It seems that my spelling, at least in Nyangi, is not up to par.
Blog relocated to http://mzunguinzambia.blogspot.com
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Day 2
(from yesterday)
I arrived safely this morning, although I did have to wait an hour to get through customs. V was there to meet me, and he took me to the Cheshire House. It turns out that I'm staying in another house, which is neither the guest house nor the convent itself. I believe it's a home for the disabled. My room is quite large and I have a private bathroom, but I think it will get lonely. I spoke briefly with Sister M about only staying a month. I was going to say two weeks, but she looked a bit upset by my saying I might not stay the whole time, so I guess I'll have to stick it out for this long.
V came back in the afternoon and drove me around the city, telling me how to use the minibuses, and showing me where the mazoonga (white people) shopping malls are. I got a map, and I think I'll buy a bicycle tomorrow (or sometime soon). V also said that the Cha Cha Cha backpackers place is quite cheap (about $10 a night, or $5 if you tent outdoors, while I think I'm paying close to $20), so I may stay there if something else doesn't come up. Apparently a lot of foreigners who come to volunteer stay there, so I think it would be a good place to meet people.
I'm still a bit uncertain about what and how much I'll get to do here. I told V I'd like to go on some home visits (to disabled people, with the Ubuntu organization), and he said he'd let me know when some are planned. I also said I'd be happy to help with administration type things, but I'm not sure anything will present itself.
I think I will call I (from Bwafwano) once I have bought phone minutes, and see when I should go over there for the first time. I'm also meeting with Sister M tomorrow afternoon, and so maybe there will be some things I can do at the convent.
I am working on setting up a blog, and I will email you when it's all set. Please feel free to email this message to anyone you think might be interested.
(today)
Last night I ate dinner with the women who live at the house I'm staying at. They (the 4 of them) are all in wheelchairs. It was nice to be socializing in any capacity. However, the TV was also on, and we mostly watched that, which wasn't so interesting.
I called I this morning, and am meeting him (or someone) at the convent at 9, and we will go to Bwafwano to look at the programs they have and figure out what I can do. I also called Dr. S, and she said she'd give my number to this statistician who would take me out for a drink. She said she'd call me next week because she's very busy, but she also said she'd call me before Friday to confirm all this, so I'm not sure what to think.
I think I will call P tonight and see if I can meet him soon (hopefully over dinner or something).
I rode the minibusses today from Crossroads (in Woodlands, near where I'm staying) to Manda Hill. Manda Hill is one of the two strip malls built (essentially) for the ex-pats (aka the white people). A number of the wealthier Zambians come here as well.
Getting on the minibus, getting to the center bus station, and getting off at Manda Hill were all quite easy. I experienced several moments of terror at the station though. There's about fifty minibusses all crowded around this parking lot, with no signs anywhere. I suspect (and will figure out soon I think) that busses going to different districts park in different parts of the parking lot. Until I got to Manda Hill, I saw a total of about 4 white people, all with someone else, none on the minibusses.
It's certainly a rather strange experience, but not as uncomfortable as I might have suspected, to be the only white person. Walking in my neighborhood, almost everyone will smile and wave, or say hello, which feels quite good.
I can recieve incoming calls free, as well as texts. Apparently it's also very cheap to text, even to the US. I'd be delighted if people sent me text messages every once in a while, so I wouldn't feel quite so lonely. To call or text from the US: 026 097 801 7185 (You may also need to dial 011 first).
I arrived safely this morning, although I did have to wait an hour to get through customs. V was there to meet me, and he took me to the Cheshire House. It turns out that I'm staying in another house, which is neither the guest house nor the convent itself. I believe it's a home for the disabled. My room is quite large and I have a private bathroom, but I think it will get lonely. I spoke briefly with Sister M about only staying a month. I was going to say two weeks, but she looked a bit upset by my saying I might not stay the whole time, so I guess I'll have to stick it out for this long.
V came back in the afternoon and drove me around the city, telling me how to use the minibuses, and showing me where the mazoonga (white people) shopping malls are. I got a map, and I think I'll buy a bicycle tomorrow (or sometime soon). V also said that the Cha Cha Cha backpackers place is quite cheap (about $10 a night, or $5 if you tent outdoors, while I think I'm paying close to $20), so I may stay there if something else doesn't come up. Apparently a lot of foreigners who come to volunteer stay there, so I think it would be a good place to meet people.
I'm still a bit uncertain about what and how much I'll get to do here. I told V I'd like to go on some home visits (to disabled people, with the Ubuntu organization), and he said he'd let me know when some are planned. I also said I'd be happy to help with administration type things, but I'm not sure anything will present itself.
I think I will call I (from Bwafwano) once I have bought phone minutes, and see when I should go over there for the first time. I'm also meeting with Sister M tomorrow afternoon, and so maybe there will be some things I can do at the convent.
I am working on setting up a blog, and I will email you when it's all set. Please feel free to email this message to anyone you think might be interested.
(today)
Last night I ate dinner with the women who live at the house I'm staying at. They (the 4 of them) are all in wheelchairs. It was nice to be socializing in any capacity. However, the TV was also on, and we mostly watched that, which wasn't so interesting.
I called I this morning, and am meeting him (or someone) at the convent at 9, and we will go to Bwafwano to look at the programs they have and figure out what I can do. I also called Dr. S, and she said she'd give my number to this statistician who would take me out for a drink. She said she'd call me next week because she's very busy, but she also said she'd call me before Friday to confirm all this, so I'm not sure what to think.
I think I will call P tonight and see if I can meet him soon (hopefully over dinner or something).
I rode the minibusses today from Crossroads (in Woodlands, near where I'm staying) to Manda Hill. Manda Hill is one of the two strip malls built (essentially) for the ex-pats (aka the white people). A number of the wealthier Zambians come here as well.
Getting on the minibus, getting to the center bus station, and getting off at Manda Hill were all quite easy. I experienced several moments of terror at the station though. There's about fifty minibusses all crowded around this parking lot, with no signs anywhere. I suspect (and will figure out soon I think) that busses going to different districts park in different parts of the parking lot. Until I got to Manda Hill, I saw a total of about 4 white people, all with someone else, none on the minibusses.
It's certainly a rather strange experience, but not as uncomfortable as I might have suspected, to be the only white person. Walking in my neighborhood, almost everyone will smile and wave, or say hello, which feels quite good.
I can recieve incoming calls free, as well as texts. Apparently it's also very cheap to text, even to the US. I'd be delighted if people sent me text messages every once in a while, so I wouldn't feel quite so lonely. To call or text from the US: 026 097 801 7185 (You may also need to dial 011 first).
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