Cool...not cool?

Here I will post some things that I can’t decide if they are cool or not cool…you can decide for yourself.

Cool…not cool?

My house isn’t ready to move into because it isn’t completed…the chimbudzi (pit latrine) needs to be built. And by built I mean a hole needs to be dug.

Cool…not cool?

Riding 6 hours on the back of a potato truck because it was the best option for transport? Part of the time I was carrying a stranger’s baby.

Cool…not cool?

Because Rs and Ls are interchangeable my name is pronounced Sella…so I have taken to telling kids my name is C’est la Vie, which I find is invigorating to hear. That’s okay, right?

Gross…not gross?

When they said this job wasn’t going to be glamorous they should have said that my first project might be to organize the building of a new placenta pit because, get this, the current one is overflowing. GROSS! I guess this is why they say…it is a dirty job but someone has to do it. But let me say it one more time…GROSS! Wait…one more time…GROSS.

Cool…not cool?

The general reaction to the death of the President went something like this…”People are very, very concerned…about the lack of sugar…oh, and the President died…but did you hear about the lack of sugar?”

 

Did I mention it is remote?

Training seems like it was a blink of an eye at this point! We had over a month in village home stay where we had the opportunity to stay with families to learn the culture. It was a great introduction into normal life here, the normal arduous life of subsistence farming and lack of modern convenience. My host family was the real deal. They were so welcoming and worked hard to ease my adjustment while showing me how to survive in Africa. The main difficulty was that they spoke the main language of Chichewa while I was leaning the lesser-known Northern dialect of Chilambia. During training our time was divided between language intensive, technical training, and basic safety and security lessons. There are 36 other volunteers in my group, half in the health sector and the other half environment, most of which I can call friends or at least colleagues. We had 39 but unfortunately three have decided to go home. From home stay we had more training at the College of Forestry before swearing in and getting shipped off to site.

My site is beautiful! The mountain ranges of Zambia and Tanzania surround the remote village of Kameme, Malawi. The people are so very welcoming and are very busy greeting one another in passing. If you look down the dirt roads you will find fields of wildflowers and sunflowers influencing the beautiful fabrics the women wear, called chtenjes.. The sky is wide and open featuring all different types of clouds, cumulus nimbus mostly (and yes I know this is a dorky detail). The night skies are so clear, so clear that you are not sure if the falling stars are lightning bugs or if the lightning bugs are falling stars, mystery solved…it’s both! I have only been in Kameme a week so there is much to learn. I do know it takes about two and a half hours to bike into the Chitipa Boma (trading center). I have made this trek twice now on my Peace Corps issued Trek Bicycle. Did I mention it was remote? Because it is. I will be spending the next few months doing community assessment and looking for sustainable projects to start. I think I am going to start teaching Life Skills at the secondary school once a week to get to know some of the youth in the area.

I often find myself asking the question what will win out, during my time here, my greed or my laziness? For if I want I must do. If I want eggs I must raise chickens. If I want vegetables (a variety) I must plant a garden. If I want water I must carry it on my head, from the borehole. If I want anything Western (internet, mail, powdered milk) I must bike 30k to the Boma (I just told you that is the trading center…did I mention it was remote?). It takes a lot of work just to exist. Where back at home that is also the case the only difference is the level of complexity. Instead of dealing with car trouble I am dealing with the troubles of hitchhiking (don’t tell my mom). Instead of worrying about bills I worry if the devaluation of the Kwacha currency will impact my new community. Instead of trying to figure out what to wear…who are we kidding I still do that. Instead of making plans and checking the time I check the time and go make plans. For now the simplicity is still a novelty…a profound novelty. Part of me feels as if I have seen the wizard behind the curtain. My food comes directly from the ground and is cooked over the fire I must first start. My water is not magically purified from my tap it is filtered by me...three different ways if I am prudent. Should I mention the pit latrine…I think you get the point. It is refreshing, a very time consuming life that is very simple. I know the day will come when seemingly basic tasks (laundry) take the better part of the day and I grow frustrated but for know I am basking in the simplicity.

I should go I need to go figure out how to raise chickens…turns out I am greedy.

I just swore…in.

I had the distinct privilege of delivering a speech at our swearing in ceremony on May 2^nd after the completion of Pre-Service Training. The occasion was held that the American Ambassador’s home (home doesn’t quite do it justice it was incredible and a little ridiculous) in Lilongwe. It was a great honor made even greater because U.S. Senators were in attendance. The speech was written by five of us and delivered in the four languages learned, followed by an English delivery by yours truly. Here is the speech…

Honorable U.S. Senators, Madame Ambassador Jackson, Distinguished Malawian Officials, Peace Corps Staff and Volunteer, My Fellow Trainees, and Invited Guests thank you for joining us as we celebrate our acceptance into the Peace Corps family.

In being sworn in today we devote ourselves to facing the global issues of our generation. We have been encouraged by family and friends, past and present Peace Corps volunteers, and mentors to assume this responsibility. We have arrived here today through a number of diverse paths and with varying purpose but with a common anticipation of meaningful service. Further still, we recognize the true obstacles of our assignments lay ahead.

As a Peace Corps family, guided by a patient, supportive training staff, we have embraced the joys, growth, and adjustments presented by Pre-Service Training. During village home stay we were graciously accepted into Malawian households participating in their lives. Allowing us to come to know and understand the deserving moniker, “The Warm Heart of Africa.”

At a time when many worldwide are living with the reality of preventable disease and the world’s environment is placed under increasing stress we come to Malawi to offer creative approaches and to facilitate communities of solution.

We see a beautiful Malawi.

We see a beautiful World.

We envision a Malawi

• where those afflicted with HIV/AIDS can find a healing community,
• where the search for fuel wood no longer means deforestation,
• where the malnourished find a sustainable harvest,
• where entrepreneurs find access to thriving markets, and
• where labor is compensated by fair living wages.

With Past and Present Volunteers…

We envision a World that

• Promotes Peace,
• Demands Dignity,
• Claims Equality,
• Gives a Voice to the Voiceless, and
• Invests in a Healthy Earth for Generations to Come.

We thank you for joining us today and we invite you to join us.

Join us and see what we see.

Join us and envision a better world.

Join us and envision a world that is possible.

Fifty-one years ago President John F. Kennedy called upon a new generation. A generation to represent the United States of America’s presence in the world through volunteer service in a peace corps. We represent those Americans who believe in continuing this humanitarian effort. Today it is our privilege to accept both the responsibilities and challenges of this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Thank you for joining us as we officially begin to honor our commitment to making Malawi our home and its people our family.

Thank you and please…join us.