In Zambia

Bwanji! (Hello!) Muli Bwanji? (How are you?) Ndiri bwino. ( I am fine.) I am now in Zambia! It is everything and nothing like I expected. Last nights journal entry will explain my experience thus far in Zambia!.....

At the moment I am sitting on my bed in the hostel protected by a mosquito net. There is African music beating thru my window from the neighboring bar. The music played all night last night (I was awake b/c my sleeping patterns are off--I am not sure if it's from jet lag or the identified side effects from the malaria meds, or both) do tonight about 20 of us decided to mingle with the local villagers of Chongwe, which is about 50 km from the capital Lusaka (central province). Everyone has been very friendly and welcoming. People wave at us as we ride by packed 10 deep in off road Land Cruisers. And by ride by, I mean down bumpy red dirt roads while the villagers walk and ride bikes with children and large objects stacked on their heads. Today we even saw a buggy pulled by 2 huge oxen with the biggest horns I have ever seen. The cheildren run after us behind the rovers waving and screaming in a language that I do not understand yet.

Our communication with the Chongwe people is limited to simple greetings and mostly gesturing. Today we chose our language which determines our post for the next two years. I will be studying Nyanja which is in the eastern province of Zambia! Easterm is mountainous, very green, and beautiful and extremely HOT!! The hottest of all the provinces!! Monday we will head out to the bush for site visits. I am going to the southern province where Victoria Falls is located. We will stay there a week and then head back to Chongwe for the rest of training.


My time is running out (only three minutes left) I am enjoying my time here in Zambia. I feel safe and comfortable. Please mail me letters..this will be the last time i have access to internet for the remainder of training.

Love you guys
Charlye