Lisa passed her tests, even the very difficult language test, graduated and is now an official Peace Corps Volunteer!! She is so excited and leaves tomorrow morning for her village (Mwamba), where she will spend the next 2 years. The goodbyes were sad for the group heading in a different direction and she says the Northern team is great. She loves getting your mail so please keep writing to her.
Sandy
Click here to read entire Preschool Proposal
kids and Me in front of my hut
To see picture albums of Guatemala and Zambia
Zambia pics click here : http://gonzaga.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2043612&l=0ad24&id=28203138
click here lisasadventures.shutterfly.com
Check out other Peace Corps Zambia blogs...
hannah: http://hannahlantos.blogspot.com/
click here lisasadventures.shutterfly.com
Check out other Peace Corps Zambia blogs...
hannah: http://hannahlantos.blogspot.com/
stats:
kilo's biked: 5,557 k
snake sightings: lost count
cockroaches: all over
mice: just got a KITTEN...this problem should soon be over
Ok KITTEN just had KITTENS..i think she's been influenced by the village on this one. Babies having babies.
most common food i eat: tomatos & popcorn
injuries/illness: strained hamstring, various bruises, burns and scrapes. Blasted right knee acting up again but luckily no stomach problems or malaria. Jiggers in my right baby toe.
TIREDNESS....figuring that one out.
months in country: 22
snake sightings: lost count
cockroaches: all over
mice: just got a KITTEN...this problem should soon be over
Ok KITTEN just had KITTENS..i think she's been influenced by the village on this one. Babies having babies.
most common food i eat: tomatos & popcorn
injuries/illness: strained hamstring, various bruises, burns and scrapes. Blasted right knee acting up again but luckily no stomach problems or malaria. Jiggers in my right baby toe.
TIREDNESS....figuring that one out.
months in country: 22
About Me
Shipping Advice from other PCV's
- Declare "religious articles" and they won't search the package
- Be sure to include a complete contents list somewhere inside the package so I will know if anything is missing
- The more secure (tape) the less likely they will be opened
- Padded envelopes are better that boxes
- I've finally figured out this "paying to receive packages" deal here in Zambia. I have to pay to receive air mail parcel items-so when sending a package, try to just send it with the green small customs sticker (the package has to be under 4 lbs.)-not the full page white one
About Zambia
Named after the Zambezi River, Zambia is a landlocked country in central-southern Africa, and it is surrounded by Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zaire, and Zimbabwe. It is roughly the size of Texas and covers 2.3 percent of Africa’s total area. Much of Zambia lies on a plateau with an average height between 3,500 and 4,500 ft (1,066–1,371 meters). The huge valleys of the upper Zambezi and its major tributaries, including the Kafue and Luangwa Rivers, incise this plateau. The climate consists of three distinct seasons: a warm, wet season from November to April; a cool, dry season from May to August; and a hot, dry season in September and October. The relatively high altitude tempers the humidity so that the climate is generally pleasant.
Land area: 285,994 sq mi (740,724 sq km)
Population (2006 est.): 11,502,010 (growth rate: 2.1%); birth rate: 41.0/1000; infant mortality rate: 86.8/1000; life expectancy: 40.0; density per sq mi: 40
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Lusaka, 1,773,300 (metro. area), 1,265,000 (city proper)
Other large cities: Ndola, 349,300; Kitwe, 306,200; Kabwe, 219,600, Chingola, 151,100
Monetary unit: Kwacha
Languages: English (official); major vernaculars: Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga; about 70 other indigenous languages
Ethnicity/race: African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
Religions: Christian 50%–75%, Islam and Hindu 24%–49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Zambia is one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most highly urbanized countries. Approximately 50 percent of the country’s 10.2 million people are concentrated in a few urban zones strung along the major transportation corridors. Unemployment and underemployment are serious problems. Compared to other African countries, Zambia has a relatively low per capita income at $385 U.S. (2001). It has a mixed economy with an urban public sector dominated by government, nonprofit NGOs, and parastatal organizations (many of which have been privatized or are being privatized), and a predominately private rural agricultural sector. Maize (corn) is the principal cash crop as well as a staple.In Case You Were Wondering...
The contents of this website are mine and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.
5 comments:
Congratulations sister! I am so proud!!! I love you and Mwamba will love you too.
Lisa,
I'm not surprised to hear that you passed all your tests (even the difficult one). I have always had friends far more intelligent than myself. I love to read about your experiences, and I'm always glad to hear when conditions aren't as bad as I picture them (e.g. your cute little two room mud hut with a view). I love you and think that you're such an amazing person!
Mindy
It was great talking with you on Saturday. Everything sounds exotic and at the same time conventional. We always include instruction in our programs that encourages children to find what they have in common with others around the world--the basics. And then we have them find the unique features of the cultures. But reading about others is no match for the first-hand experiences you are having. How blessed you are and congratulations on the reward for all your hard work. AP
Congratulations on passing your test, Lisa! That's fantastic! I'm going home and look up Mwamba in my atlas. Craig is going back to work in Tunisia, so at least someone from around here will be close by! I also wanted to tell you how beautiful your paintings look in our conference room (I'm Matt Landheim's mom). He picked a really NICE frame that I'm sure you'd like. At some point, I'll take a picture and put it on the blog. Take care out there! Cheryl Landheim
lisa missing you and so excited for you... loving you tremendously, personally i feel a loss for not having you within just miles and a phone call away.... but so happy for your grandest of adventures....and the effect you will have in a far off land.... mucho love and much thought
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