More pics...

 Compound near my site

 Termite mounds that look like head stones and are almost as hard as a rocks. They are only found in a certain type of soil so they aren't found everywhere..

 Abandoned beehive by beekeeper and bees.

 Sankton cutting bamboo.

 Carrying the bamboo.

 Epiphyte: Plant that lives on another plant, but doesn't necessarily hurt its host. Thrilled to see these and looking forward to identifying.

 The first of three of my community maps I drew up at a community meeting.

 Nshima is eaten by some three times per day. It is made from ground corn mixed with water. The nshima is eaten with 'relish', or anything that accompanies it such as chicken, or in-season vegetables. It is eaten with the hands.

 Children eating nshima for breakfast.

Pesky chickens trying to get at the cornmeal.

Zam-definition II

Zam-line: while waiting in line at a store one must stand right behind the person in front of you, even breating down his or her neck or other people with think you aren't in line and will cut in front of you.

In Zambia people don't have the same sense of personal space as we do in the States. My first experience standing in line at a checkout I was standing about one foot behind the person in front of me. Well, a person cut in front of me without saying anything to me. I was amazed. I didn't say anything because I remembered it mentioned there is not a personal space bubble like what I'm used to back home. Now when I stand in line at the store I am almost touching the person in front of me.

Zam-definition I

Zam-tan: a msungu (white person) tan that appears to have a movie start tan until they take take off their kitenge (wrap) or trousers, tee-shirt, and Teva sandals and everything that's covered up is unsightly pale.

The word 'msungu' is used by Zambians meaning white person. It is not an offensive word even though it sounds like one.

A kitenge is a wrap worn as a full-length skirt worn by women. Zambians traditionally wear kitenges and the material comes in multiple designs. They can be very fashionable. Kitanges have over a hundred uses, such as a sling to carry their babies, a head wrap, towel, apron, a head cushion when women carry heavy loads on their heads, and a cloth to sit on the ground which is necessary because traditionally at gatherings men sit on stools or chairs while women sit on the ground or floor.

Not only do women in Zambia cover their legs and shoulders, but men cover their legs, too, with trousers. Men rarely expose their legs.

The word 'pants' is used when referring to underwear.

Zambians dress conservatively, though in the cities men and women tend to be more liberal with dress.

One of the things I appreciate about Zambian society is breastfeeding is socially accepted and it is common to see women breastfeed their babies in public.

It is offensive for women to expose armpit hair. If a woman doesn't shave her armpits she has to cover up.

                                                        Those aren't my feet, btw.

Community Entry...the beginning of my new life in Zambia

     I am in my second month of community entry and I am the only Peace Corps Volunteer in my village. Community entry in the Peace Corps is the first three months at site which allows Peace Corps Volunteers to settle into their home, become familiar with the surroundings and meet people in the community.

     My first two weeks of community entry were the most difficult because I felt like I had lost my identity. I didn't have my friends to help confirm who I am. I didn't have them there to laugh with, talk with or cry and complain with. I had to learn how to do this on my own. There really isn't anyone to turn to in those instances.

     I have become very strong over the past several weeks. But, I have also made some new friends and these new friends are from a different culture from my own. We eat different foods, have different worldviews and beliefs. Zambians have a difficult time comprehending divorce and how a woman can get by on her own. Also, they are perplexed with how I am able to live apart from my children. Zambians have very tights bonds not only with their immediate family, but with extended family members. They find it very odd that I only have two cousins and I have only met them once.

     But Zambians are accepting people. My host family has made it clear to me that I am a part of the family. And I really am. I feel very welcome going over to their house. I  go over almost every evening to eat dinner with them. I feel as though I have known these people all of my life. I come over and plop down on the couch and watch television with them. Yes, they have electricity which I don't have even though I only live about 100 meters away. But, anyway, I like this family and I am growing to love them.

     Once community entry ends I should be well integrated in the community. I will begin my work as a forestry extension agent helping the community members understand how they can improve their farming techniques and improve their lives in many different ways. I will work with people individually and I will hold workshops on malaria prevention and conservation farming. I will be available as a resource to help them acquire seed or obtaining fruit tree seedlings to plant at their homes to help with food security. I may also be able to help guide some of them on how to take on an income generating activity such as bee keeping.

     I hope to make some kind of difference in these people's lives. They already are making a difference in mine. I still have two years ahead of me for so much more exposure to a life that is so different from the one I've lived my whole life. I am very thankful for this experience.I am looking forward to see the kind of person I am yet to become.