Take it easy
Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy.
There is so much to say- where to begin and how to fit it all in.
I spend my days in class, first language (Soli) from 8-12:30 and then Tech training from 2-5. tech training to learn how to do sustainable capacity building. Both are enjoyable at times - the whole affair is exhausting. We are staying with homestay families. Mine is the Mbele family and I love them. Paul, Beauty and their kin: Willy Copolo, Ander Soni (whom I called Anderson for the first week), Rogers (said Logers), Mary, Oswa (Joshua?) and little Lakelo, plus an ever increasing string of extended Mbeles. They are very patient with me and Bama Mbele is good about making me pronounce things correctly. Left to my own choices the emphasis is always wrong. She also encourages me to iron my clothes and insists she clean my dirty trousers, while I stick to the easier items like t-shirts which need less attention. Hand washing your clothes is a skill to acquire - like aim in the pit latrine. Beauty is also pretty intent on teaching me to dance like a Zambian as well. Probably so I can marry a Zambian. Luckily Ndandanga Kushana (I like/love/need to dance)(though sometimes what you really need is to shake shake it like an american). Anywho, I love them and am happy and comfortable - but living is a bit exhausting. Because communication is always a charade, and a guessing game, and a lot of me not knowing what is going on. Though learning a language that is immediately applicable is fun.
The other exhausting component is the swarm of conflicting thoughts that are swirling around you at any given time. Last Sunday was the first day I felt really weary and it was because - in the span of a few hours i felt 1) embarrassed about the amount of clothes/ possessions I had 2) like I wanted to shower my family with gifts to show my gratitude 3) indignant that people were coming to ask for gifts. And there is nothing really to do about it accept let them all swish around inside you for a while and then take a warm bucket bath. Bathing outside with warm water, I have found is my cure all. That or quietly rocking out. Though I think the "quietly rocking out" is why later that day someone asked me if I knew karate...
You might be pleased to hear that I am actually very comfortable. Once you let go of a few things it is easy to be comfortable. I do have moments when I feel overwhelmed, but they pass and then I come home and Bama presents me with two pieces of bubble gum and orange crush as gifts, and those taste a lot like love.
Anyway running out of time. When I return in two years I may be nothing more than a pile of freckles in rough human form. Please try to love me as such, though I understand the challenge.
Robots = street lights
Chamkumbete chakumbetuka is a song they sing at significant life events, meaning "what was folded is now unfolded"
please send me mail. if you want more details write to me and I promise an enthusiastic reply
C/o Peace Corps, P.O. Box 50707 Lusaka Zambia Africa
I might also like to receive these:
-news about you
-news
-Page of some simple yoga routine
-Cds
-Southern hemisphere constellations
-simple recipes (chili, butternut squash soup, etc. I forgot to do this before I left)
-crystal light -individual packets
-origami paper and the booklet of instructions
-instructions on neat knots
-anything else that is flat and light
-Peanut butter m&ms
Things are pretty amazing if you let them be.
Oh dear there is more to tell but no time! Write me a letter and I will share my secrets!
LOVE Keli
There is so much to say- where to begin and how to fit it all in.
I spend my days in class, first language (Soli) from 8-12:30 and then Tech training from 2-5. tech training to learn how to do sustainable capacity building. Both are enjoyable at times - the whole affair is exhausting. We are staying with homestay families. Mine is the Mbele family and I love them. Paul, Beauty and their kin: Willy Copolo, Ander Soni (whom I called Anderson for the first week), Rogers (said Logers), Mary, Oswa (Joshua?) and little Lakelo, plus an ever increasing string of extended Mbeles. They are very patient with me and Bama Mbele is good about making me pronounce things correctly. Left to my own choices the emphasis is always wrong. She also encourages me to iron my clothes and insists she clean my dirty trousers, while I stick to the easier items like t-shirts which need less attention. Hand washing your clothes is a skill to acquire - like aim in the pit latrine. Beauty is also pretty intent on teaching me to dance like a Zambian as well. Probably so I can marry a Zambian. Luckily Ndandanga Kushana (I like/love/need to dance)(though sometimes what you really need is to shake shake it like an american). Anywho, I love them and am happy and comfortable - but living is a bit exhausting. Because communication is always a charade, and a guessing game, and a lot of me not knowing what is going on. Though learning a language that is immediately applicable is fun.
The other exhausting component is the swarm of conflicting thoughts that are swirling around you at any given time. Last Sunday was the first day I felt really weary and it was because - in the span of a few hours i felt 1) embarrassed about the amount of clothes/ possessions I had 2) like I wanted to shower my family with gifts to show my gratitude 3) indignant that people were coming to ask for gifts. And there is nothing really to do about it accept let them all swish around inside you for a while and then take a warm bucket bath. Bathing outside with warm water, I have found is my cure all. That or quietly rocking out. Though I think the "quietly rocking out" is why later that day someone asked me if I knew karate...
You might be pleased to hear that I am actually very comfortable. Once you let go of a few things it is easy to be comfortable. I do have moments when I feel overwhelmed, but they pass and then I come home and Bama presents me with two pieces of bubble gum and orange crush as gifts, and those taste a lot like love.
Anyway running out of time. When I return in two years I may be nothing more than a pile of freckles in rough human form. Please try to love me as such, though I understand the challenge.
Robots = street lights
Chamkumbete chakumbetuka is a song they sing at significant life events, meaning "what was folded is now unfolded"
please send me mail. if you want more details write to me and I promise an enthusiastic reply
C/o Peace Corps, P.O. Box 50707 Lusaka Zambia Africa
I might also like to receive these:
-news about you
-news
-Page of some simple yoga routine
-Cds
-Southern hemisphere constellations
-simple recipes (chili, butternut squash soup, etc. I forgot to do this before I left)
-crystal light -individual packets
-origami paper and the booklet of instructions
-instructions on neat knots
-anything else that is flat and light
-Peanut butter m&ms
Things are pretty amazing if you let them be.
Oh dear there is more to tell but no time! Write me a letter and I will share my secrets!
LOVE Keli
posted by Keli at 5:25 AM
