A Typical Day in the Village

So many of you are probably wondering..."what's it really like to live in the bush, in rural Zambia." Well let me tell you what its like for me on a typical day. This will change of course, but the last three months went something like this:

6:00 I'm awoken by Amai Phiri "Odi? Ah Juliet, are you still sleeping?" (she's shouting through my window) Yes Amai Phiri I'm still sleeping. "Mauka Bwanji!" Nauka bwino zikomo. Amai Phiri, nagona. "Are you okay, are you sick?" No Amai Phiri, I'm fine. Americans like to sleep late and its only zero six. "Chabwino, I will see you." Okay Amai Phiri, zikomo. (then I roll over and fall back to sleep)

7:00 My alarm goes off and I untuck my mosquito net that has kept me safe from all the critters in the night. I open my door and am greeted by all people passing by. I begin to sweep, because it gets extremely dirty from my thatched grass roof. After thats complete I begin to prepare breakfast which always consist of Jungle Oats (like Quaker Oats) with powdered milk and sugar and of course coffee (which I can't live without). I usually take this quiet time to relax and read a Newsweek or the current book I'm reading. Also I decide how much water I'll need for the day and go to the bore hole and fetch about 40 liters of water. I can only really carry about 20 liters at a time so I have to make multiple trips but the children usually help me out by carrying it on their heads ;)

9:00 I decide its time to venture out and check whats going on in the village. Usually I go to my neighbors. Also if I have a meeting with a farmer or women's group then I'll prepare for that. Sometimes I'll go to the school, but lately I've been chasing down the people that need to finish things on my house. This will take up the rest of the morning.

12:30 I'm usually feeling hungry so I'll grab my usual lunch which consist of several spoonfuls of peanut butter (I have no bread in my area) and 2-3 mangoes. They are so delicious! Sometimes I'll sweep again depending on how windy it is.

13:30 I'll prepare for any afternoon meetings and the journey if I need to bike. If I don't have anything scheduled I'll go and chat with my friends or play with the children and explore Kapatamoyo.

16:00 Help the guys fix things around my house like the kitchen and fence. I'll play with all the little children. I love teaching them American games like Hide and go seek etc.

16:30 I usually decide its time to bathe. However some days it just doesn't happen. Depending on the weather I may use cold water straight from the bore hole or I'll heat it on my brazier. This is a pain however so I usually just use the cold water like all the villagers.

17:00 I'll start preparing dinner which will consist of one of two things. Soya pieces with rice, tomatos and onions, or scrambled eggs with tomato and onions. I love my options here. Sometimes if I'm feeling a bit crazy I'll even make pancakes. Yum!

18:30 Light some candles and prepare for the night. Sometimes I'll sweep again if needed. What I mean by preparing for the night is, I'll visit the latrine one last time then I'll lock myself in the hut and apply plastic bags under my door and on the side to keep any critters out like mice or snakes. However I still have mice, because they can climb the walls :( I'll relax a bit and maybe read some more or write in my journal.

19:30 My guards arrive. I'll chat with them a bit and then return to the house and "prepare the door" again. They are only guarding my house till end of December...then I'm on my own again :( This is usually my favorite time of the day. I begin my "Jerrycan workout." I'll take my 10 liter jugs and do a complete weightlifting workout. It works quite great because I can adjust the weight by adding or pouring out water. I turn my American music on (which the guards love) and go to work. I'll even sing and dance if I'm in the mood.

20:30 Its time to go to bed. I grab what I need for the night, my alarm clock, IPOD, book, nalgene, tissues and my headlamp. Then I meticulously tuck in the mosquito net making sure nothing is left undone. I'll read about 30 pages in my book and then listen to my IPOD till I fall asleep. This is also the time I contemplate life and how its so strange. Lots of time to think.

23:00 I always wake up, rollover and fall back to sleep.

1:00 I always wake up at this time as well.

4:30 My guards shout my name and tell me they are "knocking off" for the night. I say thanks and roll over and fall back to sleep.

6:00 I'll start all over again.

Well it sounds pretty routine, but each day brings new adventures and challenges. Something exciting is always happening in the village. I love spending time with the women and children, dancing, pounding maize to make millie meal for nshima or pounding ground nuts to make peanut butter. There's plenty of things to do. I also enjoy hiking the mountains that surround my village.