I just spent my first week and a half in the village. And even though I just got here its already hard to explain my new life. It seems like I only got here yesterday, but at the same time it seems like I've been here forever. I'm still trying to get my bearings a bit and find my way around. I've met my neighbors and they are a really great family. I really enjoy going over to their house...even though I don't understand half of what's being said.
I love my new house. It is pretty big. It consists of one large room then three small rooms off to the side. Each room is big enough to fit a small bed, and that's about all. So one room is my bedroom, one for storage, and one will be a yoga/meditation room. This time my house has a tin roof. I love the sound of rain on a tin roof. But a tin roof can act like an oven so it makes it kind of hot. I miss the comfortable temperature of my thatch roof. My house needs a few repairs, but it gives me something to do, and I am having fun fixing it up. My yard has five mango trees and an orange tree. Yum! The mangoes will be ready in December and I can't wait! I have a pretty private spot, though there is a path going through my yard, it is mainly only used by a few neighbors. I am on the outskirts of the village and I have a beautiful view from my yard.
Language is tough, but I'm getting there...slowly but surely. I have lessons just about every day; so if I don't study even one day I feel like I'm so behind! Even though I've only had lessons for about a week I am getting a pretty big Bemba vocabulary.
My community is great. On the 24th it was Zambia's Independence day. I went to the school celebration. It was a lot of fun! The kids performed skits, recited poems, and did traditional song and dance. Most of what was said was in Bemba so I could only pick out a few words and had to have help with the translation.
Looking forward to some letters!
Heidi,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is fantastic…when I’m reading it I feel like I’m there...keep on posting!!
Those Mango trees sound yummy and a word to the wise...Mango trees are from the same family as poison ivy! If you don’t want an itchy rash; wear gloves, or wrap your hands in an old rag when picking to prevent the sap from the tree getting on your skin. Then wash the mangos in soapy water to remove any sap residue. (Or in your case you may not have soapy water so peal with gloves,or with your hands wrapped in rags to remove any possible sap which may have dripped from the tree onto the skin of the mango.) The Mangos we buy in the grocery store have already been washed! It’s the sap from the tree that gives you the poison ivy rash and as I have experienced it first hand...it is as miserable if not worse than poison ivy. I had to go to the doc to get some anti itch soap; and as you don’t have that luxury you have to go the prevention route!
I'm so proud of you! I miss you so much and love you even more!