I am officially a volunteer! Right now I am in Northern Province, home for the next two years at the provincial house. We are hanging here a few days until after Easter so we can buy house supplies then I will be posted in my village by Friday. We saw some beautiful waterfalls today and did major grocery shopping yesterday. Here are some pictures from culture day and swear in. Culture day was our last goodbyes with our families where we made them an American meal and shed some tears over the last few months. Swear-in as held at the ambassador's house and was a pretty fancy event. Now starts community entry, where I will be bound to my village for three solid months until IST conference. Anyways, here's to a new thrill. Enjoy your summer everyone .Much love!
Training is Chopwa! My final LPI (30 minute oral language test) was Friday and I am hoping I rocked it so I can head to Kasama..
I now have the knowledge, tools, skills, and language to start community entry (first 3 months at site when I am not allowed to work yet or leave the village so that I can become 'integrated') Then in August I come back here for a two week In-Service-Training where I learn how to work effectively with all the information I have gathered at community entry. Then I go back in September just in time for Term 3 at the schools.
Training went by so fast. I've made some really great Friends in my village and have become real close with my family. My Bamayoo has taken such good care of me, my Batata has helped me with Bemba tremendously, and my siblings are amazing. My family here reminds me a lot of my family in New York. My little brother David- who was terrified of me and my Caucasian-ness when I first arrived now tells me these great, big, detailed stories every night before I go to bed. He is 4 and speaks only Nyanja (the local language here in Chongwe), but I pretend I know exactly what he is talking about because he just gets really excited and wide-eyed. We also have a secret handshake now -- we've made a lot of progress :) I am going to miss my sister Stella and her patience with my language and lack of dance skills. I think that I will miss my baby sister Jessica the most. Since I've been here she has started standing and walking and talking. She's the coolest baby in the world. I've taught her how to yell at our dog when it tries to bite or come in the house. I tried teaching her how to say Shannon but that's tricky you see- most Zambian adults struggle with it (the Sharon curse has come back to haunt me). But coming home to her is my favorite part of each day.
It will be hard to say goodbye but I have accepted that goodbyes are frequent in PCZ. I get to see my friends every few months, teachers don't stay at the same school for more than a few years, and any volunteer I meet who is already working at site is closing their service soon or lives in a far away province. So relationships are interrupted and paused, people are never in one place for a long time except their own village with their own self. You've really got to be your own best friend out here and it doesn't work to depend on others alone for happiness. For example, when there are four bats flying around my hut and I'm terrified--I blast the most aggressive song on my ipod with the idea that maybe the bats will become intimidated by this angry gangster rapper in the hut and they will fly away. Then I just have to sit back and laugh because it's a pretty funny concept if you think of it and I have to tell myself it will be okay. So I know that probably sounds weird from your American perspective but I've really gotten used to hanging out with myself and becoming my own best friend.
hmm what else... Me and my friends did ZamPop for our culture presentation. This Tuesday we have culture day where we get to cook a bunch of American food for our families and say final farewells. And Thursday is SWEAR-IN! My Bamayoo sewed me a beautiful icitenge dress for swear-in.
Some more things I've learned:
-how to successfully make fire on an imbabula
-smelling food before eating is rude
-there is no child protection policy in place in Zambia
-How to speak in present, past, and future in iciBemba.
-Many children are absent from school during caterpillar season because caterpillar catching is a great way to make money ( and a delicious fried snack!)]
Okay-- I'll try to post again before I disappear for three months. That's all!
Send Me: Books to read!!!
Pictures of you!
New Address:
Shannon Linehan/ PCV <-- (no longer a trainee!)
P.O. Box 410374
Kasama, Zambia
My Language group with my language teacher BaMusa
The cutest little sister ever
Photoshoot!
<3
whoel family minus Batata
Jessica and Bamayoo
Cheeleelo, Bamayoo, Jess, Me, Stella, David
My cousin Martin
Beatrice and Jess
Cheechiko people!
Waitin for a ride
Grill master
Guac
Heather :)
"A snake just came into your hut and into your mosquito net"
"You just finished service and now have to go back to America"
I have decided to come back to New York. This just isn't the place for me
...APRIL FOOLS
Hello! I'm in Lusaka doing immigration and medical stuff. Over second site visit I got a nasty bite that spread into an infection. I am little gimpy but on antibiotics. Okay so I don't have much time but I just got back from second site visit where I visited Kateshi for a week and then met up with some other trainees in Central province for a few days of language/cultural lessons.
Kateshi is nice. I was greeted with an entire school assembly of dancing and singing pupils. The school itself has 900 pupils and only 13 teachers- ah! I met the headman, my family, and some community members. I live near a waterfall (I can hear it but I have not found it yet). And my family is just nearby. I have an auntie and three siblings. It's much quieter than Chongwe. My house is pretty small but has potential for home improvement. The coffee plantation might not produce any coffee until after I leave :(
Hello America! Here I am back in Lusaka. Whenever I have access to a computer it’s usually in the middle of an extremely busy/stressful day. We only go to Lusaka for one reason: shopping. We are here shopping for food for second site visit aka tomorrow! This is a very exciting day for everyone. I will go visit my almost-home and meet my almost-family and observe my almost-school and find out what projects I will be almost working on. My hut is constructed and waiting for me. I have already spent a few days with my counterpart (the head teacher at my zonal school). Going over the basics of the area and school I will be working in.
Where will I be going you ask? Well America- I will be heading up North to Kateshi village in the Kasama district of NORTHERN PROVINCE! I am very happy and excited for this. Monday was the longest day of my life- as a Bemba, there was no telling where I’d be going (Bemba is spoken in three different provinces). My hopes were that I would be placed in the same province and the two trainees that are in my language class…as they have become my right and left and we have formed a really good bond here in Chicheeko. When they presented us with the large map with our names in three totally different provinces we were a little bummed- but there is a great group of us going to Northern and I couldn’t be happier. There are five of us RED going to Northern and the LIFE volunteers of our intake will follow shortly after. There are currently 20-30 PCV’s serving in Northern right now. So I’ll start with Kasama- the district I will be living in. Kasama- just so you know- is the capital district of Northern Province. It is where our Peace Corps Provincial House (each province has one) is located. Keteshi is my village and it is 25 kilometers from Kasama. I am the closest Northern Volunteer to the capital.
Kateshi has never had a PCV- I am a first generation volunteer. It is home to a very large coffee plantation and my hut is actually on/or very near this plantation. My head teacher explained that in the past, this plantation employed over 10,000 people and the area was actually very populated. However, in the last year or two, the plantation was shut down because of debt. People lost jobs and moved out and on. BUT just last week-the government bought back the land and is now re opening the compound just around when I will be moving in. So it’s pretty interesting. There will be a lot of people coming into the village- I will not be the only new kid on the block!
Of course with that comes higher enrollment in the schools which might present some challenges.
There are six government schools in my zone (zone= school district).The closest being 1k away. My job description requires me to work with 2-4 schools per term and I should be working with each school in some way over the next two years. However my program director explained that I have the chance to take a unique approach in that I may be able to work with a larger capacity of teachers at only one or two schools rather than biking the long distances everyday to try and reach all the other schools(all of which at 15-20 k away).
Issues that my head teacher and I brainstormed working on include starting a girls club, adult literacy, co-teaching in health or English, and helping with HIV project at the local clinic. There is also an NGO working with my school on water and sanitation so I might be able to collaborate with them! I still have to complete Second site visit, training and community entry (community entry = first 3 months after I get posted where all I do is observe and network). Ah so yes- it is all finally coming together. After Second site visit, is three more weeks of training, then swear-in, then posting- YAY!
A lot of training has been about different challenges we will face. One of the biggest challenges that I don’t think a lot of people think about is the idea that I am a white, rich, American, here to hand out food and supplies. So training focuses a lot of this idea of sustainable development. A lot of aide organizations here give out food, supplies, and money. My Bamayoo was even taking pictures of my little sister today to send in to one of those organizations that “sponsors” kids. You know- those kinds of pictures you get in the mail that read” For a dollar a day- you can help save this child.” Peace Corps id unique in that we provide PEOPLE as a valuable resource. There is a proverb that I had to memorize in Bemba that says: If you give a man a fish, he will have food for one night. If you teach a man how to fish, he will have food forever. Meaning- it does no good for me to come storming in to a village with my own agenda and ideas of how these people should run their lives. I will spend 3 months doing nothing but interviewing, observing, and understanding what these people want to do. My job is to “help them, help themselves,” so that after I leave- the village can survive on it’s own. Even when teaching- I will be co-teaching. Our goal is for these communities to be sustainable- my job is to listen, motivate, support, and organize based on their needs and wants. A resource volunteer was telling me how during the hunger season it gets really really hard to look at a pupil and say “no I cannot give you any food” but instead facilitate a lesson on perma-gardening or food security.
Anyways that’s my updates I will now post some pictures and give you a list of little things I’ve picked up here and there:
I have learned:
-I am a “type 1 learner”
-Zambian women are stronger than Zambian men
-Fresh chicken is the best chicken
-Juju (witchcraft) is taken very seriously. And trying to explain that people who have psychological issues are not in fact possessed by demons and that they go to a “therapist” and not a “witch doctor” is harder than you think
-The power of a lesson plan
-Silence is not awkward
Being fat is a good thing. I no longer get offended when people say “my you are looking fat today” because fat is a sign of good health and money. Being thin is a sign of sickness, poverty, and AIDS
Funk and I on site visit.. she's coming to Northern with me!
It feels like I have been in PST (Pre-Service Training) for much longer than two weeks. I can introduce myself and my family in Bemba, I killed a chicken during first site visit, I've got my very own bank account in Zambia, and I have upgraded from one lump- to three lumps of nshima for dinner. I'm a pro!
Training is intense: we have language Monday-Saturday 8-12. Wednesdays are health days where we learn about diseases, shots, malaria, and HIV. Afternoons are usually tech where we learn about teaching methods, the Zambian education system, and other bits and pieces that will help us with our job. My days are long but go by fast. I wake up at 5:30-just as the sun comes up- and fetch water with my BaMayoo (mother). I do last night's dishes, heat up my bath water, take my bucket bath, eat breakfast (usually fritters or white bread), and walk to language class which is in my headman's insaka. I have language with two other trainees- we are learning bemba- the most used Bantu language in the country. There are 82 different dialects of Bantu in Zambia. About half of the trainees in my intake are learning Bemba and the rest are split among four other languages. After language I stop home for lunch (usually rice, veggies) and bike to Tech class which is held at Chalambana Basic school- where my bankashi (sister) goes to grade 5. If it's a Wednesday I bike to the training center where all health and safety classes are held. After class I hang out with my family or try to get some studying in before the sun goes down. Then I east dinner- nshima, eggs, veggies, chicken. After dinner I retire to my mosquito net and study some more.
My family is amazing. My Batata is a farmer 7days/week. My Bamayoo is a farmer, cook, seamstress, and superwoman. My brothers; Cheeleelo (grade 8) and David (age 4), and my sisters; Stella (grade 5), and Jessica (9 months). They are a wonderful family and coming home after class is my favorite part of the day.
Sundays I go to church with my Bamayoo and her sister. I love going to church with them mostly because their choir is SO GOOD. Man these Zambians can sing- and dance!
I live on a large compound with lots of huts, children, and love. I have my own hut but eat all my meals with my abafyashi (parents). Everyone on the compound is part of my Bamayoo's extended family. I still don't have everyone's name down and every so often someone new will show up that I am related to. Zambians value large families (averaging about 6-8 children per household). Also- for the record- there are no lions, tigers, or bears here. My family has never seen any of these animals that so many people associate with Africa. We do have chickens, cows, and pigs- just like NY. We finally received our first rain last night and "it was a heavy one." Although my hut leaked and I pretty much got water boarded from the tarp above my bed- I was happy that it finally rained.
It is rainy season and my Batata was very worried that his crops were not getting enough water. I felt sorry for him the other day. The maize seeds were lacking water so the farmers were forced to hook up the sprinklers. The water source they used was from the local dam. However, the electrical source they used prevented them from accessing the tap water that they depend on during the work day for hydration. Since they were so behind they were not given a lunch break and the only thing they had to drink was the sprinkler water from the dam. He came home feeling very sick because the water is contaminated with manure. So-- bless the rains down in Africa :)
Most of the chores are done during daylight hours. Once the sun goes down- there isn't much that can be accomplished. so every hour is used.
So my job-- I am learning how to co-teach. The theory is that although I have no teaching experience- I have been a pupil in the American Education System and I am therefore a useful resource with a bunch of skills and creative thinking. After just a few tech sessions I can already notice I can be of use. The flaws are evident For example- one of our assignments was to observe a Zambian classroom. I observed a grade 8 class- but the teacher never even showed up. No one knew why but they were not very surprised.
I don't have much time left but I am in Lusaka right now. We are having a cultural field trip day. We just met with the daughter of one of the greatest Freedom fighters of Zambia. Her father was the one who named the country and she gave us a lot of information about Zambia culture. She explained how Zambia is unique in that tribal wars will never be a big threat like they are in other countries. There are tribes here (Since I am learning Bemba I know I will be posted in either Luapula, Northern, or Central province)- but there is a cousin-ship policy in place in which different provinces and tribes can tease and joke with each other but it will never extend further than that. For example, as a Bemba -- my cousin tribe is the Nyanjas. I can joke that Nyanja's eat rats. And Nyanja's and tease me that Bembas eat monkeys. So you see- not very dangerous at all. One Zambia- one Nation!
I am trying to post pictures but my flash drive has too much plastic around it and wont fit into the computer. My first language test is Monday and I'm nervous-- I'm kind of slow with the language (but fast on my bike!).
Hello! Muli Shani! I have ten minutes on this computer-sorry for grammar errors- but I just wanted to let you all know I made it safely to the most beautiful country in the world. We were delayed but finally got in Thursday night Zam time. I'm with a great group of 29 people and our trainers were more than welcoming. We ring in our service tomorrow and there is a big ceremony with the ambassador and all these important people. We are the first intake to ever "ring the bell" to symbolize our start of service. As it is the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps- it's a big deal.
Site visits start Monday and I am headed off to Eastern province with one other person in my group to visit a current volunteer. It is a 7 hour drive but the 'most beautiful drive in the country" We get to go to the schools with her, visit with the locals, cook, and see what volunteer life is really like. We just got done grocery shopping for our visit. Training starts after the site visit and I will move in with my family. So far we have gotten our malaria meds, yellow fever and meningitis vaccines, got fitted for our bikes, played outside with the kids, did a bunch of logistic stuff, and meet all the staff and volunteer leaders. The Zambian people are overwhelmingly kind and the food is ... different but good. Nshima is eaten 3 times a day (so much carbs!). We found out the breakup of how many of us will be in each province. We will be in Luapula (our intake is the FIRST to ever go to Luapula so it's very exciting), Eastern, Southern, Northern, and I think Central. Everyone keeps emphasizing how Zambia is the BEST place to be a Peace Corps Volunteer. We will not receive OUR placements until formal training starts after site visit. I got a phone and it will cost you some money to call me but texts are cheap? or something. My number is: 00260976699846 (sorry mom I think I told you only one 0 at the beginning). Get a calling card, international plan, or go to Zaptel.com because they have calling cards you can print out and call me cheaply.
It has been 4 long months since I got my invitation for Zambia, and 9 long months since I started the application process. Needless to say; I am ready for this... as ready as I can be.
Happy belated New Years by the way. 2010 was phenomenal. It started Jamaica-bound and ended Zambia-bound. It was also a sort of nomadic summer, after graduation I traveled all around New York- from Sterling to Buffalo to Plattsburgh to Brooklyn. Did the whole harborfest thing one last time in Oswego… Was able to spend some time in California where I got to see Meaghan and Damian Marley, and made it up to Burlington to see my favorite future pharmacist-to-be. Saw Angela get married and Dave Matthews 3x! Spent time in the Adirondacks in July and December. And as always, the holidays were full love. I loved every minute between graduation and Africa and although it was an awkward, transitional, in-between phase- I think I grew up a little bit and let go of that college lifestyle. I was able to finally spend time with my awesome family and visit some wonderful friends. But it’s nearly February, and it’s time for Zambia!
Thank you ALL for your love and support. I am so blessed to have you behind me. You are all so amazing and it has been extremely difficult to say goodbye. So thanks for the hugs and the Bon Voyage parties, the SU court side seats and the Peace Corps survival gear. Thanks for listening and supporting my decision.
Also, thanks for thinking of me as this super-wonderful-altruistic person. I just thought I would let you know how I think of YOU as super-wonderful-altruistic people. Yes, HIV/AIDS, food security, and water are hard times that I will be dealing with very soon. I am prepared for this, as it will be my job for the next two years. However; sickness, unemployment, debt, family, and disabilities are all hard times that you deal with in your everyday lives. It’s tough and exhausting but I see you make it work everyday. Your making ends meet, your working 3 jobs, your driving back and forth from the hospital, your keeping your family together, your making the grade, your surviving! And you didn’t sign up for it, you aren’t getting paid for it, and you are certainly not writing a blog about it. You're just working through it and to me that is more brave and honorable than anything. You make the most out of the hard times and that is a very admirable quality that I hope I can take with me. So thanks again for being you and for loving me.
So that's my little thought of the day. Carrying on….
Here's a letter addressed to all of my friends and family from the PC Zambia desk in DC. Letter
My flight details/staging event goes like this:
Monday:
3:45PM: Depart Syracuse
4:48PM: Arrive in Philly
6:00PM: Registration at Holiday Inn
Tuesday:
7:30-10:00AM: Clinic appointment (vaccines)
1:00-6:30PM: Orientation
Wednesday:
2:00AM: Check out and fly from Philly to JFK
10:40AM: Flight departs from JFK to Johannesburg
Thursday:
8:40AM: Arrive in Johannesburg
10:30AM: Depart Johannesburg for Lusaka
12:40PM: Arrive in Lusaka, Zambia
Upon arrival I will check into a government hostel where I will stay for 3 nights and go through
another orientation. After that I will venture into Peace Corps world and stay with a
current volunteer to see first-hand what my lifestyle will be like after training.
Here is my address for the first 3 months during training. I do not know my permanent address yet. I will also let you know my phone number when I arrive. I have heard that text messaging is one of the cheapest and quickest way to communicate with the States and I will be purchasing a phone the first or second day of arrival.
Shannon Linehan/PCT
Peace Corps
P.O. Box 50707
Lusaka, Zambia
Africa
REMEMBER:
~Write "Par Avion" or "Air Mail" on anything you send
~Go crazy with the religion statements.
The more bible verses you write on the packages/letters- the less likely it will be tampered with.
~Number you letters so that I know if one gets lost.
~Write me often. It will be the very best thing you can do for me :) I don't have any requests
right now but I'm sure I'll come up with a list when I start missing things like chocolate,
photos of you, and coffee.
~Please note that packages/letters can take 2-4 weeks to be delivered.
~Stole this from Jessica's blog- a heads up on how much mail will cost:
- Letters (First Class Mail International): $0.98
- USPS Flat Rate Boxes (Priority Mail International):
Small (<4 lbs.)- $13.45
Regular (<20 lbs.)- $43.45
Large (<20 lbs.)- $55.95
I have been told first-hand by a Zambian that Zambia’s internet is the worst in the world. Secondly, my country director told me that there is a big problem with internet viruses in Zambia. Thirdly, Wifi is sporadic and most likely to be nonexistent at my post. Fourthly, internet is very expensive and slow in Zambia. Fifthly (not to be confused with filthy), I seem to be one of the few volunteers who is NOT bringing my own personal computer. BUT, I have also read that the internet and cell phone service is improving rapidly across Zambia. I will have access to a computer whenever I am at the provincial house (each province has it's own house where volunteers can come to twice a month for internet, R&R, to converse with other volunteers, etc.), or when at the PC library. Will have very limited access during training!
So what this means is very self-explanatory. I will not be able to update this blog often but I
will try to get information to you as often as I can. Please do not rely on the internet as
the only way to communicate with me. Snail mail and text messaging may be more efficient.
Having said that, I have created a YouTube account and a photobucket account that I will try to post stuff on. I've also added these links to the right hand side.
Attached is a 2-part video documentary that was shot by a RPCV while she was in Zambia
during 2007-2009. She was also a RED volunteer and it is a pretty accurate preview of
what my daily lifestyle might be like.
Part 1:
Part 2:
I have also attached a preview for Frontline’s Age of Aids documentary. If you get anything out of this blog I beg you to PLEASE watch this documentary. Yes, it is 4 hours but it’s free and informative and important. You are living under a rock if you are oblivious to AIDS as there are 35 million people living with the disease and 2 million dying from the disease per year.
two of my favorite people
Language group
the ambassador's court (took this for you dad)
