Sweeping the Yard

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  It's a chore in Zambia that all the women do, normally each morning. The "yards" are typically just bare soil/sand so, to integrate into the community & participate in a piece of Zambian culture, I too sweep my yard.  There can be no wind but the minute I begin, huge gusts will pop up & continue throughout my sweeping endeavor.  Add to that the hard, cold fact that no matter which direction the wind is blowing, when I adjust my position so I am sweeping the dust clouds away from me, the wind changed & all the dust comes right back in my face.  Without fail this happens. Sometimes I swear the wind is even going all directions at once, engulfing me in a dust cyclone & coating me from head to foot in dirt.  Add this to the fact that I'm also sweating & it's a guarantee that I'm now filthy, and this is how I start the day (about twice a week as I'm really very lazy.)  The most annoying thing though, more than wind or being covered in small soil particles, is when I've finished the task, feeling very accomplished (yah me! I've just swept an area the size of a hotel pool with a broom made of twigs)... and a chicken walks through my yard.  I'm going to be eating chicken tonight!
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  12:10


• Wednesday

They Call Me Milimo

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  That's what the Zambians in Nalube village affectionately call me. Milimo, meaning "work" in Tonga. They expect a lot which is exciting because it means they are motivated, enthusiastic, curious, & eager to learn what they can from me & future volunteers. The week has been full of visits - to people's homes where they insist you take some sweet potatoes or groundnuts home, to the clinic to say hello, or to the market to buy phone minutes or coffee (sadly, unavailable in the village). I often here people call "Milimo" while out walking the fields or bush paths. It is friendly & familiar. So, when i return home, don't be surprised if I've forgotten my given American name & instead tell you to call me Milimo - my affectionate rememberance to the people of Nalube.

Cultural Day, Swear-in, and Southern Province!

Within the last week I have passed all my exams, finished training, bid farewell to my host family, took the oath to become a Peace Corps Volunteer (which I am fairly certain is the same oath that military members take), gotten lost in Lusaka, traveled to Southern Province (SoPro), and gotten most of my house shopping done for posting (when I get dropped at my village!). 

What do you get when you have 22 PCTs camping out a day before graduating?  A very hectic morning (don't worry, I know my jokes aren't humorous but they make someone smile anyway...Mom at least)!  In preparation for cultural day the PCTs had to cook and bake food for 100 people (our host families and village and PC officials as well as the chief).  There was dancing that everyone participated in - even if we weren't prepared ::cough cough::  (me, I wasn't prepared but if I  had known I would have to dance around and sing in front of my family and 100 people I would have practiced so as not to be as embarrassed).  There was an exchange of gifts and then farewells.  It was back to The Barn Motel thereafter, but not until our bus broke down - radiator trouble.  We eventually made it after the PCTs valiantly sacrificed their water for the cause.

Two days later, we became official Peace Corps Volunteers - basically a graduation for us.  It was held at the ambassador's house and consisted of a light breakfast, swear-in, and a light lunch of samosas.  This was the last night for all of the PCVs to be together after 12 weeks of seeing each other every day, supporting each other through sickness and aggravation, and just being in our protective American bubble with people that share our culture and are experiencing the same roller-coaster that is Peace Corps service.

So now, I am at the Provincial House (Peace Corps house) in SoPro waiting to be posted.  Has been nice to relax, read, eat familiar food, and take showers.  I am excited to be at my site, though.  Being stuck in a something like Limbo since being in country has been stressful and I am ready to be somewhere on a semi-permanent basis (2 years if fairly permanent I suppose).  Building relationships with the Zambians in my village, gaining development experience, and basically constructing a life in the African bush has been a long time in coming.  Hopefully posting will be Wednesday (when I get Napoleon, my cat!)!  Then it is 3 months of isolation in my village! 

New Address

Nicole will be moving around the 1st of May to her new site and she will have a new address, you can start sending her mail to the new address now.

Nicole Parker
PCV Zambia
P.O. Box 630569
Choma, Zambia

In the last letter I received from her she said to post this in her blog.

It's about 4pm, or in Zambia 1600 because they are on military/24 hr time.  I'm sitting in my customary place.  If you find a picture of the house on FB (it's the long one with the weird wooden structure, which is used for storing corn, in front of it)  I sit on the left side of the door when facing the house.  It's shaded for most of the day and gets a nice breeze. Bamaama normally sets up the brazier on the opposite side of the door & takes up residence.  Right now she's making fritters, I think.  We frequently chase chickens out of the house as the door is typically left open & they just wander in.  Okay, it's not fritters... I've no idea.  Don't think she's made it for me before.  This is the picture of Zambia that I want.  A candid shot of Bamaama looking, moving coals about, measureing out oil, and little bro sitting on the stoop licking the bowl the held the batter.  No matter where you go, some things are the same .  Giving the cookie bowl to a child, preparing dinner for the family.  The difference is in the way we do all of the daily activities.  For Americans it takes only a few hours or minutes each day to prepare and eat our meals or go to the store.  For Zambians it's an all day process.  Things like a trips to the store are a planned, all day affair.  Cooking is endless.  Providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner is what occupies most of the day.  With things like laundry, pulling weeds, and sweeping thrown in.  I think she's making bread...or a cake.  Still not sure but she's put a lid on the pot & placed coals on top and underneath it.  It will be a surprise

FIRST POSTCARD FROM NICOLE

Well I've arrived safely in Lusaka, Zambia!  While the flight from JFK to Johannesburg was rather long, it wasn't bad.  Got a few meals, watched some movies, and snagged some sleep.  Everything is so green as it's the middle of rainy season.  Was surprised to see women already selling ears of corn!  Am excited to learn Zambian cropping practices!  So far I've seen ant,cockroach, and beetle friends.  Glad to of avoided the mosquito friends though.  Hopefully you received the email with the attached picture.  It was taken at the airport after we cleared customs (Yay, made it!)  Luckily it's not too hot yet although it feels slightly muggy.  Nothing compared to the Midwest though. (thank goodness).  Hopefully will get into a routine soon.  Sunday we're doing site visits where we go stay with a current volunteer in their village for a few days.

This postcard was sent from Zambia on Feb 15 and received in the US the first of March.  Nicole is now staying with her Host Family and living in a hut.  She will be learning Tonga language and stationed in the Southern Providence.

MY ARRIVAL