I was invited to go to Malawi in January with PCVs 2012.

How nice these new PCVs 2012 have not see me too ancient to go do things with them.  I was invited to joint them a trip to Malawi in January 20th to 28th 2013.

Me, Diana, Emily and Ben. 
While I was busying with the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry's visit in Samfya and Mansa, I received the text from Ben on this invitation. Than cell connection was more off than on for a few days, we could not really get the info clear on how all things to be regarding the trip to Malawi. 

When I came to Mansa this time, I am staying at Dr. Jonnson's home while both of them are traveling to Lusaka.  I checked in to PC house (only few house down to the other end of the same and short street) and all three of them were there. They were to go to Emily's site for couple days than will camp at lake side that I will be visit them after my duty of this trip got done.

So nice to have spent some time with Dr. and Mrs. Abila and children to know more of all of them on December 27th.

I had prepared this dinner at Dr. Jonnson's home, with their house maid's help and we brought over to Dr. Abila's to cook with Mrs. Abila.  This was her first Chinese food experience - cooking and eating.  She said to all dishes, while testing it at cooking, "It is very appetizing." 
Ba Chiti and his wife came to this farewell dinner for Mrs. Abila and children, too.

Hope next time seeing the Abila's family again will be in Seattle, I told them.

Yesterday I was busying showing the western dinner to Sam and the Chinese Mobile Doctors in Mansa.  Hope they will have more easier time to travel around the world and enjoying food of all kinds from everywhere they go.

Today I was to complete my 1Q 2013 report, but got busying with my blog.......

Planned to go back to Makasa tomorrow morning and visit PCVs camping at the beach right after I got home.

I know I missed sending my yearly letter this time, just now to send you all my warmest wishes for a Happy 2013 with all the Happiness and Proprieties to you and your loved ones.

Cheng 12/29/2012

 

 

 







Third fingerling delivery on December 26th.

Before I took time off from my villages for Bob's vacation in Zambia, I have all instruction lay out for all ponds to be completed at the time when I was back, so we can have fingerling be delivered on December 3rd. 

Of course, I know better, that was not to be counted on. Excepted the one done by the 17 year old Ba Dimas Kaluba. He surprised me to have his pond completed and he had gotten the fingerling free from Provincial DOF on December 14th. 

The rest ponds not even ready for December 10th. So be on December 20th.  I've got them all work out, but DOF Provincial had big event going on so the fingerling was delivered the day after Christmas. 

 

In the vehicle there were the driver and Ba Mbewe from Samfya DOF,  from DOF Provincial Ba Chiti and Ba Kalumba - who I had not see since soon after I've settled in Makasa, found out that he was on a 12 weeks training in Egypt.....How nice!!! I want to ride the camels in Egypt too....

The first site was about 8KM from Musaila Junction...... 

The second site was about 3-4 KM from the first one.....

 

It was long way to the pond on foot and into wet land for some distance...... 

Off the shoes and pant legs up deals.......

so here we were.... 

The third site was near to my house.... 

After all fingerling delivered and they took Ba Mbewe back to Samfya, I came out to Mansa with Ba Chiti and Ba Klumba, for I want to see Dr. Abila's wife and children one more time before they go home to Kenya before end of year.

 

Cheng  12/29/2012

I've got the ball rolling again for a School in Lukali.....

As appointed last week Thursday, I went back to DOE and its Planning Office to see the Directer of Education and the Director of Engineer on December 20th.  All was as told that we will go see the Lukali School. 

At departure from the Planning Office with Ba Chansa the Director of the Engineer, the Provincial Chairman of the Planning Office - Ba Kapaya come by and was enthusiastically paying full attention to the Lukali School project and wished us safe journey.

We stopped at Yasakwa - my old post home to pick up my old counterpart - Ba Martin to lead the way and the new PCV - Ba Taj, she would like to see what I have done there.

The volunteer teacher with his wife both bare footed next to me, Ba Martin, Ba Chansa and another villager of Lukali. Taj took this picture.  Thanks, Taj.

Yes, this school house has done by villagers in 2011 when they found there was no outside help to come after my taxi accident.  It is housing Grade 1 to 4 for 84 kids.  The volunteer teach does not speak English with me much.  That day he told us that he is sick with malaria.  I told him to go to clinic for medicine and even asked Ba Chansa to give him ride to Mabumba - 20 KM away....he said that he has no way to come home after, so he will go tomorrow when he can barrow a bicycle from someone.....what's the priority here.....life or conveniences???  How he convenes kids to learn??? And on what???

Hope these left over materials from that small school room would be in use for a real school be built here pretty soon.

 

The trip to Lukali was in the favor of Ba Chansa's field trip to check the progresses on his wet land road project, or I would not able to have any one to come near Lukali.  Thanks to Ba Chansa.

 

The first of his project we saw was close to Lukali and my old post home.  Some where there I had fallen into the creek when I was new at Yasakwa in 2010.  This new government is really doing things for real people already.  Continue like this, this country will be rich and strong pretty soon.

Got to be somewhere here that I fall into the creek, which was at the end of hot, dry season so the water was about a foot or 20" deep with mud bottom calculated......but the shock was greater than that I was in the taxi accident July 2011, I remembered.  The mud was not easily or willingly to release its grasp of you, that was the real shock.

 

The second site was so close to my post home in Makasa, if not that I have back pack, computer all in Mansa, I shall have go home from there.

On the way back to Mansa, we dropped Ba Martin and Ba Taj at Yasakwa and continue west ward to see the third project not far from Mansa.........It was after 18:00 and getting dark, but not rained that I was so appreciated.

Great Job! Ba Chansa. 

Zambia is depending on these young and educated people to move forward for sure.

 

Cheng 12/29/2012

 

 

Village life is still planning to go forward.....

 

At my work schedule planning meeting with my farmers on December 19th, I brought out the cow pea seeds from Dr. Lawrence Marum that he gave it to me for my farmers while I was staying in his gorgeous home in Lusaka with Bob while Bob was vacationing in Zambia......whoa......what a looong statement sentence...... 

 

I divided seeds in six potions and had six farmers to promise that each one of them at their harvest of cow peas, they will keep a same potion to pass on to a next farmers and have them do the same and keep the seeds passing on and around, any way they want.

All signed in agreement and wrote a big THANK YOU to Dr. Marum next to their names. 

Work schedule kept on the going....... 

This time DOF Samfya sent two officers came to joint us.....with a proposal for me to bring it to PLARD for funding it to give my farmers a two days workshop. 

 

I didn't even announce to my farmers on this one.  After meeting is over and farmers gone, I told them "There is no way I have a face to present this proposal to PLARD. For two days time with cost of 5.6 million Kwacha.  All my framers to get will be one hour each from DOF, DOA and Wildlife officers on the first day and the second day one hour each from DOF and DOA officers, the rest of time were for me to hold the floor and for my farmers to discuss all these issues.......

What do you think, if I am that smart to teach all these issues already, and my farmers had known that much to be able to discuss all issues on Fish, Garden and Animals with all "officers"???  If so, what was that, do you think, I am asking for all your help, to lead my farmers to advance their knowledge and skills???"

 

They took back the proposal and I turned to call a Camp Officer, Ba Florence, who had helped me on one day garden workshop at Kale while I was in Yasakwa and Kale is about 20-25 KM from here....Thanks to Ba Florence that she said "YES" and it will be on January 10th the Thursday.

I called Wildlife officer, Ba Mwimba and he also promised to give another half day workshop on January 4th. He did once on Goats for my farmers in October. 

 

Thank you to Ba Florence and Ba Mwimba, to help my famers - those are your own people, actually.

 

Hope the Minister Sichinga's words will spread all around and fast: "To help our own people to stand up and manage our own land and our own country."

Cheng   12/9/2012

Minister came to my Makasa village and fish ponds....

After the boat ride, all went into this Samfya Youth Resource Center to meet with local merchants. 

The Minister with his security guard standing behind him at all times. 

He addressed to all and again here that all Zambians need to recognize how Zambia is a rich country and how all Zambian can stand by their own to function and move the whole country forward. 

"Not to compliant about the Dutch came to do this and that, not to compliant about Chinese came to do this and that......It was all because we did not stand up and do it all ourselves." 

Whao, what a great wake up call to all Zambians, from one of their own leaders in this new government. 

 

It was what I have kept on telling my villagers in Yasakwa and Makasa, that they do not know what "Poverty" really is.  I was born in the small island of Taiwan and we do not have the vast of farm land, no mineral deposits and have to deal with 3-4 months of typhoon season every year. 

We did not label us as "we were in poverty" because everyone around were at the same level of living, so we only know to stand up, work hard and move forward. 

And we were able to get out of it before we even knew what it was.

 

Hope this new Zambian government have a great successes to lead the whole of their population forward in the right way. 

Get The Mind Set Right!

In between the boat ride and meeting, the Minister was kindly talking to me about my fish pond farming in the village level and he asked if he can have a look on the way back to Mansa.

Of course, he was most welcome to do so.

 

Matter fact that all the big people to come to my villages are all welcome for it meant a great deal for my villagers to know what these people from "the other part of their world" look like and start to dream for it for themselves or for their children. 

I was greatly appreciated the Minister's true intent and stood up strong to come and see and value my farmers who have had stand up to the hard work at the base level of their country.....

He repeatedly said in all meetings that morning, that "ShopRite" the largest super market in Zambia has to import 160 tons chicken from South Africa every week and this money we Zambian can easily make it for ourselves.  Fishing from Lake Bangweulu is facing its critical time so the fish pond farming should be greatly encouraged.

 

Sadly to say that besides me, no one seemed too much agreed with him. 

As you see this picture from while we were at the ponds near to my post home.

 

Thank you, Minister Robert Sichinga.

After my ponds, I went with one of TV crews of DOA's record team to Mansa.  The Minister visited the Mill that was funded by the government loan and functioning well......

Just suddenly, I found that DC of Samfya was not anywhere to be seen and was told he had returned to Samfya after the fish pond visit.  Then what am I to do from here.....I was only invited by him....

With no choices, I have to find a group came from Samfya and to be returned in the same day and I found one.

Forwarding to Mansa, the Minister was to visit the closed up Mansa Battery Factory and the gate keeper just not to open the door, for no instruction from Lusaka and no one in Lusaka was answering the phone calls at the time.

Keep the gate closed to a Minister?!?! This gate keeper is a true man on duty. 

Hope what ever trouble could be with it would not to be this gate keeper's.

Mansa's merchants were more well familiared and prepared to come to this big event.... 

After the meeting, way after 17:00......no lunch, no tea break.......this was the first whole day government event I attended had held up with even enthusiasm.

The group of Samfya merchants that I asked to have ride back with them had asked me to take picture of them with the Minister, but the Minister just kept on waving to have me in the picture too..... 

And I had to stand at the position where he pointed.

Thanks again, the Minister Sichinga.

 

I was actually went home with Ba Semani, the officer from DOF Samfya who is holding a short assigned position in Mansa and communing everyday from Samfya. 

I knew him since I came to Makasa. 

The hour on the way home it was dark and heavy raining.........Got home tired and hungry....no way to start fire for food and bath water, all was damn and chill by the rain....I used gel fuel to make a cup of water for oat meal and went to bed......

This was the first time no bucket bath before bed since May 2012......Yike.......

 

Thanks to Samfya merchants and Ba Semani and DC Samfya and the Minister.

 

Cheng 12/29/2012

 

Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry came to Samfya and my village and ponds....

As DC asked that I was to come meet with the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry on December 18th......I tagged alone at side and only seeing the back of TV crews from Lusaka and Mansa and DOA's own record crew.....didn't even think the Minister really notice that I was there.... 

All of sudden, I'd got the clear view.........oh, they were to take boat ride to see the white beaeches from the water of Lake Bangweulu, those ones close to Samfya....... 

24 seat boat.......there were at least 30-40 people on the it.... 

no matter how many people were pushing from the beach........the boat just won't go.....until the ones standing had to be off from boat......

so we were off from Kwacha Lodge's beach......C&M's home is at the top of the point.......

passing the beach the PCVs usually camping there......

you can still see C&M's home.....

around the point to the dock for Post Boat and DOF new boat....to the fishermen's beach....

to other three white sand beaches privately owned ......

Most of them were not well known......for road to them were not easy.....

 

 

the last beach was where C&M took me there one of October Sunday afternoon.....

Even not seeing these beaches the lake itself is just as beautiful.......

That was heavy in Minister's speeches, that Zambia is such a rich country, it is time for all people to stand up and do all things for their own country and the new government is promising to build roads to connect these beaches to help Samfya to earn its tourism money. 

 

I hope the steady power and Internet connection will be in the project too.

 

Minister's day visit to Samfya is to continue yet.......

Cheng  12/28/2012