For a background on this project, check out our April 1 post. A few weeks ago, we had the amazing privilege of having our corresponding teacher visit us in the village and meet the kids who have been corresponding with her students in the states. Jane and Brad helped with a third letter writing session, and the Zambian students were very proud to practice their English. Following are just a few examples of letters from both the American and Zambian students. Names have been omitted but we tried to keep with the original grammar.
Letters from America:
Dear Zambian student,
I go to Washington Middle School. My favorite subject in school is art class. I also have a big family, but I have family in Mexico, Oregon, California and Washington. We only get together like in special occasions. My favorite animal is a horse because you get to ride on it and because you can teach him a lot of stuff to do. My favorite food is pizza with soda. I am in 7th grade and I love Mexican food too. When I grow up I want to be a cosmetologist and a fashion designer. A cosmetologist is someone that does your hair and they do pedicure. During summer when we are out of school I am going swimming and I'am going to Seattle.
Dear Zambian student,
How you been doing buddy? How's life for you? My life is wonderful. Here at my school we are having a problem. In the internet on facebook is a website of like chating with friends. On line it's fun but can be dangerouse. Some students go to juvanile detention or get suspended by the school. Do you have a facebook? You can put videos, pics, and add friends and chat (that's cool to do) And see videos on facebook. I have an 800 dollar computer and have the internet.
Dear Zambian student,
I hope you are ok? Well I will answer your questions. I do soccer in my house. What do you mean by what work do I do? I n my house of out of my house! Well my favorite subject in school is AVID and math. I like math because I think it is easier and it is easier to understand. I like AVID because it shows you more stuff for education. I have a pet named Daycy she is a dog. Do you have a pet? I hope I get to know you more better.
Dear Zambian student,
I am very sorry you are not feeling well I really hope you feel better. I will try to send clothes soon, but the teacher wont let me send money and a car is too big to send you. I think I could send you food like tamales, taquitos, and other good food. I will pray for you so your bad problem will go away. I would like you to be strong no matter what happens you stay happy and do your best in everything. I really want to know how you guys make your houses and what is civics class? I'm happy that you are still my friend and I hope we could be best friends or in short word BF.
Letters from Zambia:
Dear American student,
Thank you. for the letter. In my district we have 72 school. A question ask How much does it cost to make a house. Here in Zambia the cost of house it belter 3 million kwacha per house 5000 kwacha = 1 dollar. In my school the subjects which deal in grade 8. its English, lunda mathematics religious education, civics, geography, env. science, and history. The question which you ask what class do you have over there? Itsgrade 5 and grade 7. Please listen to my question. How many sisters you have and how many brothers you have. Then I want to tell you in my class (8) my difficult subject is english. I am not perform well in English but all the subject I am perform well. Then I want to tell you I am 14 years old me I have three sisters and one brother. Then my fruit which I like is mangoes, bananas, and oranges. I want you to see me and I want see you. Then thank you for letter I am happy with your letter. So good by.
Dear American student,
Am happy to receive your letter here in zambia. The famous people in zambia are many. but I mention some. This are HH Hakainde Hichilema, Mr. president michael chilupya sata, senior Chief Kanongesha traditional ceremony. Am not herd King Tut. Even you herd senior chief Kanongesha traditional ceremony. I know a lot of thing like making a small house including cuttings of trees for field.
I know reading like you. E. science, zambia language (Lunda), and many things. I like to play football only (soccer) because our place we know soccer only. I know 50 famous people.
On 15th September 2012 I go to the traditional ceremony to watch many thing such as young girls dancing makishi (a person putting on masks), dances and many games.
Dear American student,
I will go to Mwinilunga High School when I pass grade 10. My favorite subject in school is English because I am doing very well when I was in grade 8 because the teacher who is teaching english in grade 8 is esprening very well and I play football (soccer) very well and is my best sport and I enjoy playing it.
Some sports that I play very well but I do not like it is netball because I think that netball are for grils. Thus why i am not like it. When the school ends were going play sports and the sports teachers tell me that you must puted in the football club because am playing very well in school football team thus why am writing this latter to tell you that my friend love football and here in Zambia is good sport which every person loves it. I like go to your country but the problem is money. Thank you my friend we meet one another in writing letters. GOD BLESS YOU and help you in anything that you are doing at school and at home. I think when you open this letter you feel happy.
Dear American student,
How are you? By this time back to me, I am fine too. Im very happy to see this letter. I'm a young boy I am 15 years old. School. I am in grade 8 my favorte subject is English or science to study non and living things. When I grow up I want to be a doctor. I have 3 brothers and 2 sister my sister is 10 year old and my brothers are marred. In our family, we are 10. My father is a farmer for this summer break I visit my familiy because this is my life. I respect my parents because are creator me. So my friend. Do you know Jesus? or do you goes to church? Pleas my friend Iam obeging you. If you can not know God, please I want you beng with God. John chaipter 1:1. And I have mercy when my parrents are tired I can help during the something which is not is go to fatch water to cook otever in your class do you have mathematishan? I want every day joy and my favorite football. My friend good bye I wish you best and God Bless you to communicate with you and me.
Dear American student,
I hope and you are fine and I am als fine. We are 7 in our family 3 boys and 4 girls. Dot stop your eduction! I think you have small family like me. And my lavely game is football. I born in poor family and I like eat bananas, orange, sweet banana. The distance from our home to school is about 4 km. That is very bad. My freind her we are they is to much dry. I like play with animals such as goats, sheeps and othe animals. The subject that we learn her is marth, English goegraph, lunda, religious education, civics and history those subjects are that we learn in mwinilunga. Thank you for your letter.
Dear American student,
I am guy a and I am 15 years old. I'm pupil of upper basic school by this moment I'm grade 8, so I will complete my school by 2016. The key word is this I want when I grow up to see you or meet with you in America or Mexico because I don't know country where you borne but love you so much.
My favorite people is American and food mabula. I'm very happy to find you my penpal like you. Things in Zambia at school are more let me tell you few their is sports such as aoccur race in class we have art and study post and things around us. Here we don't have AVID. I have 2 brothers are not educated and my mum dad are also not educated but they working like farmers. My young brother is in grade 8 we are in same class. Our side we don't have rich but me myself I want to complete school. When I complete my school I want to being with you in America or Mexico to as a doctor.
Thank you my friend face book by this moment I don't have but I send to you any time through our teacher. I greet all family in the name of Jesus.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Guest Post from Brad and Jane
We've been with our friends Brad, Jane and Julie for the past few weeks seeing lots of Zambia from Livingstone, Chimpfunshi, our village, and Chisemwa Cha Lunda. Now headed for some R&R on lake Tanganyika before Brad and Jane continue their journey to Tanzania.
Here's what they wrote about our village:
We hitched in a semi-truck to Solwezi, took a bus to Mwinilunga, and hired a cab to take us the 20 kilometers or so into the bush, to Scott and Gina’s mud hut. What we found there was a sort of Swiss Family Robinson ingeniuty / creative repurposing that was wildly interesting, but not surprising if you know Scott and Gina well. They have created a beautiful and welcoming home, complete with outdoor bathing room, kitchen, chimbushi (hole in the ground) (toilet), garden, and storage outbuilding (in the works). The lack of electricity, running water, and most other modern conveniences has influenced the functional design of their compound. I helped Scott with the storage building one day, mixing water and clay from a hole and keeping him supplied with clay block for the walls. It was really pretty similar to conventional masonry, but much more difficult. Water conservation was critical, as all water must come from the spring a good distance away. Jane and I fetched many jerry-cans full, the journey took us over on hour each time, even with the help of adorable village girls who liked to practice carrying the cans on their head. The difficulty of the trip really increased our appreciation of running water. Scott and Gina cooked us wonderful meals each day over the brasier, a charcoal stove. Often ingredients came from their garden, or were harvested locally and given to us by friendly neighbors. We learned Lunda quickly and spoke it very frequently to the super-friendly villagers. We learned most greetings, and had some good conversations. Village life was great, with many ‘programs’ and opportunities to interact with villagers. Jane was great at playing games with the large groups of kids that constantly swarmed around her, teaching them to write, or drawing with them. She helped during childrens health week at the bare-bones village health clinic down the road, where she assisted with measles vaccinations. Older children sat bravely and waited for their shots as babies wailed and Jane helped tally children who had and hadn’t recieved shots. It was a unique and rare opportunity for children to recieve vaccinations. We went to the school one day, and helped students write letters to students in Jane’s US class. Finally it was time for Chisema Cha Lunda, the huge festival celebrating Lunda culture. We had already been to meet the chief, and he treated us very well, showing us around, joking with us, and playing traditional drums. We arrived at his palace after a lunatic transport, which I shall someday describe, but will here omit, to speed the story. That evening chief Kanongesha toured us around his palace grounds, and his ceremonial grounds, and bought us wine to drink with dinner. The crowd of thousands was drunken with excitement, or by more traditional means, or both. We were served dinner with his excellency, and treated to a wide vartiety of beverages. We stayed in our tents in an area fencesd with tall grasses, and the sounds of the festival quited only between 6:00 and 6:15 AM. The vice-president of Zambia, Guy Scott, flew in on his helicopter to the even, and we shook his hand in greeting. Cheif Kanongesha took his seat in his throne/chariot, was lifted on several shoulders, and was carried amidst a dancing, drumming, singing groups of costumed men toward the ceremonial grounds. Behind the dancers walked a group of dignitaries, including other chiefs, government officials, and generally influencial people. The chief waved his tasseld and axe, and the ceremony began with his entrance, a grand circumnavigation of the grounds. There were many poorly amplified speeches, dancing, drumming, and singing in traditional costume, and even a sacrifice of a goat. I bought an enormous, intricate carving depicting the ceremony for 80,000 kwacha, or 16 dollars. It will likely cost ten times that amount to ship home. The festival was very fun, but we had to attend to our travels, so we convinced a lone driver to transport us and a few other peace-corps volunteers to a city in our direction of travel, Solwezi.
They're doing a much better job with blogs/pictures than us, so here's a link to their blog:
http://brad-jane.tumblr.com/
We'll write more during or after our travels!
Here's what they wrote about our village:
We hitched in a semi-truck to Solwezi, took a bus to Mwinilunga, and hired a cab to take us the 20 kilometers or so into the bush, to Scott and Gina’s mud hut. What we found there was a sort of Swiss Family Robinson ingeniuty / creative repurposing that was wildly interesting, but not surprising if you know Scott and Gina well. They have created a beautiful and welcoming home, complete with outdoor bathing room, kitchen, chimbushi (hole in the ground) (toilet), garden, and storage outbuilding (in the works). The lack of electricity, running water, and most other modern conveniences has influenced the functional design of their compound. I helped Scott with the storage building one day, mixing water and clay from a hole and keeping him supplied with clay block for the walls. It was really pretty similar to conventional masonry, but much more difficult. Water conservation was critical, as all water must come from the spring a good distance away. Jane and I fetched many jerry-cans full, the journey took us over on hour each time, even with the help of adorable village girls who liked to practice carrying the cans on their head. The difficulty of the trip really increased our appreciation of running water. Scott and Gina cooked us wonderful meals each day over the brasier, a charcoal stove. Often ingredients came from their garden, or were harvested locally and given to us by friendly neighbors. We learned Lunda quickly and spoke it very frequently to the super-friendly villagers. We learned most greetings, and had some good conversations. Village life was great, with many ‘programs’ and opportunities to interact with villagers. Jane was great at playing games with the large groups of kids that constantly swarmed around her, teaching them to write, or drawing with them. She helped during childrens health week at the bare-bones village health clinic down the road, where she assisted with measles vaccinations. Older children sat bravely and waited for their shots as babies wailed and Jane helped tally children who had and hadn’t recieved shots. It was a unique and rare opportunity for children to recieve vaccinations. We went to the school one day, and helped students write letters to students in Jane’s US class. Finally it was time for Chisema Cha Lunda, the huge festival celebrating Lunda culture. We had already been to meet the chief, and he treated us very well, showing us around, joking with us, and playing traditional drums. We arrived at his palace after a lunatic transport, which I shall someday describe, but will here omit, to speed the story. That evening chief Kanongesha toured us around his palace grounds, and his ceremonial grounds, and bought us wine to drink with dinner. The crowd of thousands was drunken with excitement, or by more traditional means, or both. We were served dinner with his excellency, and treated to a wide vartiety of beverages. We stayed in our tents in an area fencesd with tall grasses, and the sounds of the festival quited only between 6:00 and 6:15 AM. The vice-president of Zambia, Guy Scott, flew in on his helicopter to the even, and we shook his hand in greeting. Cheif Kanongesha took his seat in his throne/chariot, was lifted on several shoulders, and was carried amidst a dancing, drumming, singing groups of costumed men toward the ceremonial grounds. Behind the dancers walked a group of dignitaries, including other chiefs, government officials, and generally influencial people. The chief waved his tasseld and axe, and the ceremony began with his entrance, a grand circumnavigation of the grounds. There were many poorly amplified speeches, dancing, drumming, and singing in traditional costume, and even a sacrifice of a goat. I bought an enormous, intricate carving depicting the ceremony for 80,000 kwacha, or 16 dollars. It will likely cost ten times that amount to ship home. The festival was very fun, but we had to attend to our travels, so we convinced a lone driver to transport us and a few other peace-corps volunteers to a city in our direction of travel, Solwezi.
They're doing a much better job with blogs/pictures than us, so here's a link to their blog:
http://brad-jane.tumblr.com/
We'll write more during or after our travels!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Chicken TV (Gina's Post)
We are the proud owners of four beautiful chickens at the moment, and besides providing delicious eggs (sometimes) and endless manure for our garden, we have found raising village chickens to be a source of constant entertainment. With no fences and a food free-for-all with most of the chickens roaming from compound to compound eating bugs and bits of whatever food scraps they can find, these creatures develop their own culture and even form family groups. My friend Kelly calls it “chicken TV” in the morning, as they are very fun to watch as we are eating our breakfast from our outdoor kitchen. I’ll just fast forward the episode where Scott literally runs over one crossing the road while on his bicycle going full speed and curses it waddling unharmed into the bush while his knee and elbow are gushing blood. I wanted to give you a glimpse of our current and former cast of characters roaming around our hut. We decided to name them in alphabetical order:
Alpha- We bought this rooster from John and Kelly and named him aptly for his alpha male qualities in their village after Scott carried him on the back of his bicycle for 30km to our home. Unfortunately for our Alpha there was another rooster at our neighbor’s house that was the Super-Alpha and daily episodes went like this: Alpha chases Super-Alpha east, Super-Alpha chases Alpha west, Alpha chases Super Alpha east, Super-Alpha and Alpha get into a huge cock fight and end up at the neighbor’s compound. The neighbor children carry Alpha back to our house by the wings and state that he is a bad chicken and causing problems. The daily episodes turned into every few hours when Scott and I decided that Alpha wasn’t going to last much longer and even completed eating him before he became absolutely stressed out or worse by Super-Alpha. I guess someone else was thinking the same thing because that very same night he just didn’t come back. After searching countless trees and talking to all of our neighbors thinking he shifted to a different territory, we gave up. Well hopefully some poor African bellies were satisfied. Super-Alpha was ecstatic because he could have his pick of our hens.
Beta Jones- This rooster came from a faraway village in our catchment area and became immediate friends with our other hen Cleopatra soon after Alpha’s mishap. They started sleeping right next to each other in the chicken house at night and roamed around together catching termites during the day. In fact they became such good friends that when they both started laying eggs around the same time they decided to share a nest. We discovered five eggs under both of them and couldn’t decide whose was whose, but it didn’t matter much because neither would budge from the nest except for the one hour per day when they both went to forage for food together. One day two of the eggs hatched, and they dutifully shared motherhood duties by rotating which chick went with each mother but both getting equal time with their mutually raised children. This joint-custody agreement worked well until one of the chicks mysteriously died in the chicken house one night and Cleopatra assumed full motherhood duties for Ernie. Chickless and devastated, Beta Jones started laying again, only to discover that her nest was being usurped by the mutant dwarf hen from next door. She did NOT have the same intimate relationship with this new hen and proceeded to push the mutant eggs as well as her own eggs over the four foot ledge from the nest to the ground. Just as we thought Beta Jones would never enjoy full on motherhood, we were surprised to see her happily sitting on seven eggs when we got back from our little excursion from Livingstone. We’ll see how she does with single parenting . . . any suggestions on chick names F-L please send them our way.
Cleopatra- Named for her beautiful coloring, Cleo took on role as the alpha hen as soon as her buddy Alpha met his fate. Daily episodes include Cleo pecking at the other hens trying to get in the way of her eating her food first, as well as sneaking over, under, and in between the garden fence to get what she thinks is her entitlement of grubs and our chili peppers and swiss chard . . . all with spoiled little Ernie following closely behind. Scott and I became so fed up with this nonsense, we had some of the villagers pluck her feathers so she couldn’t fly into the garden anymore. Even after the feather pulling, she still made continual holes in the garden thatch to get to what she thought was her entitled space. The day I suggested we should eat Cleo because we were losing much of our garden to her antics, Scott pulled away some thatch in the fence to repair one of her holes only to discover a stockpile of 11 eggs! Needless to say we had a wonderful omelet that night to make amends for all the days we spent chasing her out. We even made her a special little brick house so she could access her egg-laying spot from the outside, thus avoiding unnecessary trips to the garden.
Deliliah- A special episode of Chicken TV came the evening that Deliliah was brought to our house as a swrawny black runt with her legs tied up. My counterpart Hildah gave her to us as a gift, and was probably thinking we would eat her that very same night like many Lundas do when they receive a random chicken gift during dry season (i.e. hunger season). As Hildah and I busied ourselves making soya milk over the brazier, poor Delilah sat with legs tied in the corner ready to be eaten for dinner. I had different plans and asked Hildah if I could use her for egg laying rather than eating and she agreed since we were already making soya treats. We didn't want her to run away, so kept her legs tied up until we had time to bring her to the chicken house, although she managed to inch her way out of the outdoor kitchen using only her wings. Super-Alpha came by, and saw the new female on the block and started doing his rooster dance. As he came closer though, he saw the legs tied up and realized that Deliliah couldn't perform her bait and catch part of the mating ritual so ran around looking for other hens. We untied Deliah that day and she did eventually perform her rite of passage into the harem of hens and is now happily laying eggs for eating.
Ernie- The spoiled only child of Cleopatra, we are still waiting to see if Ernie is a rooster or a hen as it is already as big as its mom, but still makes little chick sounds. Although the villagers say it will grow a chin thing and start cock-a-doodle-doing, we aren't so sure.
Mutant Dwarf and Turkey Chicken- both have serious genetic impairments as reflected by their names. They don't get included in our alphabetical names because they aren't really our chickens, although do a darn good job of eating our chickens' food, drinking their water, going into the chicken house, laying eggs on our chickens' nests and pretty much raising a ruckus. If we had any idea who the rightful owners were we would try to return them, but it wouldn't do any good since no one has a fence around here.
Stay tuned for more advances in the world of comedy and tragedy . . . chicken TV!
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