Will you get sick in Zambia?
Yes. Almost surely. Probably diarrhea (the food is different.) I will boil and filter all my water, and probably eventually wean myself on to local water, but I will have to see what Peace Corps reccomends. I will also most likely get malaria, even though I will have a mosquito net and be on medication for it. It isn't a big deal unless it goes untreated, or you get the bad kind (cerebral malaria) which is much less common. Peace Corps ensures your health and safety and provides you with directions and malaria medications in case you should become sick in the village. Oh, and I hear a lot of female volunteers' hair falls out!! Joy!
Who else is going? How many people are in your group?
As far as I can tell...there will be about 50 people going in total, with half in the Rural Educational Development group with me, and half in the LIFE (Linking Income, Food, and Environment) group. I also think that there are other people who got to Zambia last year who will be doing their second year of service while we are doing our first, but I am not 100% sure of that. I am in touch with about 20 people who are going in my group through facebook, two of which are married couples. It should be fun to get to know everyone.
What is the political situation like in Zambia?
Well, keep in mind it is not Zimbabwe. The last President, Levy Mwanawasa died during his term from a stroke. The current President, Rupiah Banda, was Vice President under Mwanawasa and was elected to become President in the last election. President Banda is a career politician who has served as foreign minister and minister of mines. Things seem fairly good in Zambia and I do not worry about political upheaval. As a Peace Corps volunteer we are not allowed to participate in Zambian politics in any way.
Can I call you in Zambia?
Probably. I will attempt to buy a cell phone in Zambia and will post my phone number. Depending on the village I might be able to get a signal if I stand on a log or something. There is a rumor that calling through skype may only be 2 cents a minute, but I am not sure if that is true or will work (since it is through Internet the delay might be too harsh to carry a conversation). I will hopefully be able to receive texts. Keep in mind I will not have electricity in the village, so I will only charge my cell phone when I get to a bigger town, so I will probably not have my cell phone on at all times. Zambia is seven hours ahead of the US.
What should I send you?
LETTERS. I will be able to better answer this when I get there and see what I am craving, but I have heard the common strings from other volunteers are: magazines of any sort, soup, meal, or drink mixes where the only added ingredient is water, candy (gummy bears, chocolate, tic tacs, anything really,) LETTERS, pictures of life in America and you!, education information (lesson ideas, worksheets, puzzles), LETTERS, and stickers. I am sure I will think of more things, but mail takes about a month to get there (HINT HINT)
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4 comments:
hi darling! i can't wait to be reading up on all this madness :) i'll have to take some pictures here while its still a frozen tundra to send and remind you what snow is like haha. i'll start getting something together to send to you when you say you've left - i am so excited for you!
I was hoping you'd answer Tess' latest question: "If you have a baby while you are in Zambia will he/she be black?" (For those of you who don't know Tess she is a very inquisitive 7 year old who will miss Carrie lots)
Haha Christy,
I was so flabbergasted by her question (while thinking, wow, what a good question!) that I didn't even properly answer it. I can imagine it would be "well...it all starts with your DNA.." and ending in her falling asleep.
So you'd like some letters?
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