Good afternon, all......I am back and hope able to post pix this time.......
First, the pix from South Africa trip 8/7 to 8/17/2010.
I think I will wait till I know how to resize pictures before I post pix again.....now let's get back to my notes after I come back from the second site and my post home visit.
9/8/2010 all trianees came back to Chongwe for the final language and fish pond skills lessons. It was so intenced for I know how much of them I will need for my village life that is on the coming. We have language lessons in the morning, for I had to catch up with my 10 days in SA so PC arranged one trianer for me and Ba George was one of the trophy language teacher, he had no way to see how tired I was but to see all ways to add on one word, one sentance or phrase at all times.....after all, I truly had to thank him for all his push, or I will not be able to have my final exam on the same date as all others did. Plus, I had passed my exam not to stay extra week in Chongwe......Wow.......it was that much of pressure on the schedules, if I have had known it before I came, I might have been cool feeted.....but I am glad, it is all over and I am here now......wish you can see pictures of what I try to tell.......will be someday, somehow.....
9/24/2010 we sworen in at US embassy's residence and it was seriously formal. Again, the pix will tell later.....
9/25/2010 all departed to our provincial house for 4 days final shopping for our post home staying - to equip the house, kitchen, etc. in the day time and the youngings partied in the night...pix later.....
9/30/2010 I have arrived at my post home and items needed to be fixed before I come back of course none had been done, and I have to move in anyway......
My bed came in pieces after the long haul and it had to go over the wall take cieling space to get into bedroom for the hall way is too narrow not able to turn......a table came that villagers had to use bicycle chain to cut the dirt wall at the entrance so they do not have to cut the legs from the table....imaging????
Peace Corps had arranged one counterpart for every PCV but mine was too busy on his own businesses - first he had to sell casava to Lusaka, than he was building a house other where and could not be seen by me, but he was watching my every step and every movement......
In October, to avoid wasting my time in the village, I worked with officers in my close by villages from the Dept of Agricaltural and Dept of Live Stock, both took me around to visit and help farmers on garden, fish and poultry.....wonderful people, even their wives are friendly enough to invite me over for weekends......10/31 after lunch togather at DOA office's home, 5 of us met with Environmental Technicine to play the only one pool in their town - 5 Km from my homw. That was a great fun.....again, pix later.....
I have no night life in my village for the mice came out after dark so I desided to go to bed on 19:00 hour and get up at sun raise - it had been before 5am, now it is almost 6am or later....
In November, finally we had a village meeting to divided my work area into 5 zones and I will be working with every zone one week at a time from there and on.....if I will have things to do be out of town than the week will be push back.....
So far this is the first week I am out of my village to come for Peace Corps first in service meeting and celebration of Thankgiving before we all go back to our post home on Friday. In January 2011 we will have another in service training in Lusaka from Jan 9-22. So if anyone of you are to come visit me, Zambia, Africa.....please keep these in mind.......
Okay, this will be it for now, since pix were not loaded......let me try if these notes could be posted now. Later, you all.........Cheng 11/21/2010
