Still the same month of October....

Pond managements.......

Pond managements.......

"But, you had promised the sloop to be as shown last week......"

As always, looking at the little things calm me down greatly.......

 

Cheng 10/27/2012

still month of October......

Besides continue escorting farmers on pond management, I am learning hard on PC's third goal, "To learn Zambian caltural and bring back to Amreica." I am only trying hard to sit back and relax......

Went showing pictures to most of officers I knew......

Visited PCVs they were camping down below from Carmen and Mark's home......

It was Catlin's birthday too...... 

I went up to Carmen and Mark's for another wonderful BBQ dinner......and overnight there as had been for past few weekends...... 

I am greatly, truly, sincerely thankful for this shelter of mine at C&M's.......

 

Cheng 10/27/2012

continued bringing new fish farmers to the officials....

The brick making finally started on the burning......they told me that it will burn for a day and let cool down in a week to be able to move it and use it.....so my new neighbors will be in their new house soon.

The tadpole is big problem on most of all our ponds....that one string of frog egg could be 2 to 3 meter long and believe would be 400+/- of tadpoles to be on each of them.......one of my women's group they did the best job by using stick to take out the eggs before it hatched.....problem is still on the going......it is every day business that only this women's group kept up with.....

Wished all could had heard me and following the easier way to stop tadpoles.....

 

The other ponds most of them are busing to use mosquito net to scoop the tadpoles...

Some stubborn farmers insisted to remodel the old ponds.......that's fine but the sloop has to be this way, please......... 

Kids' and ducks' dinner tables are next to one another....... 

One missionary project for a self sufficient school to be.......they will have fish ponds, banana and sugar cane plantation next to it, plus I requested a garden for veggie to feed fishes......good water soures, if do it right the water can be irrigated by itself all around......good luck to all.

 

In month of October, all the looks, talks and visiting here and there.....nothing truly accomplished as I felt...... 

Cheng 10/27/2012

20% of fingerling lost in this batch........

The three volunteers from DAPP said that they texted that they will be at this beach Sunday afternoon, and we shown up without anyone received message......

It belongs to a resort in finance trouble, so we had the whole beach to us....it was hot..... 

We brought salad (Lilly made it) egg drop soup and spring onion pan cakes I made for lunch there.... 

Adults play the valley ball, Nala and Lilly watched from under the shade....... 

Far to the side, there were fishermen netting fishes....

 

Beautiful beach and wonderful friends for a nice Sunday afternoon......

 

Came Monday morning, the total count of fingerling been dead was about 20%.......besides we had to work on redistribute the fingerling to the 10 ponds according to their losses for it came in large bag and high heat so we decided to let them rest over the weekend and do the transfers today.....

These were not an easy task, it took three hours to get 300 fingerling from one pond to a distanced ponds......well, less than 3 kilometer but still, it is over 35C out in the sun for sure.....

 

Tomorrow we have another pond need to scoop 200 fingerling to one of other ponds and one more day after.......

 

Hope you all are to have a wonderful week ahead.

 

Cheng 10/15/2012

 

The second batch of fingerling delivery.

October 12th, we have had the replacement of dead fingerling for September 18th delivery, for three groups/10 ponds, plus new stock for two new standard ponds and one breeding pond delivered......We are way far from the Provincial breeding ponds and last distances are always needed be on feet...... 

 

For this long travel and the heat of the mid day.....we broke all rules of letting fingerling to acclimatised before we let go of all to the pond water.......for some had already cooked during the trip here..... 

 

More ponds running....... 

After all fingerling delivered, we show a PCV - Brian, from Northern Province, visiting DOF Provincial, to a few spots to see the Lake Bangweulu...... 

Also to see the new research boat with two of 250 horse power motors, parked behind the post boat.......

more water front that kids were fishing...... 

A good closing of a work week........

Cheng 10/15/2012

Although I have one new group of farmers almost everyday....

While working with my four old groups of farmers on pond and feed managements,

I have almost one new group of farmers want to do fish ponds.....this group leader, the one in gum boots is the father of current DC of Samfya.....I am truly wondered, why so many retired people wanting to do more work, but not the younger ones......I am saying age between 20 to 40.......I know this is a minority group in age, but I still see people at these ages doing less than older ones......

Finally, I've got the chance to see my Lukali school, that my current counterpart, Ba Maxim and head of Dept of Forestry accompanied me for the trip, we met my old counterpart Ba Martin from Mabumba to lead the way there. 

 

This was the one I had run between District and Provincial Dept. of Education for so many times from March to June 2011 and was getting promised that the District will provide roof, windows, doors, tables and a teacher after the villagers had enough brick burnt........

Than my taxi accident happened in July, a new PCV came in to Yasakwa in September.....my counterpart, Ba Martin Kasompe took new PCV to District office and got told that the one who promised me all that goodies had retired so the case has been dropped.....

 

These villagers did not give up, they took the bricks burnt to build this little house and got Grade 1 to 4 going, with one volunteer teacher from their villages......they are having Grade 1 and 2 in the morning and Grade 3 and 4 in the afternoon for total 83 kids, there were about 70+ shown up while we visited. 

Some how Ba Martin had government provided 20 bags of cement and these villagers used all for this foundation.......they asked me if I will continue to run and check with the District and Provincial Dept. of Education to seek for the completion of this school building in near future......I promised that I will check with all my bosses (for I am in different district of Samfya now) and see what I can do for them...... 

At the closing of the visit, the Headman repeatedly to have students to recognize me and said that it was me to get this school started and thanking me with no ends.....can't help of being emotional here.....for I really did not do much enough......they have over 300 kids under age of 12 in 2011.... 

I had my old counterpart, Ba Martin to translate what I said, "It is your Headman's idea for you all to have a school here, plus all of your village friends and relatives had worked hard to get this school site cleared and bricks burnt, well and ichibusu (out house) done.  You all have to remember to study hard to show your appreciation to all these real people who are close by here to everyone of you." 

When we were pulling off from there, I was so emotional for some while.......

Back to Mabumba, my old site Yasakwa's town center, I met with the little ones that I had missed due to my taxi accident....first one was Ba Grace, she is Ba Martin's daughter and was about to be married, now a baby daughter in her arms.

Ba Hamagaba's son was so serious in noticing of my differences from them...... 

Ba Hafweti and whole family and friends had visited me once in late May to my post home and took me to play with them at a beach at Lake Bangweulu, so little Lillian came more closer to me while I was over nighted at their home........

 

What a blessing to have this chance to see old friends and they are all doing well......

Cheng   10/15/2012

 

 

Still is a good October.....

Monday again, it was scheduled to work from 09:00 but farmers had other things to do so move up to 06:30....fine, these ponds were so close to Samfya so I just stay in town longer after, I thought....

No officers in their offices, because there was a celebration of a boat been donated to DOF Samfya to do researches on Lake Bangweulu........while up to Gen Adm's office, I'd got told "You should be at the dock now, it is big event for the fishery...." Figured I can't do much of others anyway, might as well to have fun.....

Walked up to the dock site, there were all Chieves came in at the same time, one Chief insisted that I find a chair to sit, even I replied that I don't believe there is my name on any of the chairs....one of ushers pointed a chair and said, "this group will not come, so you can sit here."  It was the next roll from all these chieves........Who I am there for???........

 

An hour and a half later the celebration started, even the high officers from Lusaka had to come meet the chieves in the traditional way..... 

End of the celebration, they issued the certifications to the officers trained to operate the boat......my good friend - Ba Ndinawe was one of them and the only female boat operator.....I am proud of her! 

After all, they took the hot shots on boat and went out for the quick spin...... 

and came back even faster...... 

I was glad to have witnessed all these......Now I should go home and do my routines of these hours to come......make charcoal fire, cook supper, cook bath water, wash dishes and me and go to bed......

Have a wonderful night, you all..........

Cheng   10/8/2012