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.