Twalumba

So the past two weeks have been quite interesting in my area. The Chinese contractors that built the irrigation system for my area were out testing to receive a certificate of completion so they could receive their final payment. Unfortunately the system failed pretty much everywhere and I feel that whats most unfortunate is that I wasn't there biking and watching the whole thing they probably would of tried to just tell everyone it passed. Anyways since it failed so bad and it took them so many years to finish we have decided to fire them if the community agrees to do the corrections themselves. Should be interesting because apparently now I will be the manager of the work so we will see how that goes. I feel pretty good about, especially since it is work that I have basically done my whole life but I have never had to be one of the point people to decide what equipment should be bought with the basically half a million dollars that we are saving by not paying the contractors the last payment, should be very interesting. One aspect that will be less fun is I have to go to the capital far more then I would like to since the project managers will want updates, the city is just way to expensive for a volunteer that is all I know.

I also found out that one of the research stations about 25 km from my house was actually beginning to build rope pumps a couple years ago under a program that I was connected with last month run by Mr. Henk Holtslag. That got me very excited since I was planning to build them in my area and wasn't sure where to start but since they already have a lot of the materials and basic training it should be much easier to get it going again, especially since I about ten farmers that would buy the pumps right now in Manyonyo. Now I just need to build some EMAS drilling set ups and pumps and groundwater should be flowing very nicely soon in the Neganega river basin!

My garden is looking delicious, already getting some beans and zucchini. Tomatoes, peppers and water melons are not far behind. Even though food is extremely cheap in the village it is going to be nice to just walk to my backyard and get some veggies. Chickens will be coming after rainy season, probably April. Also I made a deal with my host father that for every fruit tree that he buys I will buy one too. He says he will be buy fifty, not sure if I believe him yet, but if he does that will be awesome because he will have an awesome orchard and maybe if we just plant fruit trees everywhere the trees will stay instead of be used for charcoal. I will be heading to Victoria Falls for the first time at the end of next month, pumped about that, and what is even better is I found work to do down there so I don't even think I will have to use vacation days or pay for a hotel because the man owns a hotel as well but needs help with his fish ponds. Should be a nice workcation. It is pretty funny that even here in Zambia I don't know how to go anywhere without trying to do work at the location, I guess that will just never change.

So anyways life, is lovely, almost getting to busy but haven't gotten there yet, still able to complete things when they are suppose to be done. I think that is also because it is Zambia and things are somehow always delayed a little bit so I have more time then I think. As always packages and letters are beautiful, if anyone wants to send me an espresso maker I would be very happy, just saying!

Just roll with it...

Over the course of the last four weeks my anticipated slow rainy season has gone from mildly busy to basically a 12 hour a day job. How is this possible in rural Zambia? I still don't really know how it all came about but I will try and summarize in this small blog post. First it was determined that since I would be in Manyonyo for the next two years I should also have space in the office of the new irrigation my settlement just started, helping with the maintenance of the canals and pumps when need to be and integrated agriculture practices. That sounded great and I think they will be installing internet, which is basically cheating for me since it will be so close. Second, I was introduced to Mr. Helk Holtslag, who it turns out is a huge deal for groundwater development in developing countries and is starting to work in my region of Zambia. Next I visited a farm near by that basically grows the best coffee I have ever tasted and turns out they are trying to restart an irrigation project for the whole area and asked if I wanted to help. Finally this past week I spent three days meeting with individuals from the Swedish government and the local Municipal Council on this project that is basically trying to help Mazabuka develop sustainably instead of trying to redo mistakes, it turns out I am now on the steering committee and the technical adviser for all of the civil and environmental engineering aspects of the project, which is basically half of it. It also turns out this project is the pilot project for what they hope is sustainable urban development for Africa, that seems a bit ambitious but not a bad goal.

So how all these situations have come about is a mystery to me but to say the least I am excited because even if all of them fall through I still have plenty of fish farming to do at my site once the irrigation system is completed. Naturally, I am expecting many delays and road blocks for most of the projects over the next few months but just to know I can be working on something everyday will be a very nice feeling. This whole experience has been interesting though to reflect on the situation that I am in. In all of the projects I am the only person that actually lives and works in the environment that the projects hope to some how help or improve. It dawned on me while I was in the board meetings or individual meetings that while these people might have good intentions, they have no real connection to the area and really don't understand what people go through on a day to day basis. What has been even more interesting is seeing the perspective of the government officials, while they have good intentions they are still part of what you could call the 1%, with most of them never living under a thatched roof. While that doesn't make a person more understand or considerate or caring it does usually help with perspective and to understand that these communities hear people tell them they are going to help every week, but usually nothing changes. I am curious how we are going to truly engage the users and beneficiaries of these projects. There are plenty of ideas on how to do this, but the follow through is all that matters.

This just on the work front, life has had plenty of other tid bits but that will have to wait for another post. I still haven't gone to bed without a smile on my face, which I really don't understand how is possible but wont be complaining about it. My garden is starting to do good work and I will post pictures when it looks good enough. Finally got some furniture and have some how read seven books since being posted. I got a new bike as well, which is basically the greatest gift ever and will finally be able to bike without fearing something will break every time. Now if anyone wants to send me anything the wish list is now just send cheese mix sauce, noodle are easy and cheap here, bbq sauces and hot sauces, Lawry's seasoned salt, cliff bars as usual, wine and Hendricks would still be amazing, pictures of yourself, things, me and you or anything (I need to make my house prettier), and world maps! So that is all for now, but should have another post much sooner and more detailed.