is, but still). I left Greenville, SC at 5:01am very well under the influence after a night out at the bars in Brevard with Nick, Ashley, and Heather. I will miss North Carolina very much. I hope that when I come back I will get to see Harold and Theresa (saints on earth) still living next door to Oma.
Got to Mississippi a little behind schedule, but had an amazing visit with Bill & Rebekah, and got to see how tall and smart my little nephew has become. I have a few pictures of the little guy who is amazing at swimming!!! Bill and I got to go fishing often and then retreat out of the boiling hot sun for the day. In the afternoons Bill and I got to pick the garden and swim with Bear, and in the evenings Rebekah and I got lost in stimulating conversations as the old timer hit the hay. Thanks Bill and Rebekah for everything, I really will miss seeing yall and watching Bear grow for yet another 2 years!!!
Bear can jump in without holding his nose, and open his eyes and swim under water on his own!!!
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| North Carolina in all of it's Beauty |
I have began my southern tour, but as usual not everything goes perfectly to plan (I know my plans are vague as is, but still). I left Greenville, SC at 5:01am very well under the influence after a night out at the bars in Brevard with Nick, Ashley, and Heather. I will miss North Carolina very much. I hope that when I come back I will get to see Harold and Theresa (saints on earth) still living next door to Oma.
Got to Mississippi a little behind schedule, but had an amazing visit with Bill & Rebekah, and got to see how tall and smart my little nephew has become. I have a few pictures of the little guy who is amazing at swimming!!! Bill and I got to go fishing often and then retreat out of the boiling hot sun for the day. In the afternoons Bill and I got to pick the garden and swim with Bear, and in the evenings Rebekah and I got lost in stimulating conversations as the old timer hit the hay. Thanks Bill and Rebekah for everything, I really will miss seeing yall and watching Bear grow for yet another 2 years!!!
Bear can jump in without holding his nose, and open his eyes and swim under water on his own!!!
AND he is only 2!!! but definitely takes after his uncle Bryan with his good looks (and blue eyes)... :)
Then I got a chance on the 5th to go visit my Mere & Pere on my mom's side, and had an awesome visit! It has been a long time and we got to talk all about Africa and history about the family for the night and all day on the 6th. We got a chance to go celebrate mass, and have lunch with Claire and Aunt Moo. I can hardly believe all my cousins who I try to always remember as young kids with me are growing up! Claire is a Senior in college!!! It was an awesome visit, but had to end too soon.
NOW I am in New Orleans. Got a great visit in with young Catie, who I again can't believe is about to be a sophomore in high school!!! I just don't know where the time goes I guess. Also got to see Owen which was great, but too short as Owen and Catie headed north today.
Amtrak Rail Pass.... I thought it would make my life easy, but obviously I should read all the fine print more often. Train out of New Orleans tomorrow has been sold out, so I bought a plane ticket to Rhode Island for saturday instead. I am actually really happy this happened, because now I have an extra day to hangout and catch up with Megan, uncle Michael, and aunt Mindy. Today (in just a few minutes) I will be going into town to walk around the French Quarter, and in the afternoon go out in uptown with Megan and friends (one of which just so happens to be moving to Lusaka, Zambia in August also!!!! but not with the PC). I hate how my visits have to be so short. I enjoy my late night chats with aunt Mindy til 2 in the morning, seeing my uncle, and chillin with Meg swapping all the stories we can fit into a day. But just like every stop along this trip my visit to new Orleans is limited.
So I have been to MS for 3 nights and days, Mandeville for a night and day, and New Orleans for 3 nights and days...
Soon I will be in Rhode Island, then CT for fireworks, then Matunuck 2 nights, Gansett 1 night, train to Providence to stay at craig's for 1 night, train to Boston, and rail to Leominster, a day and night with my dear friend and mentor Wes,day and night with best friend Nick, rail to Boston to hang for a day and night with my cousin Will (and CHLOE!!!!), lunch with Erin Saturday and then train to Portland to be picked up and driven home to Maine. >breathe< I KNOW that is not interesting, but I just wanted to give yall an idea of my remaining travel
Soon I will be in Rhode Island, then CT for fireworks, then Matunuck 2 nights, Gansett 1 night, train to Providence to stay at craig's for 1 night, train to Boston, and rail to Leominster, a day and night with my dear friend and mentor Wes,day and night with best friend Nick, rail to Boston to hang for a day and night with my cousin Will (and CHLOE!!!!), lunch with Erin Saturday and then train to Portland to be picked up and driven home to Maine. >breathe< I KNOW that is not interesting, but I just wanted to give yall an idea of my remaining travel
That said, I won't be blogging until a few days before departure and then in Zambia. I will be in Maine, home sweet home, with mom, dad, and Thomas for my last 2 weeks in the states. I have alot of shopping and packing to do. lots of letting my mother stare at my face and "soak me in." I also look forward to a quiet wood porch on the west side of Birch Island sipping on a whiskey and sharing a cigar with my old man as we watch a few sunsets go down over Holeb pond. It has been and will be a very busy month, and just really look forward to getting Oscar Mike ("on the move") to Africa. Til next time Au'revoir!
P.S. ANYONE that would like to talk with me in Zambia will need to friend me on Skype: bryan.watkin
Thursday, June 23, 2011
So my time here in North Carolina is quickly coming to an end. I am at Quotations a local coffee shop sitting down and beginning to layout my last month's plans. I don't have all of the specifics worked out just yet, but I know that they include, but are not limited to, visiting my brother Bill, his wife Rebekah, and my Godson baby Bear. I am very excited to see the little one again, because it has been nearly two years! I also plan to stop in New Orleans to see my cousin Megan and the Barry family, as well as many other members of the Barry clan. I will also be making a trip north above the lake to Mandeville to visit with my grandparents on my mother's side of the family and the Richards. I am getting a US Rail Pass soon that will allow me to travel any 8 segments of the Amtrak rail system. I plan to head west to Dallas and visit Brian Velesbir, a college roommate and good friend. Then I will be making several segments up the east coast to end up in Rhode Island.
I just got my yellow fever vaccination down in Greenville South Carolina. It is the only vaccination I need to take ahead of staging. BTW, I have found out that staging will take place on the 1st of August in Philadelphia!
At staging I will receive even more inoculations and sign my life away so that I can legally serve as a government agent.
I can hardly believe that in just over a month I will be in Africa half way around the world. But I have no reservations, and am getting more and more eager to go by each passing day. There is not much else to fill everyone in on, so until next time PeAcE.
I just got my yellow fever vaccination down in Greenville South Carolina. It is the only vaccination I need to take ahead of staging. BTW, I have found out that staging will take place on the 1st of August in Philadelphia!
At staging I will receive even more inoculations and sign my life away so that I can legally serve as a government agent.
I can hardly believe that in just over a month I will be in Africa half way around the world. But I have no reservations, and am getting more and more eager to go by each passing day. There is not much else to fill everyone in on, so until next time PeAcE.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Hey Yall, so I am sorry it has been a while since my last post but I haven't had much to say recently. But I have finally wrapped up all my business in Rhode Island, and began my Southern US rock tour of saying good bye to friends and family. It has been an awesome 6 years of my life, and very much intent to return to Narragansett for visits when I come back. Sold my truck, said good bye to friends, and went by Jerry's for the last time to say good bye my coworkers and bosses (Bob & Rob) who have been like family to me over the last 5 years. I also played my last night of cards over at Tara's. Good news is that I have been playing very well, and have a spot in the "money" so I trust that Tom will play well for me during the final night next week.
I say "rock-star" because when I showed up in Asheville yesterday Heather insists that I looked like a rock-star that just returned from a tour. pic to follow. It is a combination of my Bruins beard and Caitlin's aviators I borrowed for the trip south. Mind you I was sitting on a bus for 28 hours sweating and sleeping very little... the beard is a must, because I havn't shaved or trimmed it since the Bruins have entered the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, and it is WILD.
I arrived in Asheville NC yesterday about 5 after sitting on a Greyhound bus for 28 hours!!!! It was a very interesting road trip, I met some very unique individuals, and got to see a whole different dynamic of class in America. It is blatantly obvious to me that flying is a luxury and those who can't afford high flight or train prices are forced to the buses. Seeing this was a little scary, but actually exciting because I have never seen more interesting, friendly, and lively people in an ariplane or train. There was one down fall, I did get stuck to this weird guy from England who would NOT for the love of God stop talking to me. It reminds me of a dog that you feed at the table... Once you start giving the dog food (aka attention/an ear that will listen), they never stop begging and coming back for more, soooo he would follow me around at the bus stops as I would get food and drinks, and always sat next to me. Even when I politely told him I was going to put on some head phones, listen to music, and sleep, I could still hear him rambling on in the background!!! Last but not least, he couldn't pronounce the word schedule to save his life! it always came out as "saidrule."
Lastly about the bus stop, in Winston-Salem I met a guy who, after learning about my near future with the PC in Zambia, honestly believes (and tried to convince me) that the US has planted AIDS/HIV in Africa to kill off all the local populations to free up space for us to expand...!!! Hahaha, lets just say we had a very interesting conversation after that...
OK, so I am in Asheville now staying at Heathers. We relaxed in the pool a minute, then went out to eat, and after much planning for a night out we ended up just falling asleep and not waking up to our alarms. We must have been tired because we didn't get up till 10 in the morning. I plan to go to Brevard next to visit with my grandmother on my father's side we call Oma. I will be staying with Oma for about a month, visiting and hanging out in the Brevard/Asheville area. Then I plan to head south to my brother Bill's place down in Mississippi starting on July 1st and through the 4th celebration. Then New Orleans for a couple days to see my cousins and relatives. Then after that I will head north above the pond to see my grandparents on my mother's side of the family we call Mere & Pere. Then Fly north back to RI (2days), MA (2days), and then MAINE, home sweet MAINE. For my final 2 weeks I will relax in Jackman. I look forward to canoeing and spending time in the woods with my brother Thomas and my dad. But most importantly than all, I want to spend time with my mother, and let her absorb enough "Bryan" to last her until our next visit. I know she will miss me most of all. I will spend alot of time organizing my things, formulating packing lists, packing, and preping myself for the trip. August 1st is coming quickly
I say "rock-star" because when I showed up in Asheville yesterday Heather insists that I looked like a rock-star that just returned from a tour. pic to follow. It is a combination of my Bruins beard and Caitlin's aviators I borrowed for the trip south. Mind you I was sitting on a bus for 28 hours sweating and sleeping very little... the beard is a must, because I havn't shaved or trimmed it since the Bruins have entered the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, and it is WILD.
"party like a rock-star"
I arrived in Asheville NC yesterday about 5 after sitting on a Greyhound bus for 28 hours!!!! It was a very interesting road trip, I met some very unique individuals, and got to see a whole different dynamic of class in America. It is blatantly obvious to me that flying is a luxury and those who can't afford high flight or train prices are forced to the buses. Seeing this was a little scary, but actually exciting because I have never seen more interesting, friendly, and lively people in an ariplane or train. There was one down fall, I did get stuck to this weird guy from England who would NOT for the love of God stop talking to me. It reminds me of a dog that you feed at the table... Once you start giving the dog food (aka attention/an ear that will listen), they never stop begging and coming back for more, soooo he would follow me around at the bus stops as I would get food and drinks, and always sat next to me. Even when I politely told him I was going to put on some head phones, listen to music, and sleep, I could still hear him rambling on in the background!!! Last but not least, he couldn't pronounce the word schedule to save his life! it always came out as "saidrule."
Lastly about the bus stop, in Winston-Salem I met a guy who, after learning about my near future with the PC in Zambia, honestly believes (and tried to convince me) that the US has planted AIDS/HIV in Africa to kill off all the local populations to free up space for us to expand...!!! Hahaha, lets just say we had a very interesting conversation after that...
OK, so I am in Asheville now staying at Heathers. We relaxed in the pool a minute, then went out to eat, and after much planning for a night out we ended up just falling asleep and not waking up to our alarms. We must have been tired because we didn't get up till 10 in the morning. I plan to go to Brevard next to visit with my grandmother on my father's side we call Oma. I will be staying with Oma for about a month, visiting and hanging out in the Brevard/Asheville area. Then I plan to head south to my brother Bill's place down in Mississippi starting on July 1st and through the 4th celebration. Then New Orleans for a couple days to see my cousins and relatives. Then after that I will head north above the pond to see my grandparents on my mother's side of the family we call Mere & Pere. Then Fly north back to RI (2days), MA (2days), and then MAINE, home sweet MAINE. For my final 2 weeks I will relax in Jackman. I look forward to canoeing and spending time in the woods with my brother Thomas and my dad. But most importantly than all, I want to spend time with my mother, and let her absorb enough "Bryan" to last her until our next visit. I know she will miss me most of all. I will spend alot of time organizing my things, formulating packing lists, packing, and preping myself for the trip. August 1st is coming quickly
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
I know it has been well over a day like I promised, but I hope that this post will help better aquaint you with the country I will be serving in as well as the project I will be working on while there.
Zambia is a land locked country, about the size of Texas, in the south central part of Africa, and home to the great Zambezi River and the infamous Victoria Falls.
>>>Iteresting side note that I think is wicked cool, in Zambia, Victoria Falls is known as Musi-o-tunya, which means "Smoke that Thunders."<<<<
It was formally known as Northern Rhodesia, but received its independence from Britain in 1964. Zambia is in economic shambles, but for most all of its history has depended heavily on the nation's copper as the main industry and export. Food stability and drought are a serious problem, and hopefully this (food stability) is where I will be helping them. The population of Zambia is 11 million people, most of which are clustered in high densities in urban areas. Of these 11 million people, over half of them are kids under the age of 15, which sadly is about half of the life they can expect to live (average life expectency is 36 years old). They also have a rather high rate of HIV/AIDS in the country, last I read (probably +/- a few percentage points) about 10% of the population is infected. It is a very beautiful country situated ontop of a high plataeu ranging from 3,500-4,500 feet in elevation. This elevation helps mediate the humidity during the warm and wet season.
Climate I think is going to be a huge challenge for me to over come and get used to. So Zambia has 3 distinct seasons: Warm&Wet (Nov.-Apr.), Cool&Dry (May-Aug.), and Hot&Dry (Sep. and Oct.). No where do I see COLD!!!! It is going to be hard for me to go without my winters and beautiful snow, 0 degree weather, igloo building, and snow mobiling. Yes, I know some of you are confused if I am be sarcastic or not, but I assure you I am not. Anyone who knows me knows I am a bigger fan of winter than summer, and I can't stand temperatures above 75-80, but I will have to tap into my southern roots from my mother, and learn to deal with the miserable, hot, sticky, sweating work environment :)... I think I will manage.
Now you know just a little about Zambia itself, so I want to tell you about my project, and maybe a little bit of what I expect when I get there!
The Peace Corps was requested to come to Zambia in 1993, and the first program began in 1994. My super official government assigned title is RURAL FISH CULTURE EXTENSION AGENT. It's big, awesome, and wicked fun to say to people inquiring about my adventure when at work or playing cards at Tara's (Tara's Pub is a bar I rent from, best Irish bar in Rhode Island, and very possibly the U.S. If you ever find yourself in southern RI (Matunuck more specifically) you owe yourself a favor to stop in and have a Guiness here...). sorry for the tangent, I love saying the title, and I think it is wicked cool that I have been situated into a program that directly reflects my major, and in the field that I want to develop a career in. The official project that I am going to be working on is the Rural Aquaculture Promotion (RAP) initiative started by the Peace Corps in 1996.
RAP is a project that works with the Zambian government and the Department of Fisheries to develop fish farming in rural communities. It is an effort to not only provide them with a better diet and stronger food stability, but to also develope an industry that can supply a suplimentary income for farmers and their families. We assess farmers and communities needs, look at what they have for resources and provide assistance planning and building irrigation systems, dams, fish ponds, and basic extensive aquaculture infrastructure like food storage, and fish processing (no heavy machinery[maybe]). I am very much looking forward to trying to combine my "book" knowledge and the ambitious minds and work ethic of the local farmers in trying to create something sustainable and productive.
From what I hear from Hunter I will also be playing part doctor, veterinarian, community organizer (that word makes me shiver... I can't help but think of the pathetic president), and basic health educator. But I look forward to any and all challenges this trip will throw at me.
Depending on how rural my site is I will have spotty cell phone service, and my email and computer access will most likely be limited to visits to provincial Peace Corps houses and/or "major" cities. I will be able to recieve mail and packages, but this takes a long time to come to and from, so I will have to be patient. Most volunteers live in earthen mud houses, lighted by kerosene, because there is not electricity or running water. I might have to walk up to 30 mins away to even get drinking/wash up water (I don't expect to be taking showers very often). A typical mud hut will have a latrine, and an outdoor cooking pit. The cooking pits are essential and they told me I need to do exercises to strengthen my back and prepare myself for all the bending over every day to cook food and the 20-30 kilometers of biking I will do on a daily basis.
Last but not least, I really am going to be interested in the food availability. I will certainly not have the same American diet, possibly not even my butter and cheese I love so much! For those of you who don't know butter and cheese, it is pasta, butter, and parmesan cheese (and a dash of black pepper). In Zambia corn maze is the largest cash crop and fundamental staple of their diet. I will have to get used to eating nshima (a cornmeal porridge like thing), and plenty of kapenta which is fish!!! I love fish so I don't think it will be too difficult for me to adjust. Meat is not readily available to volunteers, BUT I have heard from Hunter that when he goes to tribal meetings he receives chickens... If I start to accrue a small family of chickens for my keeping, I can assure yall that there will definitely be chickens that "go missing" in the night... And if yall want to send me anything, keep bbq sauce in mind so I can make some good American style bbq chicken! I am sure my community will love to try something from home!
Well I will know more and fill you in on a lot more once I get there. But until I get closer to leaving and start packing my bags, we will be in touch then. I very impatiently await my departure!!!
Zambia is a land locked country, about the size of Texas, in the south central part of Africa, and home to the great Zambezi River and the infamous Victoria Falls.
>>>Iteresting side note that I think is wicked cool, in Zambia, Victoria Falls is known as Musi-o-tunya, which means "Smoke that Thunders."<<<<
It was formally known as Northern Rhodesia, but received its independence from Britain in 1964. Zambia is in economic shambles, but for most all of its history has depended heavily on the nation's copper as the main industry and export. Food stability and drought are a serious problem, and hopefully this (food stability) is where I will be helping them. The population of Zambia is 11 million people, most of which are clustered in high densities in urban areas. Of these 11 million people, over half of them are kids under the age of 15, which sadly is about half of the life they can expect to live (average life expectency is 36 years old). They also have a rather high rate of HIV/AIDS in the country, last I read (probably +/- a few percentage points) about 10% of the population is infected. It is a very beautiful country situated ontop of a high plataeu ranging from 3,500-4,500 feet in elevation. This elevation helps mediate the humidity during the warm and wet season.
Climate I think is going to be a huge challenge for me to over come and get used to. So Zambia has 3 distinct seasons: Warm&Wet (Nov.-Apr.), Cool&Dry (May-Aug.), and Hot&Dry (Sep. and Oct.). No where do I see COLD!!!! It is going to be hard for me to go without my winters and beautiful snow, 0 degree weather, igloo building, and snow mobiling. Yes, I know some of you are confused if I am be sarcastic or not, but I assure you I am not. Anyone who knows me knows I am a bigger fan of winter than summer, and I can't stand temperatures above 75-80, but I will have to tap into my southern roots from my mother, and learn to deal with the miserable, hot, sticky, sweating work environment :)... I think I will manage.
Now you know just a little about Zambia itself, so I want to tell you about my project, and maybe a little bit of what I expect when I get there!
The Peace Corps was requested to come to Zambia in 1993, and the first program began in 1994. My super official government assigned title is RURAL FISH CULTURE EXTENSION AGENT. It's big, awesome, and wicked fun to say to people inquiring about my adventure when at work or playing cards at Tara's (Tara's Pub is a bar I rent from, best Irish bar in Rhode Island, and very possibly the U.S. If you ever find yourself in southern RI (Matunuck more specifically) you owe yourself a favor to stop in and have a Guiness here...). sorry for the tangent, I love saying the title, and I think it is wicked cool that I have been situated into a program that directly reflects my major, and in the field that I want to develop a career in. The official project that I am going to be working on is the Rural Aquaculture Promotion (RAP) initiative started by the Peace Corps in 1996.
RAP is a project that works with the Zambian government and the Department of Fisheries to develop fish farming in rural communities. It is an effort to not only provide them with a better diet and stronger food stability, but to also develope an industry that can supply a suplimentary income for farmers and their families. We assess farmers and communities needs, look at what they have for resources and provide assistance planning and building irrigation systems, dams, fish ponds, and basic extensive aquaculture infrastructure like food storage, and fish processing (no heavy machinery[maybe]). I am very much looking forward to trying to combine my "book" knowledge and the ambitious minds and work ethic of the local farmers in trying to create something sustainable and productive.
From what I hear from Hunter I will also be playing part doctor, veterinarian, community organizer (that word makes me shiver... I can't help but think of the pathetic president), and basic health educator. But I look forward to any and all challenges this trip will throw at me.
Depending on how rural my site is I will have spotty cell phone service, and my email and computer access will most likely be limited to visits to provincial Peace Corps houses and/or "major" cities. I will be able to recieve mail and packages, but this takes a long time to come to and from, so I will have to be patient. Most volunteers live in earthen mud houses, lighted by kerosene, because there is not electricity or running water. I might have to walk up to 30 mins away to even get drinking/wash up water (I don't expect to be taking showers very often). A typical mud hut will have a latrine, and an outdoor cooking pit. The cooking pits are essential and they told me I need to do exercises to strengthen my back and prepare myself for all the bending over every day to cook food and the 20-30 kilometers of biking I will do on a daily basis.
Last but not least, I really am going to be interested in the food availability. I will certainly not have the same American diet, possibly not even my butter and cheese I love so much! For those of you who don't know butter and cheese, it is pasta, butter, and parmesan cheese (and a dash of black pepper). In Zambia corn maze is the largest cash crop and fundamental staple of their diet. I will have to get used to eating nshima (a cornmeal porridge like thing), and plenty of kapenta which is fish!!! I love fish so I don't think it will be too difficult for me to adjust. Meat is not readily available to volunteers, BUT I have heard from Hunter that when he goes to tribal meetings he receives chickens... If I start to accrue a small family of chickens for my keeping, I can assure yall that there will definitely be chickens that "go missing" in the night... And if yall want to send me anything, keep bbq sauce in mind so I can make some good American style bbq chicken! I am sure my community will love to try something from home!
Well I will know more and fill you in on a lot more once I get there. But until I get closer to leaving and start packing my bags, we will be in touch then. I very impatiently await my departure!!!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Ok, so here it goes. I really hope that this post finds all of you well.
I have never had a blog before, but I will assume that both close friends & family, as well as complete strangers will be possibly interested in reading about my time overseas. This being said I will do a general introduction for those who don't know me...
My name is Bryan, and I am less than a month from being 24. I grew up in a military household with my parents and 4 siblings (Corie, Katie, Bill, [me], and Thomas; in that order). Growing up my brothers and I spent almost all of our free time outside and did a lot of camping, fishing, hiking, go cart building, go cart racing, go cart crashing..., tree climbing, swimming, tree fort building, and anything else a child's imagination could dream up. Some of my favorite things in life are traveling, dogs, camping, scuba diving, the ocean in general, and fishing with my buddies while drinking a 6 pack of Narragansett* beer. I went to school at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI were I studies Aquaculture.
------side story: growing up I wanted to do many different things including being an airline pilot, joining the army, being a geologist.... I had applied to West Point to follow in my father and grandfather's footsteps as a career military officer, I also applied to University of Colorado in Boulder to be a geologist, and eventually URI for International Business and German Studies. BUT Senior year I had a geology/oceanography class in high school, and in the second half of the year during the oceanography portion of the class, for ONE day out of the entire semester, my teacher Mrs. Johnson taught us about this thing called Aquaculture. From that day on I was simply hooked on this idea of growing seafood, and it has become the primary focus for my future career.------
I am very fortunate to have grown up in a family deeply rooted in our faith in God, and I fully believe that this trip to Zambia is a mission challenged to me by our father above. That said, it is unlikely you will hear much about my faith while away because (and probably not to my parents approval) I spend very little energy bragging, talking about, debating, or evangelizing my faith; it is something very personal and private to me.
The idea of joining the Peace Corps started nearly a year and a half ago. My good friend, dive partner, and college buddy Hunter Shaffer applied and was invited to serve in the Peace Corps, and left for none other than ZAMBIA last summer. He had started his application well over two years ago, and I was very jealous that he was going on to something real and exciting while I remained in RI finishing school (graduated December of 2009) and working the same old job to get by. I have always been a independent person who enjoys working hard and experiencing new things, so even after the idea of the Peace Corps was already in the back of my mind, a Peace Corps recruiter came into a class of mine in the Fall of 09 and pushed me over the edge. Here is a rough time line of the last year of my life and how it came to be that I was invited.
- December in 2009 - I officially opened up and began an online applicaiton
- Jan-March 2010 - I took my sweet time filling all the information out (a lot longer than I should have)
- Early May 2010 - Online application was submitted and I was linked up with a personal recruiter named Norman Trembley.
- June 28th, 2010 - I was officially nominated for an Environmental Education project in the Pacific Islands Region. (after looking up through peacecorpswiki.org I soon found out this project was intended for FIJI and I immediately jumped the gun and began telling everyone I was going to FIJI, little did I know what God really had planned....)
- July-November 2010 - I went through the most painful process of the Medical Review; 3 visits to the blood lab, 2 to my doctor, and 4 visits with my dentist and I finally finished my medical paperwork and mailed it all in.
- January 3rd, 2011 - Dear Bryan, we are pleased to tell you that you have been Medically Qualified for service in the Peace Corps.
- March 2nd, 2011 - I receive a phone call and completed my Suitability Review. I had a very nice talk with a young lady named Heather, and she informed me that the position with the original project I had been nominated for had already been filled (thank you 4 month medical process), but that she was considering me for 3 other projects and I will be getting something in the mail telling me where shortly.
- FRIDAY, MARCH 4th, 2011 - My online application had been updated and when I woke up that morning and checked my email I read the most awesome message and news I think I have ever received in my entire life: "CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED TO SERVE IN THE PEACE CORPS!"
- Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 - I receive in the mail my official invitation to serve, and this is when I found out I would be heading off to Zambia to be a "Rural Fish Culture Extension Agent!"
When I read ZAMBIA, I was so excited to be going to the exact same country as my friend Hunter and working on the same project I could barely sit down. I had to play cards in a local high low jack card league that I sub in for sometimes, and could barely play cards right because my head was racing so fast. I didn't sleep for days, and spent several days taking any chance I got to call more and more family and friends to announce the good news.
Now I am in the process of getting all my passport stuff taken care of, tying up all financial ends, and preparing myself physically and mentally for this trip. I continue to substitute teach everyday, work at Jerry's in the afternoons and sometimes nights, and prepare for the adventure that lay ahead.
I think I have written quite enough for now, I can't really think of anything else to tell you about just now. I will post again tomorrow, with a more in-depth description of what my project is and what I expect to be doing in country. I will also try to throw in a few things about Zambia, so that everyone can get an idea of the country I will be staying in.
Think Kapenta,
~Bryan
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