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!