July 5th, 2013
Today marks the fourth month since leaving the land I love of good ol' Green Bay. While I admit I have been homesick, I've come to the point where I think I like it here. June flew by, mainly because most of my meetings were going as scheduled until the last week. Since arriving at site on May 1st, I've held or attended at least 30 meetings. Of the needs assessment I have conducted so far, the villages main concern is water. Water is life, so without a good source of clean water, why would anything else be more important. Other needs/wants include a primary school ( I was a bit freaked out
about this one), however after attending an area chief meeting they have already started the molding of bricks, which calmed my nerves a bit. In regards to Agriculture/Environment, the primary concern is fertilizer, seasonal gardening/irrigation and income generating activities. My favorite villages are Soko and Bernardo. Soko because they are the most organized and welcoming, they greet me with song and dance when I arrive and a Fanta and bread when I leave. One thing the women of that
village wanted me to teach them was how to make good food. Why? So their husbands wouldn't leave them for other women. Funny, but sad at the same time. Bernardo is another favorite village because the men are funny and honest. When compiling a list of their daily activities, they did not leave out drinking beer as an activity and asked me what do they put on the list if they do nothing. The men in this village also wake up at 6am versus the other 5 villages the men wake up at 4am, so I'm not sure how accurate the activity really was. I really enjoy all the villages I am working with.
Some entertaining conversations I have had involve Leo, the man whom I purchase bread from and who always either manages to get me to buy biscuits or have a soda. The other day, I told him, I'm on a soda break, and turned him down on his last offer of a Fanta. I was telling him about how bad soda is for you, and he said it gives you energy. He wanted proof that it is bad for you. The funny part was when, he said 'As a former medical student' he knows its not bad for him. I cracked up laughing when he said that. I'm not entirely sure what his past profession was because he talked about being a lawyer
type, he is older I would say 60. He is from Zambia, and I enjoy visiting him for a laugh. One of my first times meeting him, he asked if I was from Holland, I of course told him where, what and why I was here. He said I laugh like a Hollander he knew. I'll have to meet a Hollander one day as I really never met anyone with my laugh, ha.
Other random points:
* I hitched a ride for the first time by myself, the fact that I was in a truck in between 3 other men I didn't know was not so bad really. I wasn't even looking for a ride, but hopped in the truck when they pulled over and offered me a ride. They were quite nice.
* I find that when meetings are canceled, it doesn't bother me so much anymore. I sat on the side of the road waiting for my counterpart who didn't show, but ended up having 20 children surround me, and had an impromptu dance circle. I also taught them 'Down by the Banks'. I need to learn more Chichewa, because my attempts at playing Red Light, Green Light and Duck, Duck, Goose failed.
* Children here love bubbles...it gets crazy, I had to stop because kids were getting hurt trampling each other chasing after bubbles. I think as a craft I will make bubble wands as well. They also love the paddle ball and yo-yo I got in a care package (Thanks Jenny and Jada), however they haven't managed to figure them out. The paddle ball though I can't even figure out ha.
*Children here just wander about with no supervision. It is common to see a 4 year old with a baby strapped to her back as well. Another need/want is village nursery schools. Anyone have some pinterest craft ideas I can do with them here?
