My buddy arrived! And with her came lots of goodies from home and even a video of Colorado in fall/winter and lots of familiar faces! Here is how the trip is going so far in her words...
Hello All!! Hope this finds you well! I have made it safely to Zambia and have just now been able to get to an internet cafe to update everyone! I had a great trip from Denver to Lusaka (minus the drunk Rockies fan, nose-picking seat-mate and man with magnifying glass to personal TV screen). It has been such a treat to travel with Caitlin and see these people with whom she is sharing her life. We have filled each day. Day #1 toured the garden and "zoo" where one of Cait's Peace Corps friends resides...and where we are staying while in Lusaka. Day #2 Caitlin surprised me with a birthday gift - 1 hour massage at African resort. After that was a day full of shopping...which of course I loved (especially with Caitlin doing bartering for me)!! Today we were supposed to fly to Tanzania...and by that I mean we had a scheduled flight on Zambian Airways in which they had failed to mention that the flight just so happened to be changed to tomorrow. So...they have put us up at hotel and we will fly to Tanzania tomorrow. So...one minor set-back is only to be expected when in Africa (thus far). We are very excited for Tanzania. We will be going on safari, seeing Mt Kilimanjaro, and going to relax on the beaches of Zanzibar. We are scheduled to return on Nov 2 to Zambia...and by that I mean we have a scheduled flight with Zambian Airways...but what does that really mean? =)
I have compiled a small list of things I have learned thus far while in Zambia:
1. Left side of the road, steering wheel on the ride side, swerving to avoid collision with bicyclists, livestock and pedestrian = Driving in African taxi
2. True to Life = Objects carried on the head
3. Trouser = Pants
Pants = Underwear
Short shorts = Prostitue
4. Greeting 10 Zambians = 10 hellos
5. A little British, a little American, a little Zambian = how Caitlin speaks with Zambian people
6. 2000 kwatcha = price when Andrea speaks
1000 kwatcha = price when Caitlin speaks (see #5)
7. 4000 kwatcha = 1 USD
1000 kwatcha = Andrea still confused
Any money transaction = "Caitlin, so how much is that?"
8. 18 people in mini-bus = 1 trip to town with room for more
9. Drinks poolside, outdoor shower, hair pull, toe pop, tummy rub and zit clear = 1 African massage
10. Visit with kindred spirit = priceless
***
More to come if and when we actually return from Zambia! Love ~ Cait
Monday, October 29, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
More than Numbers
Yesterday was the big HIV/AIDS testing event (VCT) in my village- and it went awesome! Over 500 people came out to hear the speakers, watch the drama and dance group and enjoy the food. Of those 500, 112 made the choice to be tested. This is a big step for my community. Prior to the event, only a handful of people knew their status. Out of those that were tested, only 4 came back HIV positive. That percentage is incredibly low (our national average is 16%), so either I've done an amazing job here, or the people that really need to be tested are still waiting (most likely).
Even though there were only 4 that came back positive, the impact of HIV hit very close to home for me. One 26 year old female who tested HIV positive was my closest neighbor in Simane Village where I lived prior to moving to the school area. She cooked me dinner my first night in the village, showed me where to draw water, and hugged me while I cried. She has 3 children that attend Club Mweka, and her husband has another wife and child. None of the children, or her husband were tested. She will go on Monday to talk with the hospital here in Choma about getting on anti-retroviral drugs. One of the other positive cases was a 3 year old boy whose mother is currently living with HIV. It is my desire to start a support group for those people living with HIV/AIDS, so we can assist them in any way possible. This disease is truly affecting, directly or indirectly, every person in Zambia.
I think one of the biggest changes that this experience has brought about in my life is the realization that behind every statistic there is a person. It's great to read that only 4 people tested positive, but to someone those 4 people mean the world. And the effects that their imminent deaths will have on our community will be felt deeply by many. Wednesday's event has helped to once again remind me why I came here and how vital it is that we combat this pandemic.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Prayer Requests
I know many of you are praying for me and wanted to give you some specific things to pray for this next week.
*VCT EVENT (Wednesday, October 24th)
On Zambian Independence Day I am hosting a Voluntary Counseling and Testing event in Chifusa. Pray that God will move people to action to be tested and find out their HIV status. Only 8% of the people in Zambia have actually tested-this is a huge obstacle in the battle against the virus. I'll post information and photos next week after the event to give you all an update.
*Mrs Mpongo
My close friend, Zambian surrogate mother, and the only medical staff at our clinic is in the hospital. She has been running a high fever for about a week now, is incredibly weak, and has lost a great deal of weight due to a previous bout of malaria. I spoke with one of her nurses at the hospital today and they are continuing to run tests. Pray that God will give the doctor's wisdom and heal her.
*Andrea's Trip
My traveling buddy extraordinaire arrives in Zambia next Saturday. Pray for a safe trip for her and that God will use this trip to give me much needed rest and encouragement.
*VCT EVENT (Wednesday, October 24th)
On Zambian Independence Day I am hosting a Voluntary Counseling and Testing event in Chifusa. Pray that God will move people to action to be tested and find out their HIV status. Only 8% of the people in Zambia have actually tested-this is a huge obstacle in the battle against the virus. I'll post information and photos next week after the event to give you all an update.
*Mrs Mpongo
My close friend, Zambian surrogate mother, and the only medical staff at our clinic is in the hospital. She has been running a high fever for about a week now, is incredibly weak, and has lost a great deal of weight due to a previous bout of malaria. I spoke with one of her nurses at the hospital today and they are continuing to run tests. Pray that God will give the doctor's wisdom and heal her.
*Andrea's Trip
My traveling buddy extraordinaire arrives in Zambia next Saturday. Pray for a safe trip for her and that God will use this trip to give me much needed rest and encouragement.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Zamland: Where Peacocks Fly
Sometimes it seems like I am in a bizarre alternate universe. Take a few hours of my life last week...
Thursday 5pm
Did you know that a peacock can fly? Or that they can be found in sub-Saharan Africa, perched in gigantic trees making Valoca raptor noises? Imagine my surprise last Thursday when I came across 4 on my ride back to the village. I seriously felt like I was in Jurassic Park.
Thursday 8pm
By the time we reached home it was dark, and I am now huddled between Mrs. Mpongo and a man I don't know in the back of a cantor truck trying to stay warm. A boy from our village, and Club Mweka, Mainza, had been bit by a rabid dog so he needed a shot immediately. He crawled up on my lap and by the light of my cell phone Mrs. Mpongo (a nurse) injected him. He seems to be doing great now, and was learning the Electric Slide last Sunday.
Friday 5am
I had been exhausted when I returned home, so I crashed into bed upon arrival. I woke up the next morning to sounds of my dog crying outside my door. I let him in and that was when I realized his poor eyes were swollen shut and his face grossly deformed due to massive swelling. He had been attacked by a spitting cobra. So I have to take back everything I said about him being a poor protector when it comes to snakes!
Friday 11am
15 students show up at my house for lunch. We eat rice with sugar (a totally legit meal) and then head off to Maumbwe School to teach to about 200 students on HIV/AIDS. These are the Peer Educators I trained back in August. I was so proud of them- they did sketches and songs and poems and were so confident teaching!
I love that surprise, compassion, fear and pride can all find themselves a home inside me in such a short period of time. I hope that you are living fully wherever you are and whatever you are doing!
Thursday 5pm
Did you know that a peacock can fly? Or that they can be found in sub-Saharan Africa, perched in gigantic trees making Valoca raptor noises? Imagine my surprise last Thursday when I came across 4 on my ride back to the village. I seriously felt like I was in Jurassic Park.
Thursday 8pm
By the time we reached home it was dark, and I am now huddled between Mrs. Mpongo and a man I don't know in the back of a cantor truck trying to stay warm. A boy from our village, and Club Mweka, Mainza, had been bit by a rabid dog so he needed a shot immediately. He crawled up on my lap and by the light of my cell phone Mrs. Mpongo (a nurse) injected him. He seems to be doing great now, and was learning the Electric Slide last Sunday.
Friday 5am
I had been exhausted when I returned home, so I crashed into bed upon arrival. I woke up the next morning to sounds of my dog crying outside my door. I let him in and that was when I realized his poor eyes were swollen shut and his face grossly deformed due to massive swelling. He had been attacked by a spitting cobra. So I have to take back everything I said about him being a poor protector when it comes to snakes!
Friday 11am
15 students show up at my house for lunch. We eat rice with sugar (a totally legit meal) and then head off to Maumbwe School to teach to about 200 students on HIV/AIDS. These are the Peer Educators I trained back in August. I was so proud of them- they did sketches and songs and poems and were so confident teaching!
I love that surprise, compassion, fear and pride can all find themselves a home inside me in such a short period of time. I hope that you are living fully wherever you are and whatever you are doing!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Better Left Unsaid
In case you are planning on coming to sub-Saharan Africa anytime soon, I wanted to give you the heads up on some topics of which to steer clear. Learn from my mistakes, I've been here 16 months and I'm still having to work through some of these topics.
Lilian and I were walking to get sweet potatos and I started to think it was a good idea to start describing oceanic animals. This led into a description of my days as a Shamu feeder at Sea World. This is a bad idea. Sea World has not even entered the realm of consciousness in land-locked Zambia.
Busiku and I were chatting outside as we dodged huge flying beetles. I was explaining to her that I lived in a basement prior to the current hut. Describing an underground home with windows is not easy. I left out the part about canned foods and Russian language books. That just sounds crazy.
Mulenga was flipping through a Newsweek on my porch. She came across this picture of some rich American that was going to the moon for a weekend holiday. Explaining travel into space is not something that is easily described. Plus, I'm not really sure that I understand this either.
Other topics to avoid: How music gets onto an IPOD. The World Wide Web. Why Americans want to be so skinny. I'm sure I'll think of more later...
Lilian and I were walking to get sweet potatos and I started to think it was a good idea to start describing oceanic animals. This led into a description of my days as a Shamu feeder at Sea World. This is a bad idea. Sea World has not even entered the realm of consciousness in land-locked Zambia.
Busiku and I were chatting outside as we dodged huge flying beetles. I was explaining to her that I lived in a basement prior to the current hut. Describing an underground home with windows is not easy. I left out the part about canned foods and Russian language books. That just sounds crazy.
Mulenga was flipping through a Newsweek on my porch. She came across this picture of some rich American that was going to the moon for a weekend holiday. Explaining travel into space is not something that is easily described. Plus, I'm not really sure that I understand this either.
Other topics to avoid: How music gets onto an IPOD. The World Wide Web. Why Americans want to be so skinny. I'm sure I'll think of more later...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
