So, training is coming to an end. I just took my second Language Proficiency Exam, and my final is this week. I scored an intermediate-advanced level, which seems to be better than I'd grade my English right now (I think the Bemba is effecting my English). Once training is done, I'll go to my site in Luapula and I have to remain in my village for three months. This is a long time, because PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers) have about eight days a month to be outside of our villages, but since integration is the goal, we don't have any days we can leave.
I've noticed two drastic changes in myself since this experience has started: I'm eating fish (not the kapenta, which are small fish which are dried and salted) and, when need be, beans. I thought I would never be eating beans, but my body craves the vitamins. In general, Zambians do not eat what Americans would call a "balanced diet" and we're told that they don't have access to the foods that would allow them to have a balanced diet. They concentrate on having their meals contain protein, vitamin A, and carbohydrates. In general, this leads to their meals being nshima (they never have a meal without it) and beans (vitamins) or nshima and cabbage.
I also had my first bacteria caused illness: giarrdeah. All you have to do is take four large pills at the same time and it kills the bacteria. These symptoms can re-occur but that hasn't happened to me yet *knock on wood*. Don't drink the water unless it's filtered as well as boiled.
We're getting into the hot/dry season so it's been hard to function during the peak hours. People have been asking me what it's like to live in Zambia, and it really is like camping: The stars/sunsets/sunrises are glorious every day and night, the food could be better but I'm getting used to it, and there are a lot of crawling critters (just make sure to tuck in your mosquito net tightly and they're more scared of you then you are of them...?).
A little known fact is that the only place a person can find the typical African animals is in the game parks during a safari. They're basically fenced in with the exception of the crocodile, hippo, deer-like animals, and snakes and you must pay to be escorted through the parks This means that if a person visits Zambia, they don't have to worry about walking along and being attacked by a lion or cheetah. (People have voiced concern that I might be attacked while mountain biking. Rest assured.)
Any suggested reading/hobbies? (I've finished about 10 books so far and I'm always looking for a new one.)
(It seems that most of those entry is full of incomplete thoughts, this is due to time restrictions.)
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