Thanksgiving & 1 month into my community

I'm a little sad to be missing my family's food but the Eastern Province Peace Corps house is smelling delicious and I'm excited to try our PCV dinner.

Community entry has been going very well. I have met with all my neighborhood health committees (NHCs). We had a meeting about the roles and responsibilities of a NHC and assessed what improvements need to be made and the training they want me to conduct for the next 2 quarters. All 8 NHCs seem to be very excited to improve and learn so I'm very excited to be working with them.

My main goal for my service is to have all my NHCs active and doing all their responsibilities. I also want to help them find funding and build 2 health posts in the farthest parts of my catchment by the time I leave in 2013. A woman gave birth as she was walking the 11k to the clinic while in labor and this happens pretty regularly. So, the health posts will be a great addition to the community. I have several smaller goals that I need to key in on, so I'll let you all know as I decide.

We had the Zambian Child Health Week. My clinic vaccinated over 500 mothers and children. It was a great and busy week. 

Training Is Over

This Friday October 7, 2011 I will swear-in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer. I had a traditional dress made. I will post pictures soon.Training has been bitter sweet.  One of our last assignments was giving a health talk. We were split into groups of two, told to pick a health topic and given students at the local schools. I chose to talk about HIV/AIDS, STIs and Empowerment. The students took a while to open up and be active but they were asking questions and really excited by the time the session was over.  That was one of the best things I’ve done in Zambia so I’m extremely motivated about moving to Petauke.

What is Next: The 1^st 3 months (Oct-Dec) are “community-entry”. That time is for me to get to know my community and meet everyone. Very Excited & I hope to have more to talk about in Dec.   

1 Month into Training

The most difficult part of life in Zambia is eating nseama. (very thick porridge) Its the staple food and Zambian's love it so I will have to get over it soon. I prefer rice or pasta.

There is not much variety in the food cooked in the village and Zambian's are very happy to eat the same thing everyday. They are very greatness for every little bit they have and they eat food regardless of taste because they know many people go without.

I cook foods for my host mom like homemade tomato sauce and french toast and most recently ebony's version on tuna helper. So the food is getting better because my host mom is a fast learner.

Free time has been rare. Monday- Friday we are in training from 8/9am -4/5pm, after that i bike home, take a bath, help make dinner, eat, hang out with the family and chill out for a bit until i pass out. I'm usually fast asleep by 10 because there isn't much to do after the sun goes down.
Saturday mornings we have language 8-12 and then the rest of the day is our time. I've spent my Saturday afternoon's doing laundry and chores around the compound. everything takes a lot longer with out electricity do the afternoon flies by.

Traveling is allowed after training and community entry is over in December. We have a few "no-no countries" but for the most part Africa will be my playground.

so far my list is Zanzibar, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, Mozambique and Kenya.

The people of Zambia are very friendly and warm. I feel at home in my village and the thought of moving to Eastern in October makes a little sad.

My Post!
Village: Mumbi
District: Petauke
Province: Eastern
Language: Nyanja
I will be 1st generation I am 3hours from Lusaka
<3 love you!!! 

I Am in Zambia

Where to start!!!! I have arrived safely in Zambia. I will post pictures next saturday on facebook and here.
After 17hours of travel we were welcomed by our excited training team. The 1st couple of days we were in Lusaka staying at a farmers training school. It was "different".

So I am learning Nyanja and my permanent site will be in eastern province of Zambia next to Malawi!
My home stay is amazing! I live with an older woman my "amai" (mother in nyanja) who has 5 children 19 an up. There are only 2 kids who live with me but all the neighborhood kids comee and watch me when im braiduing my hair on the weekends.

My hut is so comfy; I have a full size bed and a desk.

Right now its pretty cold 50 degrees in the morning but hot during the day. Soon it will be hot season, when the mangos are ripe!!!

Training is pretty brutal. Everything is planned for us the moment we wake up until we sleep.Now that we are at our homestays we have a bit more freedom. I think thats it for now.
Next week i'll bring my memory card and write out my entry b4 hand so its a little better.

I miss home but im having a blast now tha i'm a bit settled here in Zambia!

Tidzowonana (see you later) 

It's crunch time

So I leave Monday (today is Thursday). Time is moving slowly but I can't believe my adventure starts in 4 days. I have been spending the past month saying my see ya layers but now that there are only a few days left people are trying to get in a few more goodbyes and hugs.

The #1 question I get is "are u nervous?" the honest truth is no. I'm not nervous about going across the world. I love helping people and I can't think of a better time in my life to give back and go where I am needed. I'm excited to live in a hut with no electricity and just be around people and nature (and a little bit of technology).

The hardest part of all this is leaving my family and friends. In these past few weeks I've thought of all the birthdays and holidays I'm going to miss these next two years, so that had me a little down. But whenever I feel myself getting sad about that stuff I think of everything I will be experiencing.

I've had plenty of birthdays and holidays with my family and friends in the states. Now is the time to step out and dare to go against the norm.

I'm so happy to be going to Zambia & I'm really gonna miss everyone here in the US.

Peace Corps Mailing address July 21,2011-October 07,2011

Ebony Nicholson/ PCT
Peace Corps
P.O. Box 50707
Lusaka, Zambia
I will update my mailing information once I get assigned to a region of Zambia in October :)
REMINDERS:
*number your letters and write "Air Mail" and " Par Avion" on all envelopes
*Mail takes a minimum of 2-4 weeks to arrive in Lusaka
*Surface mail may take up to 5 months
<3 you all and I cant wait to get letters from you...