Changes

Certain things in life just don't work out sometimes. In my case I'll be making some significant changes by moving villages. As some of you may know, I've had some problems over the last five months with a stalker. After much consideration and conversations with Peace Corps, I've decided its best for me to move. My safety and security are my top priority and I was starting to feel that my safety was being compromised. I've been in limbo the last two weeks living in town at the PCVL house and trying to finlize this decision and making moving arrangements all the while working with DoF to come up with the best possible solution. I feel bad for leaving my family and friends in the village, but this was an issue that we could not resolve. So in the next couple of weeks, I'll be starting a new life in another village about 25k from Chipata. I'll still be working as a fish farmer extension agent, however I'll be working in a new catchment area. Development is difficult and I'm sad that Kapatamoyo won't have a chance with PC. Its too bad that one person can ruin so much for an entire area. However in the end its for the better for me and my service here in Zambia.

I feel I've started some good things the past five months in Kapatamoyo, so I can only hope that those projects will continue. I'll be working there from time to time, but will mostly be focusing on my new area. I've also met some new groups in town that I'll be working with. My transport will be much easier and I'll still have the option to cycle into town. Getting back on my bike will be a good thing. However I'm going to miss climbing over the mountain into Chipata. That hike was so beautiful.

Well I'm almost 8 months in and its definitely been a roller coaster. Time has gone so fast and I'm super excited about my father coming to visit in May. I can't wait to show him what I do. I really think he'll enjoy his time here. So if anyone else wants to come visit and experience rural Africa, please feel free. Its a once in a lifetime opportunity!!!

Even though I've been here for a while, I'm still amazed by things I see on a daily basis. For example, how hard these people work. I was coming from Chadiza about 80k south of Chipata and watching these men cycle to Chipata with 2 pigs on the back of their bicycles. Amazing...and they do this in one day, just to sell their pig for money. I see this all the time. They work so hard just to survive. On top of all that, its the rainy season. I'm not talking about a few showers here and there...i'm talking about a full down pour for hours if not days. I hate the rainy season. Nothing dries, cuts won't heal and it just puts you in a sour mood. Staying clean and mud free is out of the question, but you get used to it. Thats all you can do.

I'm trying to keep my head up and just keep smiling. Sometimes waiting for transport for 8 hrs and then having to spend the night in an unfamiliar place isn't always the worst thing even though it feels like it at the time. Thats exactly what happened to me yesterday, but it all worked out in the end and now I can just laugh about. Got to have a good sense of humor in the Peace Corps!!!

Hopefully this change will be a good thing and I'll keep everyone informed on how things are going in my new area! Tizoanana!

New Year, New Look

Our new looks in 2007. We're the hottest chic rock band in Zambia.


This look was so last year!! Taken on New Years Eve in Arusha, Tanzania.

The Circle of Life

So I just got back to Lusaka after the most fabulous vacation ever. After watching the sunrise on Mount Kilimanjaro while sipping Cappucino's in Moshi, the Parvin gals (Christi, Caitlin, Beth and myself) headed on to Arusha. Arusha lies against Mount Meru, another beautiful mountain (really volcano). Arusha is a happening town. And like I said, we never made any reservations or pre-planned anything. Upon arriving at the bus station after 2 hrs of Caitlin and I entertaining the entire bus with our lovely singing voices, instinct told us to drop in at the nice Arusha Hotel. From there we were met by Joshua who owns a safari company. We told him we wanted to see all of Africa's wild animals and he gave us an itinerary. Two days and one night on Safari to Manyara National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Couldn't have worked out better. We were givin the VIP treatment and he even dropped us off at the Masaai Camp where we spent the night. The next day our personal landcruiser picked us up and then it was 2hrs till we met with the first viewing of African wildlife...the monkeys. There were hundreds. Amazing. Long story short we saw the entire "cirle of life" on our two day safari. We've counted over 25 african animals. This isn't like viewing them in the zoo. They were right next to us and our landcrusier. The lions were maybe ten feet away. The zebras and giraffes were maybe 5 ft away at times. Words can't even begin to describe. We saw the hienna's hunting while the wildebeast sat about 200 yards away. The Ngorongoro Crater is something that all people should see. It was a volcano twice the size of Mount Kilimanjaro that collapsed over 2000 years ago. They literally drove us into the crater where all the animals have made their home. One of the most beautiful places on earth. The area is also inhabited by the Masaai tribe of Tanzania. They are a nomad tribe and quite beautiful in there bright red and purple drapings with amazing beaded jewelry worn all over. It was right out of National Geographic. The top of our Landcrusier lifted up so we were able to have an interesting perspective on everything we saw. I didn't want it to end. On our way out of the Crater we watched 4 lion cubs play with eachother for about 30 minutes while their mothers carefully watched us from afar. Its also started raining which is not good for getting out of the Crater on the steep muddy road. We had a bit of a problem....lost our 4 wheel drive on a very steep part, started sliding towards the edge of the cliff....not good, but in the end we made it out in one piece.

Then for New Years it was back to Masaai Camp for a night of Mexican food and hip hop music! We danced all night long. Its a New Years I'll never forget. Met some of the coolest people....other American volunteers and people from all over the world. We spent the next day on a bus from Arusha to Dar. Good thing since we only got about three hours of sleep. Sadly our trip was coming to an end. We spent our last day in Dar wading in the Indian Ocean while eating the best tasting ice cream. Upon good judgement we took the train back from Dar to Lusaka...however had a bit of a mishap. Seems that Tanzanian immigration skipped our train car and didn't stamp our passports. Well no big deal, but Zambian immigration wanted us to get off the train in Kasama and head back to Tanzania. Well that wasn't going to happen since we spent all of our money. So that's why I'm back in Lusaka once more after our Provincial meetings this past weekend. Tomorrow I head to the Tanzanian Embassy begging for a stamp in my visa so I won't be illegal no more. Wish me luck!

But all in all I must thank Christi, Caitlin and Beth for being the best traveling companions I've ever had. I've never laughed so much or had so much fun doing silly things. We all got along so well and we all are dancin fools. I LOVE it! Thank you girls....you're the best!!!!