I MADE IT TO ZAMBIA!!!

SO I'M IN ZAMBIA!!

I made it, all is good, feelin great! As I looked out the plane window and saw the stretches of green and rolling hills, I couldn't believe I was finally here. We were met at the airport by 6 land rovers that drove up in a line and wisked us down the road to our training sight. It is in a BOMA (town) about 45 minutes from Lusaka. I stared in wonder at the green planes and blue sky. We turned on to a red dirt road and bumped along passing jovial Zambians walking and waving children. This is a brand new training sight, so the people are not use to having a hurd of Americans around. They ALL wave as we go by. We have a soccer field by our dorms where we see the incredible sun set in the Zambian sky. And I thought Montana was big sky country....it literally goes on FOREVER! I will try to send mom a picture CD to eventually put online, but until then you'll have to imagine. We have had all traditional meals, including Nishima, the staple here. It is mushed and twice refined maize rolled into a football shaped ball. It is WHITE and totally carbs, no real nutritional value. They strip pretty much all the nutrients out of it, and it is virtually tasteless, but it fills the stomach. Another staple is cooking oil. Everything is doused in it. Aside from the obvious nutritional set backs, it tastes good. Our first few days have been really informational. I chose to speak BEMBA boo yeah..it is the most widely spoken language so I will either be placed in the Northern, Central or North West province. I am hoping to go to the north...it sounds delightful. We are headed out for a week long sight visits tomorrow morning where we will observe a second year volunteer in action. We start intensive training when we get back and then have a 2 week visit to our sight before actually moving. So far, most of my anxiety has been from the "unknown," which seems to be the routine..but as I get more information, the feeling shifts to excitment. I am extremly fortunate to be a part of this program. I am surrounded by incredible people who have done amazing things and will continue to do so. I will keep you updated as much as possible...until next time....

Orientation

Hi....I'm in D.C, living it up with 40 trainees. 32 chicas and 8 dudes...not quite balanced, but there are a lot of wonderful and inspiring people headed to Zambia and things are going well so far. I have had a day and a half of safety instruction and intro to Peace Corps work. We will be getting shots and vaccinations tomorrow and will have a 14 hour flight to Johannasburg, where we will be for the night. I arrive in Zambia the following day where I will have in country orientation and then visit second year volunteers. Following that we will be placed with host families and start language and skills training. I will be learning either Bemba (spoken in the north and Copper Belt), Lunda (South West), or Nyanja (near Lusaka (capitol) and central). Sometime at the end of March, I will be sent to my own village after passing proficiency tests (they want to make sure we are qualified and prepared to be on our own). I will not be able to update often, but I will try my best. Peace Corps also has guidelines about the information I give out, so if you have any specific questions, feel free to e-mail me or my mom. Above being a bit overwhelmed with all of this information, I am ecstatic to get to Africa and I am feeling all of your love and prayers. Thank you for everything!!! All the love...lisa

Peace Corps Zambia 2007

Well Hello There...
So this is my blog. I will have limited internet access so instead of mass e-mails, I will be writing my thoughts and experiences here. I should be able to update once a month or so. BAIC INFO: I am heading to Washington D.C on 1/22 for orientation and shots and will be flying to Johannesburg on the 25th and will arrive in Zambia (my humble home for the next couple of years) on the 26th. I will be in training near the capitol of Lusaka for 3 months, where I will live with a host family and familiarize myself with the country. March 29th I will be sent to my very own village where I will live in my very own mud hut. There I will be a Community Health Development Extensionist (that is a word peace corps made up...yeah they can do that) and will work with the Community Action for Health Project. AKA...HIV/AIDS education, water purification, waste management, infant care and basic health. I will assess the situation of my village and develop projects according to the situation. This has been a long process and I am ecstatic to get started. It will be hard to leave my wonderful friends and family, but 2 years is nothin right? Keep me, and the people of Zambia in your prayers! MUCH LOVE....lisa