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
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
Johannesburg, South Africa
Hey guys! We just arrived safely in Johannesburg South Africa! The flight was long and we had a lot of turbulance--but I was able to catch up on a few movies that I really wanted to see...oh and I watched Little Miss Sunshine AGAIN!! I love that movie!.
Due to safety concerns we are not allowed to leave the airport hotel. We were warmly greeted with wine and cheese--the African wine is great. I only took a sip due to the serious side effects of alcohol and our malaria pills. We are not allowed to drink 24 hours before or after taking our pill, which we take once a week.
I have met the most incredible people in my training group. It is hard to believe that only 3 days ago I meet 40 strangers who have now become my extended family. Most people are 23-24 years old, there are 3 African Americans, 1 married couple (both 26), 4 Asian Americans, 9 males, and the rest caucassian females. The oldest volunteer is Angela 38 and the youngest is Tamera 22. There are only two of us from the south and of course I am getting a lot of comments on my southern accent! Everyone in our training group is with the Radio Education Development (RED) program ---yes, my program has a new name, it is no longer Learning at Taonago Market---- and with the Health program.
DC was great! We were there during the State of the Union--there were armored cars and police barricades everywhere. I was able to see all the sights. I got sick my second day in DC (a horrible stomach bug was going around) and they were going to delay my departure a few days..but thanks to all the medicines mom packed for me I was able to make it with the group! Speaking of mom and packing---This was one of my biggest concerns--packing! It is a joke within our group now that Charlye packed the most and that I can fit at least a small village of children in my bag! It all worked out fine in the end--African Air let me check three bags without a charge. So far, my experience with the African people has been very pleasant and welcoming.
Tomorrow we leave for Lusaka and begin training. I will not have access to the internet during the 9 week training period. We will have a short time to email on Sunday Jan 28th. I am very excited to arrive in Zambia and meet the people, play with the children, and view the beautiful landscape! This adventure finally became a reality once I was in the air. It was very difficult for me to turn my cell off- once I did I knew this journey was official. Even now, I think I hear my phone ringing!
Our training group is very very close. We have been looking out for each other and have formed close bonds already--I can hardly believe I know all their names and what state they are from and I have only known them for 3 days! So, please do not worry. I feel safe and comfortable. I miss you guys and will write again soon.
Due to safety concerns we are not allowed to leave the airport hotel. We were warmly greeted with wine and cheese--the African wine is great. I only took a sip due to the serious side effects of alcohol and our malaria pills. We are not allowed to drink 24 hours before or after taking our pill, which we take once a week.
I have met the most incredible people in my training group. It is hard to believe that only 3 days ago I meet 40 strangers who have now become my extended family. Most people are 23-24 years old, there are 3 African Americans, 1 married couple (both 26), 4 Asian Americans, 9 males, and the rest caucassian females. The oldest volunteer is Angela 38 and the youngest is Tamera 22. There are only two of us from the south and of course I am getting a lot of comments on my southern accent! Everyone in our training group is with the Radio Education Development (RED) program ---yes, my program has a new name, it is no longer Learning at Taonago Market---- and with the Health program.
DC was great! We were there during the State of the Union--there were armored cars and police barricades everywhere. I was able to see all the sights. I got sick my second day in DC (a horrible stomach bug was going around) and they were going to delay my departure a few days..but thanks to all the medicines mom packed for me I was able to make it with the group! Speaking of mom and packing---This was one of my biggest concerns--packing! It is a joke within our group now that Charlye packed the most and that I can fit at least a small village of children in my bag! It all worked out fine in the end--African Air let me check three bags without a charge. So far, my experience with the African people has been very pleasant and welcoming.
Tomorrow we leave for Lusaka and begin training. I will not have access to the internet during the 9 week training period. We will have a short time to email on Sunday Jan 28th. I am very excited to arrive in Zambia and meet the people, play with the children, and view the beautiful landscape! This adventure finally became a reality once I was in the air. It was very difficult for me to turn my cell off- once I did I knew this journey was official. Even now, I think I hear my phone ringing!
Our training group is very very close. We have been looking out for each other and have formed close bonds already--I can hardly believe I know all their names and what state they are from and I have only known them for 3 days! So, please do not worry. I feel safe and comfortable. I miss you guys and will write again soon.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Departing Details
Lions, Tigers, and Hippos OH MY! The time has finally come. For those of you who are saying, "I know she is going to Africa with no running water or electricty to work with kids or radio..." and have forgotten the details, the following is for you (For those who have heard the story a thousand times, please skip!). For the next 27 months, my primary project will be serving as a coordinator for an interactive radio instruction program focused on bringing primary school curriculum to the people of rural Zambia who have neither facilities nor instructors for traditional schools. My secondary projects will target the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
I depart Nashville Monday the 22nd for orientation in Washington, DC. There I will meet the others in my training group who are headed to Zambia (est. 30+ volunteers). For the next three days we will learn the ins and outs of volunteer service and safety precautions followed by rounds of immunizations. Once we are protected from malaria, yellow fever, and hepatitis, we will board a 16 hour flight directly to Johannesburg, South Africa--thank goodness I have Harry Potter downloaded to my ipod! We will stay overnight in Johannesburg and take a short two hour flight to Zambia's capital Lusaka the following afternoon. Zambia's time is eastern + 8 hours. For the next three months I will live with a host family while in Pre-Service Training (PST). Then I will be assigned a village for the next two years. Once I a home aka hut, I will update my address.
We have been warned that the most challenging aspect of service is isolation from friends and family. I will be more than likely to live 50+ kilometers from the nearest volunteer and internet access will be very limited. Snail mail will be my primary method of communication and greatly appreciated. For untampered mail, the PC advises Air Mail or Par Avion be written on envelopes (some have even suggested writing Religious Material on envelopes/packages). Air Mail takes a minimum of 2-4 weeks to arrive in Lusaka--so start writing now :) My address during training will be:
Charlye Ramsey/PCT
c/o Peace Corps
PO Box 50707
Lusaka, Zambia
Many of you have asked about packages and for a list of items I may need. These are items current volunteers have requested:
I depart Nashville Monday the 22nd for orientation in Washington, DC. There I will meet the others in my training group who are headed to Zambia (est. 30+ volunteers). For the next three days we will learn the ins and outs of volunteer service and safety precautions followed by rounds of immunizations. Once we are protected from malaria, yellow fever, and hepatitis, we will board a 16 hour flight directly to Johannesburg, South Africa--thank goodness I have Harry Potter downloaded to my ipod! We will stay overnight in Johannesburg and take a short two hour flight to Zambia's capital Lusaka the following afternoon. Zambia's time is eastern + 8 hours. For the next three months I will live with a host family while in Pre-Service Training (PST). Then I will be assigned a village for the next two years. Once I a home aka hut, I will update my address.
We have been warned that the most challenging aspect of service is isolation from friends and family. I will be more than likely to live 50+ kilometers from the nearest volunteer and internet access will be very limited. Snail mail will be my primary method of communication and greatly appreciated. For untampered mail, the PC advises Air Mail or Par Avion be written on envelopes (some have even suggested writing Religious Material on envelopes/packages). Air Mail takes a minimum of 2-4 weeks to arrive in Lusaka--so start writing now :) My address during training will be:
Charlye Ramsey/PCT
c/o Peace Corps
PO Box 50707
Lusaka, Zambia
Many of you have asked about packages and for a list of items I may need. These are items current volunteers have requested:
- drink/spice mixes
- packaged pastas
- instant oatmeal
- rechargable batteries
- rope/twine
- magazines/newspapers/books
- granola/protein bars
- gifts for Zambians-anything "American"
Thank you all for your support and encouragement. You have given me the strength to bear spiders and rats in my hut, biking 50 km each day, eating maize (ground corn), and walking 3km for water. After two years I know I will walk away an even more determined, happier, stronger person for taking the risks and hardships. If you are interested in learning more of the specifics of my service check out the PC Zambia Welcome Book at this site http://www.peacecorps.gov/welcomebooks/zmwb611.pdf I will miss you all greatly and will be anxiously awaiting your letters!
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