General Update (in small snippets)

There has been so many times when I want to update my facebook status but either the power was off, I couldn't be bothered to sign in with all the random letter and numbers to connect to the internet for just a facebook update (example of a used up one: login: iSp_m7crauw  password: vndysr), or it's been too hot to move!  LOL!

So - here's some updates from life in November, facebook style....

*Had my first "workshop" at a school - working together with the head teacher (principal) to set a school goal.  The goal was to have students reading!  (20% was the guess they had for number of Grade 3 students that could read at the Grade 3 level - independently).

*Our "wild" dog, Cookie, hurt her paw.  Andrew thinks she broke her foot.  Our gardener, Lwiindi, thinks she was outside our gate and someone threw rocks at her.  (Which is what people do when there is a wild dog and they are scared).  She hasn't eaten for days.  Today is the first day I've seen her since it happened (on Monday). 

*Cobras are starting to come out.  A couple friends have seen them.  The rains have come.  Which has brought the frogs out.  And I guess the snakes follow the frogs.  Luckily I have yet to see any kind of snake.  I'm sure it's a matter of time.  Praying my kids never see a live one! They'd have no idea what to do!

*Andrew built a one rope "swing."  Did you see the photos of our gardener Lwiindi in the tree helping put it up?   If not, here's the picture.  Kate's been enjoying the swing a bit, especially the first few days.

Lwiindi

Lwiindi up our tall tall tree! 

*We hired house help finally.  Her name is Memory.  I always want to break out into the Cats Broadway song when I see her around.  I have refrained so far.   It is a bit awkward having someone else do my housework and laundry.  I think I'm going to get used to it though! 

*I visited the last two schools that I'll be working with.  I have finally been to all of the schools at least once.  The last two took some good bush driving. :)  I even saw a motorcycle with a sidecar attached AND it ended up being an ambulance!

*I saw the Choma fire truck (Tuesday)!

*I am getting much more comfortable pulling out of the downtown parking area.  (If you didn't know - it's also the Lusaka - Livingstone highway).  Sort of nerve wracking backing out in front of transport semis (or lorries as they are called here!)

*We'll be going up to Lusaka after Christmas - to do some work (mostly MCC meetings with the country reps) and for a little R&R at an MCC retreat.  Looking forward to it - it will be at http://www.nsobegamecamp.com/   Look it up if you want.  I haven't yet - but it sounds great from what I've heard

*Memory lifted up a CD case today to clean and a lizard scared us both!  (A large skink).  She managed to sweep it out of the house with the broom.

*I haven't carried anymore watermelons back from town lately. :)

*We have cucumber plants and watermelon plants coming up in our garden.  Thanks to Lwiindi.  (The kids and I helped plant... he was gracious and patient enough to let us help with that!)  

*I enjoy tea on the porch almost every morning at 10am (not Sunday mornings or when I'm out working).  It's a good tradition.  Even when it's almost 30C outside!  I have been sampling the variety of biscuits (cookies) that can be found in the grocery store.  There are some good ones and some not very good ones.  Bread is usually served as well.

*The power has been rather unreliable since the rains have started.  In Nigeria the power company was called NEPA and we pretended it was short for "Never Expect Power Again."  We're trying to figure out something witty for the power company here: ZESCO.  Let me know any ideas!  (The best I've come up with is:  Zilch Electrical Supply Continually On).

*People come to our gate asking for help (or more usually a job) all the time.  Today I determined that I'd try to help as much as I can (I have no jobs available though).  This came about because a man came and asked about getting fare back to Monze (a town less than 2 hours from here).  Then he asked for 2 kwacha (about 50cents) to buy "relish" (sauce) to go with his mealie meal (that he held up to me - uncooked).  I told him I (actually Memory really) was making beans and to come back at 13 hrs if he wanted some.  I thought I'd not see him again unless he was truly hungry.  He was back at 13 on the dot (very unusual for African time!)  I was very African because I had to tell him the beans were not ready and to come back at 14 hours.  (They still were not ready!)  However, Andrew is home between 13 and 14 hours (1:00 - 2:00 pm) for lunch.  We ended up getting him and the gardener, Lwiindi, to walk the man to the bus station and pay the driver for his seat.  (I sent along cold left overs since the beans still were not done!)  $6 for a bus ticket.  I keep remember to "store up my treasures in heaven."  I feel like I don't have much.  We are volunteers.  We don't make money.  Etc. But the reality is that what I get for my PDA (personal drawing account) is more than people who work full time here get.  A lot more actually.  And my needs - housing, food, etc. are taken care of.  PDA is purely just extra spending money really.

*Memory looked at a photo album today and saw a picture of me as a bridesmaid (Stacey and Jeff's wedding).  She pointed to my sleeveless arms and said "Oh - you were very fat!"   LOL!  A huge complement here in Zambia.  Though I did lose weight just for that wedding!  Makes me think....  Zambian people think fat is beautiful - because most of them are skinny.  Westerners think skinny is beautiful... because most of us are fat?  And I guess neither of us appreciates the beauty of the reality.  I figure I'm going to work on getting fat here.  And when I get back to Canada I can work at getting thin again - maybe after a couple years of enjoying the things that can easily make me fat in Canada that I miss here.  ;) 

*I'm a bit nervous as there is a new Zambian Syllabi (Curriculum) coming out for next year.  I hear that instead of just Grade 1 in ChiTonga - it's going to be up to Grade 4.  That will make my job a bit more challenging!  (And more motivating to learn ChiTonga!)

*Kate changed her mind about wanting to go to school today.  Home-schooling is hard enough and I told her real school was harder!  (She didn't want to do the two simple tasks I wanted her to do today). I've ruled out the one school but then discovered another private school across town.  I don't really want to get up early though.... schools here start around 7:30am.

*I still remember how to make white glue out of flour and water.  Only one of Kate's beans fell off her bean art.  (We're eating beans for supper tonight!)

*Time is flying.  I can't believe it's November 21st already!  It's been so hot it hasn't felt like the fall season - or almost Christmas!  I guess I can put up our tree soon (December 1st is the soonest Andrew will let me!)  We got a small fake tree in Lusaka - complements of other MCCers who are heading back to the USA.  

*Today I was cold.  There was a good rain today.  I *almost* put on a light sweater.  I think it just feels cold because it's been so hot (best guess low 30s C). I think I'm going to freeze during cold season here!  (May / June I believe - it gets down to 5C at night I hear... but warmer during the day at least!)  No heat in the house!

*Somebody came to tell Andrew his work visa was ready to be picked up at immigration (mine too maybe?)  I think they are getting better as some previous 3 year MCCers never even got theirs before they left!  Our original receipt is in Lusaka - so it will have to wait for a bit!

*I've started to meet with a friend, Dorothy, from Ft. St. John, B.C. on Friday mornings at Wonderbake for coffee (and whatever baked goodie is freshest).  Almost feels like "home."  It sure is nice to chat with her.  She's married to a Zambian and has lived here for 12 years. (??)  She has a 1 year old son.  They are supposed to go on home leave to Canada before Christmas for 6 months.  I'll miss her!  (But my friend Julie will be back so hopefully the coffee dates can continue!)

*Kate said today, "Mommy, you're the best spider snapper ever!"  (As I killed yet another spider with the fly swatter).

*I think that's enough "updates" for now!  Please do feel free to "like" them and comment (below or through e-mail)!   :)