I'm officially a PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER!!!

Hey all,

I swore in on Monday and I am in Mansa now. The Swearing-In Ceremony was lots of fun. 52 of us took the oath that we would uphold the Constitution and we signed a two year contract of service. We ate the biggest meal I've ever seen. Photos to come soon (thanks Mom and Annette! - they're sending me a card reader so I can share my photos with you all!!!). It was catered by the schwarma place that we all like so much.

Sunday night I got to meet my friend Chad's parents. I had been so busy all through training that I had to squeeze in a meeting with them before I left Kitwe. They are the most phenominal people. I was so happy to meet them. It turns out that Chad's aunt lives in Nchelenge (my district in Luapula) and has a huge family. They said they would call and let them know that I am coming. I'm thrilled to hear it. Anyway, Chad, now I know why you're so sweet. Your parents are awesome. I intend to go back to Kitwe and visit sometime in the near futre.

Okay right. So today I may have had one of the top 3 most embarrassing moments of my life. I think I explained that on Sunday I became a millionaire because Peace Corps gave us our settling-in allowance to buy everything we need for our houses in the village. I just spent almost one million kwatcha (roughly 4000 = $1) at the grocery store. I bought stuff that I won't be able to get in the village and things like buckets, a broom, bowls, silverware, cutting board, etc. It was so embarrassing because no one in Zambia ever spends that kind of cash all in one go, and they certainly don't spend that kind of money at Shop-Rite (because resourceful people can get a lot of stuff in the markets). I was so embarrassed. The guy behind me in line was buying a bag of flour and a box of baking powder. I was so red in the face. Anyway, I hope to get over it soon. I am told it is typical to spend that much. Whatever.

So tomorrow I will go north to Nchelenge. Lea and I will shop for the rest of my buckets and pots and pans and charcoal and imbabola (brasier to cook on) and my village stuff there with our neighbor Richard (he's a fish farming volunteer). We will spend the night in town and the Land Cruiser will drop Lea off first thing the next morning and me in the afternoon. I'll be all alone, or perhaps surrounded by villagers - this is yet to be seen. I'll let you know. I envision that I will unpack my speakers and sweep out my dirt (soon to be cement) floors, lay out a reed mat and my matress, hang my mosquito net and start unpacking the rest of my stuff. I will start all of my community entry stuff within a couple of days (community resource maps, an Emergency Action Plan for if/when I get sick, seasonal calendars, etc.) and explan to everyone what I am doing here. Over and over and over again. I'm certain that everyone will stare at me for the first many weeks in the village. I am hoping that I will get boring within a couple of weeks, but I don't know how long that will take. I was hearing about my friend Eston's site where his neighbors had a "live fense" (a fense made out of bushes that are about the only thing goats won't eat) all around their house and it was pretty tall. However, they made sure to trim them shorter on the one side where they could see Eston's house. They were perfect for optimal muzungu viewing.

I have to come back to Mansa in just a few weeks because I need to get a visa extension and attend our Provincial Meetings. Shortly thereafter I will have to go to Lusaka for a work permit (I think, it is pretty vague right now). I hate to have to leave so soon. I want to spend as much time in the village as possible, because later on I am going to be called out of the village all of the time and this is my chance for people to know that I am there and I am serious about the work I am going to do with them. There really aren't any other organizations doing development work IN villages in Zambia. They will work in the village and leave to go back to the BOMA at the end of the day. Having a muzungu working and living amongst them in the village is a bizzare thing to get used to for many Zambians. I've heard stories about how villagers have decided that the PCV in their village was sent there as punishment or they are spies working for the government or something.

I've had a lot of time to think about the fact that I work for the US Government in a totally unique capacity. It is such an ideal situation really. I am allowed to express my political views as an individual because that is my right as an American citizen. I am able to work for an organization that is independent of the other American organizations (USAID, Department of State, US Embassy, etc.) in terms of being a non-political presence abroad. There are certainly areas where the Peace Corps works together with the other organizations - for instance Small Project Assistance grants (which I believe come out of USAID funding), the Charge d'Afairs at the US Embassy administered our Peace Corps Oath at the Swear-In on Monday.

Okay, I'm rambling. You're probably more interested in what I am actually doing here in Zambia. When I left I was telling people that my role was really vague. It is much more clear now. I work for the Zambian Ministry of Health as an HIV/AIDS Community Mobilizer. I will be working on a lot of capacity building with counterparts in my village to work toward stronger HIV prevention programs, nutrition for people living with HIV, care and support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (children who have lost one or more parents). I will work with any groups in my community that want my help. I will probably train the Neighborhood Health Committees (if they want to work with me) to deal with major health concerns in the communities in my catchment area. I will work with the Health Center Committee at my clinic to capacity build and work on more effective interventions. I will do my best to form a Community AIDS Task Force to report to the District AIDS Task Force in Nchelenge. Etc, etc, etc. I would really like to start a memory box project for people living with HIV to create a box of memories for their children after they pass away. It would be modeled after a project I heard lots about in Cape Town. I hope that people are open to it. One out of six people in Zambia is infected with HIV, but you seldom find anyone who is open about their status. I hope to make this project happen by working with the home based care unit in my village.

I would love to go on and on about this and tell you more, but I am currently spending a small fortune on this internet place. I will be having a whole ton of free time in the upcoming weeks (and perhaps years) and I'll be able to write letters to all of you.

I love you all so much. Think good thoughts for me as I am about to start the most challenging part of my time in Zambia. Don't worry, I'm going to the lake for my birthday. I'll meet Lea and maybe even Richard on the beach and have a nice birthday.

SMOOCHES!!!