America’s fast paced culture has made the time to appear as it has flown by but when I think back to my 27-hour journey to the first world it seems like ages ago. I miss Zambia tremendously. I never thought I would say this but I even miss goats trying to drink my dishwater
Adjustment. Well, to be perfectly honest…I mean…I must be free…if I think too much about how PC handled my Interrupted Service it makes me a bit upset so I chose to think of the positive aspects of my service, the real reason I chose to serve. The people. The cross-cultural experience. I think about the people in Chimate village; the Kanyumba’s, my home stay family; my little “ici ciani” girls; Violet; the sound of children’s feet running behind my bike;
the mountains; the bumpy land cruiser rides down red, dirt roads; droppin’ it like it’s hot at Hills Café; mango tress; fields of maize; breathtaking sunsets; the illumination of the stars that fill the entire sky at night. I think about my fellow PCVs often, especially when I eat pizza or taco bell or when I sit on my comfy couch with a laptop in my lap surfing the net while I watch the Sopranos. But trust me I would trade it all in again for more time in Zambia. I miss bathing under the sun and stars, I miss my latrine but not the bats, I miss having to bend down for everything, I miss n’shima, I miss the relaxed, slow pace, I miss the sense of community, I miss the rich and colorful culture. Now that I have returned I am able to experience all the things I never took the time to appreciate before. I am able to move at a slower pace and experience life through different eyes.
Top 10 things I didn’t realize I missed in America
10. The smell in the air after a rain shower
9. The feeling of soft green grass between my toes
8. Scented candles and lotions
7. Arby’s curly fries dipped in Arby’s sauce
6. Hot baths
5. Soft TP and towels
4. Ice cold New Castle beer
3. Fabric softener and washing machines
2. My contour pillow
1. My grandmother’s laugh
What’s happening in America? When I first arrived I asked myself this question. I was eager to catch up with the current events of America. During my layover in DC, I watched CNN and I found myself comparing the headlines stories to my experiences in Zambia. “Wildfires in Idaho.” In Zambia they purposefully burn their entire country after the harvest season. “Michael Vick, who plays for the Atlanta Falcons is charged with animal cruelty for dog fighting.” What would PETA do if they saw the neglected dogs in my village? “Backpacks, are they weighing down our children?” If only the children in Zambia had backpacks or any books to put in them. Actually, I find myself making constant comparisons. I first noticed the obesity and wastefulness of the American people and how socially isolated technology keeps everyone and how connected it keeps everyone. The first cultural difference I noticed was on the shuttle between gates in Dulles airport. In Zambia it’s an understatement to say the buses are overcrowded. People greet, shake hands and even sit close to one another…okay lets be honest, they sit on top of one another with two chickens, a goat, three children, and a bag a sweet potatoes… and chat. And when they chat they genuine, sincere and compasionate. On the shuttle in DC, I was given the “why are you talking to me” look when I said good morning to a woman who barely looked up from her bluetooth, camera phone, mp3 playing, text-messaging, cell phone. People were seated in their protective bubbles, within a socially acceptable and expected personal distance sipping their double lattes, reading papers, and listening to ipods with their fingers busily flying away on their blackberries.
Adjustment to this sudden shift in lifestyle continues increase my self-awareness. I’ve been reconnecting with family and friends. As of now I have been staying at my dads in Nashville, TN. Life’s road is winding with unforeseen bumps and turns along the way. Along the journey, it is important to take the time to stop and enjoy the scenery and the special surprises it brings. Now that I am back I am thankful that I am able to share special days like Sam and Thadd’s baby shower, Tara’s bacheloret party, Dre’s b-day, and Tara and John’s wedding. Let’s not forget the Titans vs. Colts game Sunday with my dad! My next adventure along my journey is flying to Denver for a cross-country trip. Dre and I are driving from Denver, CO to Charleston, SC…not exactly coast to coast but close enough. We are going to make all the ‘come see the world’s largest prairie dog ’ stops and of course stopping at all the must sees like the St. Louis Arch and Graceland (yes a girl from TN has yet to see Graceland). At least I will not have to worry about sitting on a bus next to a woman vomiting kapenta! We’ll stay at Folly Beach, SC till around the first of October then head back to good ol’ Nashville to figure out what’s next.
I am looking into other grassroots job/volunteering opportunities in developing countries. I have applied for Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO) www.vso.org.uk Its like the British Peace Corps except it is not funded by the government. It receives its funding thru non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or from host countries themselves. US nationals must apply thru the Canadian VSO http://www.vsocanada.org/ I have a phone interview tomorrow, Thursday Sept 13th! Some other ideas that I am interested in researching as future possibilities include relief work in Peru or New Orleans, AmeriCorps www.americorps.org , School Psych jobs abroad or within inner city America, working in orphanages in Africa, teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) overseas http://www.tefl-prague.com/ So far I have completed only surface level searches, so if you have any ideas, web links or personal connections PLEASE let me know. I really fell in love with Africa and I would love to return as soon as possible so my searches have been primarily focused around my return! I am also up for some traveling!!!!!
P.S. Dre sent me this link to an article today and I found it very interesting. Check it out if you get a chance.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20657234/site/newsweek/
Please keep me in your thoughts during my transition and preparation for my next adventure. I would love to chat and or visit with you all while I am here. Email will the best way to contact me, as I do not have my cell or bluetooth/blackberry implanted into my ear yet! ha ha!
Love,
Charlye
2 comments:
Hi Charlye, I met your friend Abby yesterday while I was subbing at Merrol Hyde. She told me that you were there talking to a class just the day before. I would have loved to of talked to you about your experiences as a PCV. I am in my first year of college at UTK and ,if things go as planned, when I graduate I want to look into volunteering in the PC. I have always had a huge heart for people less fortunate. I would love to hear more about your experiences and about your plans for PNG. And I realized that I forgot to tell you my name, its Savannah. My email address is sbenz@utk.edu. Or you can facebook me, Savannah Benz. Thanks and look forward to maybe hearing from you soon!!
Ok, Savannah here again, I definitely just figured out who you were. This is so strange but, My boyfriend live with Andrew Sneed, Markie's boyfriend. Abby had told me that you were from Springfield but it never registered. I remember Markie or Andrew talking about you being a PCV. small world...
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