Kindness and Generosity

The kindness and generosity that some people show to others fills my heart and makes me so glad to be a small part in this universe.

The kindness and generosity that is shown and given without expecting anything in return is a special gift. Those on the receiving end who are able to realize and appreciate these gifts are better people because of being shown such compassion and love.

It is during these first two and a half months of travel with my sister that we both have been recipients of such amazing gifts. We were hugged goodbye by our friends and family who have never faltered in their love and support for us. We have lived with multiple families who have accepted us as part of their family and culture. We have been so blessed.

Every family we stay with, we always hope to contribute as much as possible so that our host's lives are in any number of ways made less stressful and brought some humor. We want our help to allow our hosts to do more of what they want or need to do.

I am just so grateful for the amazing responses we've received from our current and past hosts. They showed us the utmost kindness by allowing us to stay with them and gave generously to help our stay be even more fulfilling.

I especially hope all of our hosts know how much they are appreciated for the experience and kindness we were shown. And I am ever so grateful again for our friends and family who show and help us to be the people we are today.

I hope I can pay forward even a little of all the love, kindness, and generosity I've been gifted in order that someone else can feel as amazing and fulfilled as I do right now.

A Piece Of My Heart

When I was preparing for Africa three years ago, many people said that once I had gone there, Africa would always have a place in my heart. I don't want to say that is untrue for me, but there is another place that truly captured my heart from the moment I arrived there-Austria!

I still remember when I flew out of Salzburg for the first time nearly exactly seven years ago. The plane circled back around the city and my window seat had a perfect view of the fortress and Salzach River. I couldn't hold back my tears. That city was my home for eight months and it had completely worked its way into my heart.

I have visited Salzburg and Austria once since that first flight out of the music city, but I knew I'd return again.

And now I have!! I am currently sitting in what will be my sister's and my bedroom for three weeks in the hills of Mariapfarr. Mariapfarr is a small village tucked into the mountains about two hours by bus from Salzburg.

It is as beautiful as ever! The mountains are still covered in snow and the peaks reach into the low mist of the clouds. The hillsides and valleys have bright green spring grass that any animal of mine would be breaking down a gate to enjoy for awhile.

The ride through the country by bus showed again the amazing European homes that usually reside in a cluster of others. Each home has their yards and outside areas prepared neatly and beautifully for any passerby to see a wonderfully managed property. Nothing seems ever to be out of place.

It is the beauty of the land, the kindness and honesty of the people, and the sense of wonderment and originality that keeps me coming back to Austria. A place which will always have a piece of my heart.

Traveller in Training

Seven years ago, I was in Salzburg, Austria nearing the end of my eight months of studying abroad at Salzburg College.  I loved every minute of my time in Salzburg and knew Europe would always have a place in my heart.

Fast forward through years of university, living in different states, volunteering in Africa, and having an amazing year in Portland, I have finally begun my adventure back to Austria!

I am currently on Prince Edward Island with my sister as we WWOOF here with a farm family on the island of Anne of Green Gables. Already we have experienced so much in the many hours it took to get to PEI.

What amazes me is how different of a traveler I have become since my first days as a rookie traveler and young student of Europe. In addition, it's sometimes surprising how different every travel experience is compared to past or previous adventures.

Not every flight will go right or go wrong. Not every person will be friendly or unfriendly. The weather will not stay the same. The languages will change from place to place. Your personal perceptions and reactions will be different with every experience or situation.

A traveler can only be prepared for everything by knowing the unexpected will most likely happen.  The best way to approach any and every new adventure is by expecting everything may be backwards than initially prepared for or first remembered.

I've surprised myself by how little I prepared personally for this trip. I don't mean by the packing or the planning or itinerary or any of the logistics. I mean by my personal ideas on travel. I've nearly forgotten how quickly culture changes from one place to another. I've nearly forgotten how all the changes affect how we react or don't react to what's happening around us. I sometimes feel as though I've forgotten how to be a traveller!

I love travelling and all the new things I can encounter. I love the adventure and the spontaneity of travel. I also love that travelling is an ever changing and moving classroom. Learning is the best part of travel. I am learning all over again about culture, about how to immerse into a culture and how to accept the many different traditions from my own culture.

I may have travelled to or visited more countries than I would have imagined I would have visited by this age, but I'm learning again how much more there is to know and learn.

This trip will truly be an adventure. I will be challenged again and again physically, emotionally and mentally. I look forward to all I will experience and all I will absorb and be taught. I am not an expert traveller, but still a traveller in training.

Running?

I love to walk.  I can walk anywhere for however long and just keep walking. I love walking!

Running? Not really my thing.  I've always thought about running and becoming a runner, but I never follow through truly and just go walk.

Last Saturday, June 14th, I took part in the Race for Justice event.  The law firm I work for sponsored all employees who wanted to take part and I was totally game for a Saturday 5K walk. 

Saturday morning arrived and I decided I wanted to try my legs at running for a bit.  A co-worker and I decided we'd start the race at a slow run/jog and when we decided to slow down more, we'd just finish the race walking. 

Off we went! It was a great pace we set and there we both were running.  Neither one of us run often, nor did we think we were going to even run at all that morning.  It was so much fun running with others and the route volunteers helping direct the course were so encouraging and helpful.  Next thing we knew, we had reached  mile.

Both my co-worker and I were feeling pretty good and just kept up our jog.  The route was beautiful through a really well kept residential area and there was plenty to check out as we went along.  Before we knew it we came to a point and asked how much farther, the volunteer said about three quarters of the way done! Sure enough, the next sign we saw said we only had one more mile left!

My co-worker and I were feeling on top of the world! We knew we could keep going, so we did!  We kept encouraging each other and enjoying the run together as we made our way to the final three blocks.  As we were coming up then, an attorney from work saw us.  He is a runner and had finished a while back and came to help lead us to the finish! He pushed us and helped us along and 'A' and I had a super strong finish to our 3.1 miles that morning!

We were so happy and proud of ourselves! We didn't think we were going to run any of the route, and ended up finishing the whole 5K running with a smile! It was such a great feeling! The running itself helped increase our endorphins, but helping each other through the race and the encouragement from others made both 'A' and I sour with happiness! It felt so good!

I am not ready to run a marathon, and I still prefer walking over running, but I will definitely go out more and have a good run! I'll even try to find some friends to run with to make it even more awesome! Yay for running!

Champions!

December 2013 found me back in San Antonio, TX.  It is a great, warm place to spend Christmas!  It also just happens to be the city of the San Antonio Spurs! And who was a lucky girl to be able to go and watch a Spurs game at the AT&T Center? This girl!

I had watched a few Spurs games prior to that LIVE show in San Antonio, but watching a game up close and personal sealed my fate of becoming a Spurs fan! And a super Spurs fan I am!

Being a part of the Spurs crowd in the AT&T Center is just amazing.  The fans are so wonderful!  They watch the game and enjoy the game and cheer on and encourage their team throughout the whole game.  It was so great to be one of the lucky people in the stands cheering on a great team together with everyone else!  Such camaraderie. 

Not only are Spurs fans some of the best I've come across, it is the Spurs themselves that do the selling.  People are always looking for the great products in life that really just sell themselves without trying too hard.  The Spurs don't have to try to convince anyone they are a great team; it is inevitable if one is to watch them play! It's almost impossible not to be entranced by their amazing ball handling skills and extraordinary passes and shots.  But the best quality the Spurs have is their teamwork!

It is the Spurs teamwork that helped them through the regular NBA season to become the number 1 ranked team in the nation.  It is their teamwork that shines through when the bench is out on the floor and momentum is never lost.  It is their teamwork that helped the Spurs from San Antonio become the 2014 Western Conference NBA Champions. 

But the Spurs weren't stopped there.  They went on to beat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals in just 5 games!  The Heat were the defending champs, but didn't stand a chance this year!  Winning the first, third, fourth, and fifth games, the Spurs took home the 2014 title of the NBA Champions! 

I am so happy to be a Spurs fan!!  Go Spurs Go!! 

I Think It's Time To Buy Rain Boots.

All I wanted to do was go to the library one mile away and pick up the DVDs I had on hold that were ready for pick-up. 

However, today it was raining.  Not just Portland, a little sprinkle here and little dribble there, raining.  No, it was pouring cats and dogs and even had a few pebbles of hail fall down.  There were some siestas throughout the rain, but very inconsistent and not nearly long enough to really get out and about without it raining again. 

I decided to take a nap and see if the rain would dissipate and leave for awhile.  After waking up, it was still raining.

I was determined to get to the library and decided to grab a bus for the three-minute ride down the road. 

Sure enough, I get to the library and the rain seems to go away and the sun almost tries to peek out from behind some clouds.  I check out the sky and the dreary clouds of rain seemed to be heading away out of NW Portland. 

I go into the library, grab my DVDs and head back out the door down the street by foot.  I think I can't possibly get caught in the rain in the next fifteen minutes.  And even if I do, I have my rain jacket on and my umbrella. 

What happens only three or four blocks away from my apartment?  It starts DOWN POURING!!

I try to hide in the little alcoves and entrances to some businesses, but I can't loiter there all day looking sad and just waiting for the rain to stop.  Also, how wet can I possibly get in just a few blocks?

...VERY WET! 

I do not know how exactly I managed it, but my tennis shoes were two-thirds of the way soaked.  My jeans were dark from being wet up to my knees.  And when I peeled off my socks, the only dry spot was the top part of my heel.  I was so wet from the knees down I could barely believe it.

I walked in the door and exclaimed, "I think it's about time I invested in a pair of rain boots!"

Some Of The 'Quirks' Of Portland, Oregon

What a place it is here! Portland, Oregon is currently where I call home.  I live in the most adorable studio apartment in a building over 100 years old in the NW district of the city where culture and fun are everywhere to be found.  This apartment where I stay includes an authentic porcelain claw-foot tub, as well as a roll away bed! What could make my home more quaint?

My apartment is a great addition to what makes this city here pretty super as well as crazily unique and interesting! Let me share just a few bits and pieces about Portland for your information!

First off, Portlandia...yeah, if you've watched this show, you can safely believe most of what the show portrays Portland, OR to be like.  This city seems to want to have and show-off as many true stereotypes as possible!  So if you ever find yourself walking throughout the streets of Portland, expect nothing and everything all at the same time. 

Portland does not have the world's greatest drivers.  This city is notorious for the bountiful amounts of rain it receives.  Shouldn't Portlanders be ready for such wet-driving? No. They are not.  And if you try to add snow to the mix, FORGET IT!  The entire city shuts down, no joke!

Along with those great drivers, it is always an experience being a pedestrian in the city.  Nine out of ten times a car will automatically stop and wait for any and all pedestrians to cross any street intersection.  The first time I was a driver in Portland, I decided I was glad to not have a vehicle to regularly drive about.  I was sure within a week of driving I would have run over someone...pedestrians have the right of way!  However, watch out for the BMW drivers.  They seem to want to go 60 to 90 mph between intersections and just sometimes forget to watch out.  I have nearly filled my pants a time or two because I was sure a car was going to run straight over me while I was standing clearly in the cross walk! 

Another interesting addition to the streets of Portland include the large number of street dwellers, a.k.a. Homeless People.  All over the city, and especially near the city center and other shop areas, homeless people roam during the day and sleep in various entryways and corners by night.  Most of the street dwellers are men, but more and more frequently I see females among the ranks as well.  If you ever choose to stop by the Central Public Library downtown, don't be afraid to recognize it as an alternate homeless shelter once inside.  However, do try to ignore the sour aroma and enjoy the beautiful marble staircase, the never ending shelves of books, and the wonderful cultural displays on the third floor. 

Portland also has a great number of food cart parks throughout the downtown.  These communities of small trailers and campers offer all kinds of ethnic and local foods.  From Thai to German sausages to Mexican burritos to tasty donuts and sweet treats, it is easy for any group of diverse palates to find something for everyone.  Many cities have these food carts, but here they are a must-do for any local or visitor and always seems to be the first attraction shared that one must do. 

Besides the quirks of the inner city, this charming Pacific Northwest city is surrounded by inactive volcanoes.  These volcanoes make beautiful mountains that skirt the borders of the city and can be seen on clear days majestically overlooking the city.  Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens are the two large mountains and the Three Sisters are three others that are not as easily seen from the city. 

Portland is really a great city and is also so very interesting.  It takes a little getting used to some of these quirks of the city, especially coming from WI and TX.  However, overtime these attributes of Portland have become part of daily life and just make the city who it is today!  I will continue to enjoy my amazing little apartment and treasure the walks throughout the city that always include canopies of trees above me as I walk down city sidewalks. 

Feel free to come and enjoy the Pacific Northwest, maybe we can all take a trip to the coast and see what I've been told I'm missing!   

A Time In San Antonio

Three years ago I lived in the great city of San Antonio.  I had great friends, I loved my job, and I always found fun things to do.  I knew I would continue to return to visit San Antonio after I left that first time.  However, I never knew then that a person I would meet far from Texas would be a primary reason to bring me back! 

This past Christmas, Kenny and I enjoyed spending the holiday season with his family in San Antonio.  Not only did we visit and spend loads of time with his family, we made it out and about to so many other happenings! 

It has been a great Christmas and we've brought in the new year with style!

 



 SPURS!

 We went to the AT&T center for a San Antonio Spurs game.  It was awesome!  My favorite Spur is Coyote, but Kawhi Leonard and Manu Ginobili are my favorite players on the court!

 The crowd at the Spurs game was so fun to be a part of!  Such amazing fans!

Alamo Bowl!  Oregon beat Texas! Was quite the game with such a different crowd from a Spurs game!

 

Big Lou's Pizza.  Enough said.  The photos speak for themselves!

 

  

Happy New YEAR!

 

MIA

I know.  It has been six months since my last post.  

 

Where have I been?

 

I have been at the WI State Fair.  I've fed calves on my family's farm.  I have been in the kitchen baking pies and sugar cookies and all things sweet.  I worked at a bakery where all the tasty treats beckoned me daily to eat them all.  I was in Madison for a Local Natives/Wild Nothing concert.

 

I was sitting in the blue chair trying to find contentment and just enjoy reading a book.  I was down in the pasture and woods searching for lost heifers who were about to calve.  I was at the grocery store buying RumChata for a birthday gift.  I was washing my clothes with a washer and dryer and drinking water straight from a running tap. 

 

I was at Thanksgiving with my family and enjoyed Black Friday shopping.  I was able to go to the bank and deposit money I'd earned from working.  I wore dresses.  I wore all types of dresses whenever I chose to wear them.  I've also been out in the snow and enjoyed the warmth of a furnace after the chill of outdoors. 

 

I have also been in my own self.  I sometimes found myself in my room with tears in my eyes.  I have been inside my head thinking through everything and contemplating all of life.   

 

But this journey of life won't ever stop.  I will always be on some path of this universe.  I am not always sure what my life will bring and sometimes I am not happy with what I find.  Other times I am so glad with all that the world offers and sets forth for me. 

 

I have most assuredly been MIA from my blog.  Unfortunately, from time to time I find myself almost MIA from daily life. 

 

But I am finding my way back.  Slowly.  But it is this journey that I have found myself on.  The journey of life!  We live and we learn.  Sometimes we are only living, but it is even more great when we learn, too!   

Home Sweet Home

After a year in Zambia, I have returned home to the wonderful USA to the beautiful state of Wisconsin!  I had quite an experience in Zambia, met some amazing people, and learned a lot along the way.  However, no place is quite like home! 

I am back feeding calves, cooking for my family, going to the library, weeding flower beds, and sleeping in some of the most comfortable beds!  I will also be off to the WI State Fair now for two full weeks of amazing agriculture fun and work!  Can't beat the super jobs of making grilled cheese or working Gate 5!  Along with working with great people and friends!

I hope everyone is well and healthy and safe wherever you may be in this huge, yet very small, world! 

Life is an adventure.  Always do what you love and are happy doing.  If you haven't found that yet, keep looking and hopefully you'll find yourself on an amazing journey. 

What's Up!

Vaccinating cattle, meetings, visiting people, murder mystery parties, and playing with my dog is how I've been spending my time here in Zambia.  I try to keep myself busy and sane, learn a little along the way and keep taking one day at a time!

 All dressed up for our Murder Mystery party!  A group of volunteers finished their service, so we were able to say good-bye with a little fun!

 Out in the hills keeping the cattle healthy!  I played assistant to the vet as we were out and about vaccinating in the area villages!  We vaccinated over 1,000 head of cattle for Black Leg and 20-30 dogs for rabies.

 Spicing up my outdoor kitchen!  Just added a few wild flowers to keep things classy. 

 Just enjoying a quite evening of no electricity in town!  Roasted maize, singing, and good company!  I visit this Catholic Girls home and their volunteers when I get the chance. 

Finally!  My neighbor and his wife came over to finish putting cement in my outdoor kitchen!  After 5 months, it was finally done.  I guess it's better late then never!  And it does look nice, too!

 Jaylene.  This girl is growing every single day!  She had quite the time down at the dam and is as loving and sweet as ever.  She likes to visit our neighbors throughout the day, but luckily makes it home to sleep outside my door at night!

Here I have just finished washing my little girl, Jaylene!  Never before have I given a dog a bath until I came to Zambia.  It gets harder and more tricky now that she gets bigger and bigger.  I was quite wet and dirty after making her all shiny and clean!

The next few months will be filled again with meetings and fun!  I hope to keep encouraging my community towards building and finishing their market and starting to dip their animals.  I will continue helping at the local clinic weighing babies and assisting the nurses.  Maybe I'll learn how to build an outdoor oven with bottles, sand, and clay.  And I'll keep working on keeping my garden growing and hopefully producing lettuce, cilantro, garlic, tomatoes, and others!  

Everyone take care and feel free to shoot me an email, message, or the like!  Cheers!  

I'm Still An American

I can travel all over the world. I can learn new languages and adapt to different cultures and customs.  I can eat strange food and bathe from a bucket under the stars.  I can do all these things.  

I can meet and befriend all varieties and colors of peoples.  I can live and learn with and become a part of many families.  I can plant tiny or big roots in every country on this earth.  

However, that doesn't or shouldn't change where I come from or who I am.  

I will still miss my parents and siblings at home.  I will still want to stay connected with all my friends across the States.  I will still feel most comfortable in my sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt.  These won’t change.  

I will still crave a tasty Jersey beef burger or steak.  Blueberry pancakes will still be an ideal breakfast food.  I will still love listening to country music.  I will still want to hug and kiss and love beautiful baby calves. These won’t change.  

Living in a new place challenges people in all different ways.  It is hard to be a minority.  It is hard sticking out like a sore-thumb.  It is especially hard trying to help people who seem uninterested in any help.  Each day is a new journey with ups and downs.  

The past few weeks and months, I have been able to meet and spend time with more people who've shared their kindness and made me feel closer to ‘home.’  There are super farmers, missionaries, and others here in Zambia that area always willing to offer a meal, a ride, or a hot shower.  I met some American missionaries just recently that went above and beyond good hospitality!  

After having lasagna for supper as well as a delicious lettuce salad with homemade dressing, we enjoyed a tasty pecan pie.  We discussed Texas and the Midwest, hunting and cooking, and life.  Finally to top off the evening, I had the best shower yet in Zambia!  I was able to bathe under the stars with the bright sliver of moon shining.  However, this was no bucket bath.  Nope!  A real hot shower with amazing pressure!  What a great night!  

I truly enjoy learning new things, travelling, and experiencing life.  But, sometimes, it’s the people and little things closer to home that really can brighten our days.  It is the feeling of being truly comfortable that we all need from time to time.  Adversity and challenges make us stronger, but caring for our selves and taking a break is sometimes necessary.  

I am proud of where I come from.  I am grateful for my family and how they raised me.  I am super happy I have had so many fantastic opportunities and experiences.  I am still an American, and proud to be one!  

   This is me.  Just me!

Quick Update

Time has passed by and I swear it was just February!

I know many of you are wondering how I'm doing and what I've been up to.  I'm healthy and staying well here in Zambia.

Everyday continues to bring more challenges or new experiences.  I try to hold meetings, yet find only three or four people come.  I've attempted to help a farmer stock his pond with fish from the dam, yet he seems to go missing every now and then.

However, I have successfully been able to work with the local vet and we vaccinated over 1,500 head of cattle for Black Leg.  I also have been able to motivate the community to work further towards building a market within the village.

Outside of the village I have attended a motorbike racing event and went fishing!  I actually caught a couple fish! I took a small holiday in the city and enjoyed going to the cinema and eating at an Indian restaurant.

At my house in the village, I've finally started taking time to read a few good novels as well as a book that's helping me learn more and more about myself.  Also, I am again seriously attacking building a new garden!  I have some tomato and pepper seedlings ready to plant and getting more excited for the prospect of my own veg!

I've been able to have awesome visitors as well as visit other parts of Zambia and see super people out and about, too!

Up then down is the life of a Peace Corps volunteer.  Daily struggles and tiny celebrations.  And time that continually keeps on moving.  Until next time!  Cheers!

A Month In My Life

I can talk all day long about my life here in Zambia, but you still won't truly know what I am talking about until you all come and visit me and experience it yourselves.  Right?  Yeah, I figured it was a long shot!

Therefore, I hope for those who won't be able to come across the ocean to Africa to check out things here, I can at least share a few more photos of the last month in my life here in Zambia.  Its been busy to say the least and I hope you all enjoy!

 

 Jaylene!  Gotta start with this little girl always!  She grows daily and is quite the rascal.  But she is a good girl!

 I made cheese!  Another volunteer and I got some fresh milk, added some lemon juice and Ta-dah! we had cheese!

 Kitchen Party!  Friends of mine like to get together to cook and share a meal every so often in the resident area of the Mission Hospital.

 Kapenta!  Small dried fish that make a great relish with nshima.  I cooked it all by myself!  Surprise, surprise! But, I like it!

 Let's go milk 150 cows...by hand! 

 Still love me some baby calves!

 Seed maize!  What better way than to spend my birthday weekend visiting farmers in my area and seeing beautiful fields and animals?!

 Just a regular sunset from my doorstep.

 I have a driveway!  And they slashed my grass!  Its amazing what can get done when you just ask!  Thank you to my community!

 For four days I hosted three new PCTs at my site.  Here are the two wonderful ladies with a community member who was showing us a local dam. 

 Like our new citenges?  We do, too!  We were given these as gifts and just had to model them off for the camera! I think we look good!

 Oh, yeah!  I look good in this hat. I know!  And that kitten was totally loving its first-class, waterproof ride!

 Other volunteer and his fire!  He fired up my oven at the site visit and we cooked pizza. 

 Yep, just made it across the raging stream! Almost knee deep water running over the road at a volunteer's site.  I'd like to say it was eventful, but really it was just puddle jumping.

 

 Jaylene thought she needed to climp OVER the fence instead of letting us take down the gate. She is just so cute though.  But super silly, too!

Kenny and I were able to spend my birthday together!  It was such a super weekend!

 

And, no my life isn't quite as chill and relaxing as this little girl's.  She has it so rough! 

Its been a great few weeks and I've stayed busy here, there and everywhere!  I have hosted people, visited others, and am helping my community start up a new market place in the village!  Hope to keep busy and update y'all again in the future! 

I Tried!

Are you a gardener?  I thought maybe I'd try to be one.  Not so sure I'm cut out for it!

Two girl friends of mine helped me just after Christmas clear an area of grass and plant some beans and onions.  I was so happy to see the shoots of green beans coming up a few days later.

With the beginning of my garden I was excited a week later to finally add some cucumbers, squash, peppers, and watermelon.  I was still hopeful for my little garden. Around this time of planting the other vegetables, my onions still had not emerged. 

And then the heavy rains came.  Water is good for a garden, usually.  Too much though creates some major issues.

A month later at the end of January my beans were turning yellow, I had maybe four cucumber plants sprouted and still alive, and a lot of grass! 

Now it is almost March and I have two cucumber plants still alive.  The rest is grass that I even had boys come and slash.  I maybe should have weeded before I called it a loss.  However, botany isn't really a strength for me and I was afraid to pull the rare plant that DID make it! Slashing really isn't any better, though!

Maybe I'll develop my gardening passion and skills over time.  For now I might just count this first little garden a successful failure. 

In the meantime, I have just realized the wonderful resource that vegetables, fruits, trees, and flowers provide for us.  Never before have I cut open a tomato or pepper and thought, "Hmm, should I take these seeds and plant them?"  Or looked at a tree and decided I needed to wait for the seeds to dry and try planting them as well.  Its quite exciting to find new life in so many things that we see every day!

I am at this moment carrying lemon, tomato, red pepper, and a pretty flower's seeds home.  I am going to have another go at this gardening business!  I really do hope I reap a few vegetables in a couple months!  I'll keep y'all updated!  Any tips you may have?? I am most open to any suggestions or help that anyone may find useful to share! 

 

And here are two photos of the plot that I originally planted for my garden.  

Yeah...its all grass now! 

This Is Normal For Me

I so love getting texts, emails, Facebook messages, or letters from everyone back home in the States or abroad in Europe.  Thank you!

The one common request I hear is everyone wants to hear about my adventures or any neat stories.  The funny thing about that is most events that happen to me would probably make great stories.  However, they have becomes so common place in my life here that I fail to share the little things.  So, today I decided I needed to share some of the random happenings of my life in Zambia. 

 One activity that always results in a story is travelling!  Here in Zambia hitching is actually the most common, efficient, and best way to get around.  For those of you reading this and concerned for my well-being, I assure you, hitching is one of the (if not THE) safest modes of transport in Zambia. 

It does seem to be that most hitches or rides to and from anywhere end up creating quite an interesting adventure.  First off, the types and kinds of vehicles range from small Toyota cars to mid-sized vans to large trucks and canters.  Sometimes I find myself in the front of a van with a child on my lap or sitting in the bed of a canter on a spare tire with goats and pigs as my traveling buddies. 

One day I was going to Town with a friend and we hadn't seen too many vehicles pass us.  When a small pick-up finally rolled up with already twenty people in the bed, we'd been walking for 5 or 6 km.  Therefore, we found ourselves standing just behind the cab for the last 55 km.  We spent the ride singing Christmas songs and discussing life with the other passengers. 

Another day I was already in Town and wanted to head back to my village.  Another gal and I had met this guy the day before and because he was just out and about driving around, he gave me a free lift to my corner where I could catch other transport.  We even stopped for chocolate and Fantas mid-way! 

Sometimes it doesn't have to be random vehicles or people who happen to be going where you're going.  Just recently I visited another volunteer who lives very far in the bush down bumpy dirt roads.  On a good day, transport with a canter will take 2 hours from the nearest Town.  Our trip took four and a half hours! 

I am not sure how many people were in the vehicle, but there were many.  We sat on bags of fertilizer up against the left side of the canter and I am not quite sure how our feet found room, but they did!  It was only sprinkling as we started off, but a few kilometers down the road we found the big heavy green tarp over our heads to protect us from the rain.  Of course, there are plenty of holes in the tarp and if you are under one of those holes it would almost be better to be without any protection! 

With the rain comes muddy roads.  We'd probably gone 45 minutes before actually getting stuck.  Its amazing though when it happens.  All the men jump out and hook a rope to the truck and push and pull the vehicle out of the mud and water.  After getting stuck twice, the third time we all had to get out; men, women and children.  Now it was the fourth time I believe when we really got stuck.  You know its a bit "shupa" (difficult in Tonga) when the men start hauling even the 50 kg bags of urea out of the canter and 100 meters down the path. 

As all this was happening, I happily held the new kitty that would soon become the other volunteer's rat killer while he assisted in the pulling with the other men.  At one point the men and women hoisted the rear wheels of the canter and put branches under the tires to help with traction.  I was actually most shocked by the usage of the trees above all else.  In my area, trees and branches are so scarce that no one would even think to use them as traction for the vehicles.  However, is this particular area there are still many trees scattered everywhere. 

Luckily, during this particular canter ride we made it home by 21:00.  After heavy or continuous rains, sometimes that same trek takes over six hours and puts people at home around 02:00 hours in the morning! 

Oh the joys of transport in Zambia!  To me, these events are so 'normal.'  I hardly think to share them with others because I almost doubt they could be at all entertaining or interesting!  And then I remember what its like in the States or Europe.  If you are late for a train, you are left.  If you want to go visit a friend, you get in your own car and drive straight there.  If in a vehicle you make less than 60 mph it is easy to get mad and blame whatever little hold up made you late. 

Not here.  Patience and flexibility are key when it comes to traveling anywhere in Zambia.  But, a funny or interesting story may be the result for the 14 hour day and make the trek worth it! 

Transport and hitching have become the norm in my life here.  There are also probably many other things that I find to be just part of my life that others might find wildly unfamiliar.  I will try to remember to pass on those stories!  Feel free to continue sharing about your lives!  Nothing is off-limits to share with me!  Mundane or exciting, it is all so interesting to me! 

Photos For You!

After three months, I am now finally out of Community Entry and into the 'real world' of Peace Corps Volunteer living.  As I shared before, I had a busy first few months in the village and here are some photos to show a little bit of my life in my village!  

Near a stream just a twenty minutes walk from my house!  So pretty!

Some men from the village helping capture some fish for a sample harvest of the area dam.

  

  Just the beginning of rainy season.  One of the first rains to come to my village.  This is my toilet and view from my front door. 

 Jaylene!  This is my little puppy who I brought home in December.  Here she is only two months old!

 The sun rising around 5 AM one morning when Jaylene needed to go out to go potty! As beautiful as it is, I do not make it a habit of checking it out daily!

 Calf Vaccinating.  All of the area farmers brought their calves to one area to be vaccinated and tagged one morning by the District Veterinary people.  

 Chilongwe.  A traditional ceremony where women gather to dance and eat together!  One woman buys a kitchen set for another friend and all the ladies gather in order to see what the new kitchen tools are.  

 In the local village town at World AIDS Day.  Here are two of my friends from Sweden who are doing research at the Mission Hospital.  

 This is my outdoor kitchen or chilling area with a rock path I made to the door.  It gets so muddy and dirty, so I put the rocks to decrease the dirt and such I bring into my house.  

 My garden!  The small dirt patch here is my little garden in my yard.  Two friends helped me clear the grass.  If everything grows well, I'll have beans, cucumbers, squash, peppers, and watermelons in a few months.  The grass structure to the left is my shower!

 Planting season!  You can see the dark soil in the field that make up the furrows as this family plants potatoes.  The big tin-roofed structure in front is the dip tank that I have been trying to get my community to get working in order to save their animals from tick-borne diseases.  

And Jaylene again.  She has grown so very fast!  Here she is chewing on one of my broken sandals.  She loves to eat my shoes, but she knows she is not totally supposed to!  

And those are some photos to give y'all an idea of what's happening over here!  I just spent the last week in Lusaka for In-Service Training.  Training was okay, but it was a super week spending time with those I haven't been able to see in so long.  Back to my village tomorrow.  

Where Do I Start?

Oh my goodness.  Three months have flown by!  So many Peace Corps Volunteers always say how the 27 months of service fly by.  I never believed them really, however, I have been in Zambia for almost six months now and I can hardly believe its been half of a year! 

The first three months went by pretty fast, but these past three months have flown by! 

Living in a thatched roof house is normal now.  Walking down the hill to pump my water is just part of my day.  Even washing clothes by hand has become somewhat of a relaxing chore from time to time. 

During the past 90 days of community entry where I spent most of my time in my village, I have definitely had some major ups and major downs. 

One of the best parts of my life in Zambia is the scenery that I get to enjoy each and every day.  I do live in one of the prettiest areas I think!  I get the mountains and valleys and far stretching fields of maize and other crops.  In addition, my village is so accepting and welcoming of me.  They even stick up for me to others who call me magua and let them know I do not like that! 

In November and December I was busy biking around to farmers' places talking about fish farming with them and answering questions.  I staked a few ponds and have one farmer that has finished one.  We have yet to stock the pond with fish though!  Also, I have been working with other farmers trying to get their dip tank working so they can dip their animals and avoid the effects of ticks. 

In addition, I spent quite a bit of time just visiting women and families in the area.  I watched the families go to the fields to plow and plant.  I also attended some traditional ceremonies...my village LOVES to watch me dance!  I held a meeting with the women in the village and they are excited to build a market nearby.  The market has been keeping me busy this past week or two. 

Along with integrating into my community and meeting people, Peace Corps service truly has some challenges.  If anyone has ever tried working in a developing country, they may have experienced some of these challenges. However, I feel like until you really experience it for yourself, you never truly know. 

First of all, there are so many reasons why developing countries are still developing.  And developing slowly.  One reason being that they just don't know any different.  This is the life these people have been living for centuries, why change?  However, even those people who do have some idea as to what could be achieved, they just don't work towards it.

This is the biggest struggle for me.  Many villagers like to call themselves sufferers.  They say sufferers never rest. However, I was told this by one gentleman as he sat under a tree all afternoon doing not much of anything but chatting.  Besides the lack of motivation, when I ask some villagers about how we can go about improving a situation, they can sometimes easily give me an answer.  Then when I ask further questions as to how to go about doing this, they come up with an excuse for every reason why it has not already been done. 

It is definitely a huge part of the culture as to why many villagers have these attitudes.  For as long as many people can remember it was always a vicious cycle of planting during the rains, harvesting after they had gone and trying to feed everyone in the meantime.  Life was simply living.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Existing in short.   

Existing is never a bad thing.  Sometimes we all take a 'time out' in life and just exist.  So, the real problem now isn't that their way of life is wrong or bad, its that many of the people living this way have this illusion of something more and getting it without doing anything extra.  They no longer want to just exist, but to thrive. 

I hope to be an encouragement to the villagers showing that hard work and persistence will help them continue towards what they want.  For those that want change or improvement in some area of life, I hope to be a resource to the ways to go about it.  We all sometimes don't know what path to take, where exactly to go, or how to do something.  For my community, I am there to help in the what and how, their part is the doing! 

Besides the wonderful roller coaster ride that is volunteer work in a developing country, I am doing well!  This next week I get to enjoy myself in the city of Lusaka with all the other volunteers and friends that I spent those first three months with in training!  We all get some further training as well as giving of presentations about our communities.  Should be a great week! 

I am still taking one day at a time.  Trying to enjoy all the good in order to get through all the struggles!  I am wishing everyone a great January and start to the new year!  And again, we all get a new beginning every single day!

Here I Am

I sit here in the mid-morning coolness on a flat rock among rows of freshly turned soil.  The sun has yet to escape from behind the thick blanket of bright white clouds over head.

Looking ahead I find many trees overtaking the top of the next hill as fields of grass and maize make their home on the slopes.  In the valley just below me, all the gardens together create a lush green alley that leads to the blue of water that is the local dam.

All around me, near and far, I watch the teams of oxen pulling plows through the Zambian soil.  The hillsides farthest away showcase tiny moving dots that indicate others planting.  The land has been moistened by the recent showers and the pale brown ground is turned over revealing rich red clay earth.

The crack of whips ring in the air as the men handling the plows encourage their animals onward.  The smack of a thick tree branch on an ox's hindquarters rarely goes unnoticed by me.

Some families have a walker in front of the cattle to guide them across the field while the women walk behind dropping seeds and fertilizer into the furrows.  The oxen continue around and around the fields.

For every two or three passes of the plow, one row of maize is planted.  The women rest beside me on the rocks as they wait for the plow to make the rounds.  I notice the women's hands are colored red or green from the coatings on the seeds.

Sometimes above the cracks, snaps, whistles, or shouts, men and women singing can be heard.  Some men don hats to protect their eyes from the sun.  Luckily this morning is bright, yet remains cool and comfortable.

Seated here amongst the planting activity all around, and the amazing green scenery that the recent rains have produced, I realize again just exactly where I am.

Here in Zambia, in rural Zambia, is where I am.  Its not a different world, but truly very different from other places scattered across our earth.  I have been to many areas of this world and today I am very happy to be here!

The Rains Are Coming! The Rains Are Coming!

Southern Province is one of the last places in Zambia where the rains start.  Back in September the rains had already begun in Northwest Province.  Here they have yet to officially begin.  Amazing how such a small country can have such varying climates within.

As Zambia is a country with a rainy and dry season - the rainy season is the main growing season like our summers in the States.

With the planting time just around the corner, farmers are beginning to prepare.  Many meetings are being held in order to secure fertilizer and seed.  Because of some changes last year here in Zambia, some farmers have yet to be paid for their maize sold in August.  Without being paid, some farmers cannot buy seed.

Fertilizer is highly subsidized, so cooperatives and other associations are diligently working in order to ensure that their fertilizer arrives before or with the rain.  Without fertilizer the farmers cannot plant.

Not only are the inputs important, but the fields need to be ready.  Some villagers are able to use a tractor and rip the land.  Others use ox and plow to turn the soil.  And even still some will use a hoe and break ground by hand.

When the rains truly start, it will be every person in the field.  Men and women alike will maneuver the plow across the land or walk and drop seed and fertilizer into the ground by hand.

The village will be bustling with activity to ensure the maize, ground nuts, potatoes, sunflowers and other crops are healthy and growing well by Christmas.

Planting and other field work will be done so differently then in the States.  I'm looking forward to the rains as well as the green landscape which will follow!  It'll be an exciting time and learning experience for sure!