Hooray! We finally have internet in Serenje! That's the most exciting news since last time. I'll try to recount what has happened since my last email. But before I do that, I want to give you my new postal address since I have neglected to do that. It is:
Patrick Horley/PCV
Peace Corps
PO Box 850010
Serenje, Zambia
I finally got a package from my parents, and one from my sister (and one from Sammy! Awwww). All the other volunteers get stuff from my friends and when they see that I don't, they all say "Wow, Pat, your friends really suck, except for Sam. Here, have some of my Doritos." I try to defend you guys, I honestly do, but it is no use. That's why I have come up with this little plan to show just how awesome you guys are. I am proposing a friendly little contest. The person/people who send(s) me the best package will win a prize worth well over 25grand. I can afford it; I pull in over a million a month. True, it's in Kwacha, but hey, I'll take what I can get. So anyway, I challenge you. Come up with the best care package that you can. You all know me, you all know what I like. The villagers like to see pictures, so if you have any, please send them. Though if they show your thighs, I'll keep that in my own personal stash. Thighs are no-nos here, which I found out after an embarrassing moment with my 8(?) year old host brother in Chongwe and a picture of Carly and I at the beach. Oops. Deadline for Postmark is Dec. 31, but earlier ones get bonus points. And if you really don't know me, I like food, baseball, football, cars, food, motorcycles, and lots of other things. The villagers love American magazines too. And Walter, if I know you like I think I do, thanks, but porn is illegal here in Zambia. So send your best and if you win you will be massively rewarded, that is if you like dried fish, fried caterpillars and chunky beer made from corn.
So since last time, let's see… I got a puppy! It's the cutest dog this side of the Atlantic and if I remember, I'll try to put in pictures. IF I remember, I'm bad about that. His name is Mwenso, which is Bemba for "Scared, shy, timid" because he, well he's scared of everything. The family has taken to him, mostly. Some of the little kids hit him or throw rocks. I've been teaching them not to do that (and teaching him to attack when they do). It'll be hard to give him up in 2 years, but my 14-year-old brother is really good with him and will be a good father. I also got a dartboard. I set it up in my hut and play a couple games a day, but my darts really suck. The back half is plastic and the part that holds the flight in place has broken so they always fall out. It's still fun though and the villagers love it when I bring it outside and hang it to the tree. My hut is too small to entertain guests.
Let's see… oh yes, I'd hurt my foot last time I was in town. I wasn't looking where I was walking because I was talking to my friend Kathy and fell into a ditch about oooohhhh 2 meters deep straight down. So I had to get it Xrayed, 2 docs in Mkushi said it was a hairline fracture, so PC had me go to their doctor in Lusaka and he said it was ligament damage. Whatever it is, I don't like it. We had our big Provincial meeting 2 weeks ago. It was mostly a party in Mkushi (next big town over) followed the next day by a 2 hour meeting followed by a party and a trip the next day to the gorgeous Kundalila waterfall. Good times were had by all. We roasted a pig in the ground and it was fantastic.
I had a few meetings with my farmers. One in Kapeshi (3km away), one in Ndabala (13 km away) and one in Mpande (umm maybe 6 or 7 km). I have a list of about 60 farmers who want ponds. But they want them right away. It'll be a while. I'm glad to see that they're so into this, but it means I have my work cut out for me. I want to teach the farmers and then have them teach each other. I want to get the ball rolling
So really, not a whole lot has happened. I've seen a few animals—mostly lizards and some birds. A few of what looked to be parrots flew past my hut the other day. Today on my ride in, the guy I was hitching with swerved to avoid 3 chameleons—in a big rig carrying Petrol. I'm glad that he missed them, but these trucks aren't known for their handling. Usually people try to hit them. Maybe he was trying, but was just a bad driver.
Yesterday, I gave my buddy George a pair of shoes. I'd lost my sneakers and bought a cheap pair at the market. But then I found my sneakers and wasn't wearing these, so I gave them to him. He said it was the happiest day of his life. I said "George, you have a wife and 2 daughters, what about your wedding or the birth of your children??" He said "Nah…" I've never seen someone so happy to get shoes before. It made me happy. He's done a lot to help me so it was only fair. I don't want to start giving stuff away because then people will hound me, and I'm not in the business of giving anything away (except knowledge, because knowledge is power!). Though when I leave, I want to give away a lot of my stuff and I'm very excited about that. I often sit and wonder "hmmm…who would like this pan? Who deserves a nice skillet?"
I'm sure I'm leaving out a lot of details, but oh well…my gournal is back at the hut and I write my daily activities in there.
Ohhh…Kathy just reminded me of a story to tell you guys:
So I was sitting there eating my dinner by candlelight and saw a cobra coming down over the top of my partition wall. It was eyeing me, just waiting to strike. Swaying left, right, up, down in its fluid serpentine way. I jumped up and backed up to the door and opened it so it was between me and the deadly snake. I threw on my sunglasses so that it wouldn't spit in my eyes and surveyed the situation. I considered calling my family, but why introduce them to the dangers? There was a brick, but that was in easy striking distance of the beast. The dartboard caught my attention, but I knew that the darts would just anger it. I noticed my kitchen knife in front of me and reached down to get it, without taking my eyes off the snake. Then I realized that the snake was very thin and lacked eyes and a mouth and, well everything that makes a snake a snake. Turns out, it was the torn handle of a plastic bag and it's motions were caused by heat rising off my charcoal burner. I'd never been so scared before in my entire life. I still killed it though.
So seriously, if anyone wants to travel with me, or visit, let me know. Dubai, Madagascar, Egypt, India, SE Asia, South America. I want to come back to the states even more penniless than when I left. Help me spend my money!
Take care all
Patrick
Peace Corps
PO Box 850010
Serenje, Zambia
I finally got a package from my parents, and one from my sister (and one from Sammy! Awwww). All the other volunteers get stuff from my friends and when they see that I don't, they all say "Wow, Pat, your friends really suck, except for Sam. Here, have some of my Doritos." I try to defend you guys, I honestly do, but it is no use. That's why I have come up with this little plan to show just how awesome you guys are. I am proposing a friendly little contest. The person/people who send(s) me the best package will win a prize worth well over 25grand. I can afford it; I pull in over a million a month. True, it's in Kwacha, but hey, I'll take what I can get. So anyway, I challenge you. Come up with the best care package that you can. You all know me, you all know what I like. The villagers like to see pictures, so if you have any, please send them. Though if they show your thighs, I'll keep that in my own personal stash. Thighs are no-nos here, which I found out after an embarrassing moment with my 8(?) year old host brother in Chongwe and a picture of Carly and I at the beach. Oops. Deadline for Postmark is Dec. 31, but earlier ones get bonus points. And if you really don't know me, I like food, baseball, football, cars, food, motorcycles, and lots of other things. The villagers love American magazines too. And Walter, if I know you like I think I do, thanks, but porn is illegal here in Zambia. So send your best and if you win you will be massively rewarded, that is if you like dried fish, fried caterpillars and chunky beer made from corn.
So since last time, let's see… I got a puppy! It's the cutest dog this side of the Atlantic and if I remember, I'll try to put in pictures. IF I remember, I'm bad about that. His name is Mwenso, which is Bemba for "Scared, shy, timid" because he, well he's scared of everything. The family has taken to him, mostly. Some of the little kids hit him or throw rocks. I've been teaching them not to do that (and teaching him to attack when they do). It'll be hard to give him up in 2 years, but my 14-year-old brother is really good with him and will be a good father. I also got a dartboard. I set it up in my hut and play a couple games a day, but my darts really suck. The back half is plastic and the part that holds the flight in place has broken so they always fall out. It's still fun though and the villagers love it when I bring it outside and hang it to the tree. My hut is too small to entertain guests.
Let's see… oh yes, I'd hurt my foot last time I was in town. I wasn't looking where I was walking because I was talking to my friend Kathy and fell into a ditch about oooohhhh 2 meters deep straight down. So I had to get it Xrayed, 2 docs in Mkushi said it was a hairline fracture, so PC had me go to their doctor in Lusaka and he said it was ligament damage. Whatever it is, I don't like it. We had our big Provincial meeting 2 weeks ago. It was mostly a party in Mkushi (next big town over) followed the next day by a 2 hour meeting followed by a party and a trip the next day to the gorgeous Kundalila waterfall. Good times were had by all. We roasted a pig in the ground and it was fantastic.
I had a few meetings with my farmers. One in Kapeshi (3km away), one in Ndabala (13 km away) and one in Mpande (umm maybe 6 or 7 km). I have a list of about 60 farmers who want ponds. But they want them right away. It'll be a while. I'm glad to see that they're so into this, but it means I have my work cut out for me. I want to teach the farmers and then have them teach each other. I want to get the ball rolling
So really, not a whole lot has happened. I've seen a few animals—mostly lizards and some birds. A few of what looked to be parrots flew past my hut the other day. Today on my ride in, the guy I was hitching with swerved to avoid 3 chameleons—in a big rig carrying Petrol. I'm glad that he missed them, but these trucks aren't known for their handling. Usually people try to hit them. Maybe he was trying, but was just a bad driver.
Yesterday, I gave my buddy George a pair of shoes. I'd lost my sneakers and bought a cheap pair at the market. But then I found my sneakers and wasn't wearing these, so I gave them to him. He said it was the happiest day of his life. I said "George, you have a wife and 2 daughters, what about your wedding or the birth of your children??" He said "Nah…" I've never seen someone so happy to get shoes before. It made me happy. He's done a lot to help me so it was only fair. I don't want to start giving stuff away because then people will hound me, and I'm not in the business of giving anything away (except knowledge, because knowledge is power!). Though when I leave, I want to give away a lot of my stuff and I'm very excited about that. I often sit and wonder "hmmm…who would like this pan? Who deserves a nice skillet?"
I'm sure I'm leaving out a lot of details, but oh well…my gournal is back at the hut and I write my daily activities in there.
Ohhh…Kathy just reminded me of a story to tell you guys:
So I was sitting there eating my dinner by candlelight and saw a cobra coming down over the top of my partition wall. It was eyeing me, just waiting to strike. Swaying left, right, up, down in its fluid serpentine way. I jumped up and backed up to the door and opened it so it was between me and the deadly snake. I threw on my sunglasses so that it wouldn't spit in my eyes and surveyed the situation. I considered calling my family, but why introduce them to the dangers? There was a brick, but that was in easy striking distance of the beast. The dartboard caught my attention, but I knew that the darts would just anger it. I noticed my kitchen knife in front of me and reached down to get it, without taking my eyes off the snake. Then I realized that the snake was very thin and lacked eyes and a mouth and, well everything that makes a snake a snake. Turns out, it was the torn handle of a plastic bag and it's motions were caused by heat rising off my charcoal burner. I'd never been so scared before in my entire life. I still killed it though.
So seriously, if anyone wants to travel with me, or visit, let me know. Dubai, Madagascar, Egypt, India, SE Asia, South America. I want to come back to the states even more penniless than when I left. Help me spend my money!
Take care all
Patrick
