Is this real?

So my first two weeks at site have been... interesting. All in very good ways but last night I was thinking "Am I really in Africa?". In my head nothing was what I was anticipating, so I started trying to compile everything that should feel foreign to me because I couldn't believe everything that has taken place. It was in this time reflecting that I realized I was mentally preparing myself for the worst, most incomprehensible situations, to not be to shocked if it came to fruition.  In my head before coming here I was preparing myself to see just the most extreme depressing poverty that exists, everyone has seen the pictures, its intense. So not seeing that everyday, having people show up on time (kind of), having access to electricity, email and internet on my phone, not to far from water, kids go to school and have shoes (barely shoes, but they are technically), educated community members that execute plans (in the general sense, nothing like the States) and seeing another white person (not that I really want to, it just is not typical haha) usually every other day has made the first two weeks seem easier then they should be.

This past Wednesday was Zambian Independence Day, while the country was celebrating, plenty of people were still working. In the meeting I attend during the morning part of the day I heard something that I will probably never forget. I asked "Why are you working today?", to which the secretary of the Water Association answered "You can't have independence without sweat." So I agree with that statement on a number of levels but it really is not what I expected to hear from anyone in my community, mostly because of preconceived notions that have pretty much all been shattered so far. The next event that surprised me is I found out yesterday that the director of my districts agriculture department just completed his Masters in Environmental Engineering at probably the best institute in the world for EE. Needless to say after meeting him we talked for the next three hours and will be having a busy time over the next two years. Then there was the day with my district commissioner, after I and another volunteer walked into his office to introduced ourselves I went on to spend the next six hours and got a free ride home in a new LandRover, while on the way home he took my blackberry, made a phone call and got me free internet, really?!

Then there are the farmers, who are suppose to be lazy and say they are going to do something and then never do it. So I have had about twenty meetings so far, every time I tell them wait till April to start building, it will be easier. What do they do? Well the ones that already have water decide to just build it because, well "We aren't working on anything right now so better to be busy then not". Really? There is also another farmer who had already dug a pond and said he was going to fill it in the next month. In my head I was like alright so in two months it will be filled. He filled it Friday. I have commercial farmers that are asking if the rural farmers need their equipment (just buy the gas), never had a meeting start more then 30 minutes late, the school is saying they need to improve hygiene and want to know how I can help and these are just the simplest easiest things for me to type. All these things I was suppose to try and work to establish. Is it really this easy?

Well it is, but then I realized everything is about perspective. When you come in expecting the worst possible results and get mediocre, in your mind that is basically shooting for the stars and reaching them. Last night I wanted to remind myself that not everything is good. Their is malnutrition in plenty of the young children (not enough protein), deforestation is a huge problem, there is very depressing alcoholism visible, the schools and clinics are understaffed, the roads are not great (though they are pretty good compared to others), there is air pollution from so much burning of cane, cooking and other materials, water pollution and depletion of fish stocks is a huge problem, and there is still a huge income disparity. I had to remind myself that I poop in a hole, my arms go numb carrying two 20 L cans from the borehole, I have a thatched roof, I cook on charcoal outside (will suck during rainy season), I bike at least 30 km a day to get anything done, I have no electricity (though I have access to it close by), every night I worry about snakes in my bed and have at least a couple bugs that some how get around the net, I wash everything by hand, it never cools down so I sweat about two gallons of water a day, and everything is always dirty.

It is nice that I had to remind myself of that though because I feel like that is how you become complacent when you just accept the way things are when really their is an appropriate and sustainable solution that can not only make your life healthier but more efficient and more in balance with the creation. Hopefully I keep reminding myself that their is always room for improvement, something I would do regular in the states but seems it could of slipped away when you don't have it at the fore front of your mind. No pictures in this post but many next. I have a direct address now... P.O. Box 670503, Mazabuka, Southern Province, Zambia. Trust me even though my site is better then expected, its not perfect and having anything that makes life more efficient or flavorful is awesome. Herb seeds are near the top of my list right now since I can't seem to find them anywhere! So in conclusion, I am still preparing myself to be let down or be disappointed because really it is nice coming home every night happy and impressed, hope it keeps going. Its not all roses, but marigolds are definitely about to bloom.

In the South!

So where to begin... training as expected was long and tedious but overall it did what it intended.
Learned a good bit of Tonga, some information about fish and slept through how to build ponds and dams because honestly who hasn't done that? Oh wait not everyone is a Civil Engineer. Training as  a whole was roller coaster of an experience. A trainee died two months into service, my grandfather passed away on the same day, missing family, not being able to communicate with people easily back home, getting sick, never actually being clean all compounded living in Zambia. It is crazy actually,  I never thought I would turn into a clean freak but I clean myself all the time now and it is the best feeling ever, especially my feet it is a little obsessive! I have also lost a ton of weight, about 22 pounds to be exact,  almost looking like Alex Cegelski now! I learned a great deal about myself, more then I thought I would during the first three months but I am happy that everything happened the way it has. Looking back there are a few things I would of done differently but overall life is about moving forward and  learning from the experiences put before you. I was told countless times I would go through these things and I always brushed them off but now living through them it is hard to put them into words because they are just unique feelings laying in your hut lonely and helpless but still calm and at peace with what is going on around you, its a weird feeling to say the least.

I am being posted in the Southern Province of Zambia, in the District of Mazabuka, in the Village of Manyonyo on the Kafue River. If you are curious enough you can find it on Google Earth. The site  is a bit crazy because well I would not consider it Zambia. They are finishing an irrigation system  for the whole area that probably cost millions of dollars and will be done in March. So I am not really  living in the most rural village, especially since my host family has solar panels and cars. I am excited though because its close to Lusaka and there are a number research opportunities. I will be posted to my village this coming Friday and am looking forward to actually beginning my service in the village and not being protected and coddled like a five year old, but we needed it really considering how over confident we can be as Americans in dangerous places.

The next two years will be an interesting experience to say the least. It is going to be frustrating to say the least but this country has so much potential it seems like its about to explode. I am looking forward  to trying to work with the project in Lusaka regarding water and sanitation, there seems to be a great deal of opportunity in developing the ground water in this country, transportation is good for urban areas, but rural areas def lack access to markets to get out of poverty and aquaculture is a sector that has pretty much endless growth in this country because everyone is obsessed with fish!

If anyone wants to meet me in South Africa in April I'll be happy to see you! If you want to meet in Ghanna in  September for the Feast, I hope you can make it! I have an idea of where I will be the following April and October  as well but we will hold off on that till a later date. I have a nice dream list including any sauces from America, mac and cheese, any unlocked sim card phones, any solar equipment that you have laying around, wine?, hendricks?, cliff bars, spices, seeds, any tools or kitchen utensils (they are mad expensive), girl scout cookies, real deoderant, good cue tips, soap (Dr. Bronners), and drink mixes. To conclude this experience is just now beginning but  so far it has been just about everything I was expecting, though I am not nearly as mentally and emotionally strong as I thought I was but that is what this is all about, should be an awesome two years!

Reservoir for site

Compound and hut to the left

Cooking hut and chimbuzi