THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

Muli shani bonse? “moo-lee sha-nee” = how are you?“bone-say” = everyone

I know I haven’t done this in way too long (I think that’s how all of my blog entries start, huh?), but I’m in Lusaka now and have my own computer, so I might as well get cracking on this business.

I’m in Lusaka for my Close of Service Conference this week. It is sheer madness that in less than sixteen weeks I’ll be done in the village and moving on to . . . well, that part is still up in the air – it’s the story of my life. I’m looking forward to an extension in Lusaka working with the National AIDS Council to support the coordination of all HIV & AIDS, STI, and TB efforts taking place in the province. However, it is possible that Peace Corps might not be offering me a Lusaka extension and they may send me to one of the other provincial capitols to do the same job. Should that happen, I may end my service with Peace Corps in August and exercise my right to a residence permit in Zambia by finding a job here for another one year while we wait for Blessed’s immigrant visa to the States. After all, I could stand to be making more than $8 a day. Either way, we should be coming home in the fall of 2009 as previously planned. We’re both looking forward to our arrival in the States in a big way, and wish it could happen sooner. I miss everyone so much, and B can’t wait to meet everyone.
My village life has been going pretty well, thanks to my efforts to ensure that I’ll be very busy up until – at least – mid-June. Lea and I have been making a collective effort to try to bring mobile counseling and testing services to our district for a week to test somewhere in the realm of 600 people for HIV. Our funding source changed their criteria just as we were submitting our proposal and we no longer qualify for their funding. So, we’ve been in limbo on that front for some time now. However, I think I may have found the answer to our dilemma last week. We should be finding out this week if another organization is going to help us. My house made it through the rainy season, and I am therefore going to remain in it until I leave in August. I should have taken a photo of the new one so you could all see its dilapidated state. I believe there is a tree growing up inside of it, but I can’t really get close enough to see because there is chest-high grass growing all around it. Needless to say, Peace Corps is not replacing my site with a new volunteer when I leave, which has made my work feel kind of pointless. I can’t wait for August.

The HIV testing sensitization campaign I am carrying out with the community counselors at my clinic should be keeping me busy up until my family comes for yet another vacation on the African continent. Yes, my parents, Annette, Tia and Tad are coming for a vacation in Zanzibar (an island off the coast of Tanzania). They’re (*nuts*) INCREDIBLE! I can’t believe they scheduled this vacation so that Blessed and I could be part of Bennett Family Vacation 2008. I have wanted to go to Zanzibar since the time I lived in Cape Town. Zanzibar is paradise – with the added bonus of enough history to keep Mark Bennett happy and sane! I’m really looking forward to slathering mass amounts of SPF 75 on myself while reading, walking, exploring, and having massages on the beach. After a few days of that I’m looking forward to venturing out on the rest of the island to tour the spice plantations, take the slave tour, eat fresh cashews and pineapples, have a pair of shoes made, eat tons of really fresh shellfish, go to some museums, and maybe go back to the beach.

As if Tanzania weren’t vacation enough, my parents, Annette, Blessed and I will return to Lusaka for a couple of days before taking off on a 4-day, 5-night canoe safari in the Lower Zambezi National Park. I’m really looking forward to visiting this part of Zambia, since I have not yet been. It is generally very hot there, but we’ll be visiting in the cold season – I’m no meteorologist or anything, but I’m sure that means it will be perfect! Yes, we will take ample photos for your enjoyment. Upon our return to Lusaka we’ll spend some time just enjoying each other’s company before they return to the States. It will be another great opportunity for son-in-law/parents-in-law bonding – as if they need it, they’re all nuts about each other already. I’m really excited for Blessed. Just last week he and his friend Vundukai were given funding for a youth empowerment/HIV prevention/mobile VCT project they have been planning for several months. I’m so proud of B. He is working so hard. They should be commencing the training of twenty peer educators sometime next month. This month is all about making letterhead, opening the bank account (which takes a ridiculously long time), and registering the organization; all this while he continues his coursework for his diploma in Education. He’s a pretty busy guy right now, which unfortunately means he won’t be spending much time with me in the village in the next sixteen weeks. That will be hard. I can’t wait to move to Lusaka, where we can finally share something more like a home than my mud hut in Kanyembo.

I’m really eager to hear about what is going on “that side.” I made Barack Obama cookies (dark, milk, and white chocolate) in honor of the Pennsylvania Primary, but I suppose it didn’t do the trick. Anyway, they were delicious and I’m thinking if the people of Pennsylvania had only tasted them . . .

PORCIA -- Blessed and I congratulate you SANA (very much) on Jordan’s healthy birth. We expect photos when they become available. I remember when Jessica and I came to visit you in the nursery at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, OMG I feel OLD!

I did have the pleasure of hearing Avery’s (my marvelous year and a half old niece) “diarrhea” song this week. Thank God for cellular phone technology! Other than that, I’m feeling a little bit out of touch. Maybe a trip to the movies would help, Blessed and I plan on seeing Vantage Point tonight. I’m pretty excited, even though I have no clue what it’s about.

Well, I miss you all so much and I send all my love and lots of hugs. Be well, keep me informed and updated about your lives (now I can’t say I haven’t done the same). TAG! YOU’RE IT!

Hugs n’ smooches,

LIBs