Zamfantastic.

I made it to Zambia! Actually, I have been here two weeks already. But I have yet to get out and see much of the country because I have been immersed in training, training, and more training in the large capital city of Lusaka (which is really kind of just a big city)? But, it’s fine…because I love my new job! I feel incredibly lucky to have this amazing opportunity and I am also happy to be back in Africa. I’ll tell you all about what I will be doing soon enough but for now, here is a picture of the other two American volunteers that I have been training with (Jonathan and Margaret) in the JSI office in Lusaka. We will be in Lusaka for about another week before we leave for our respective posts in the provincial offices (we won’t be near each other at all but hopefully we’ll have opportunities to see each other during trainings in Lusaka, etc).

So, I have learned that I will be going to the Western Province to the town of Mongu. These are some of the things people have been telling me about Mongu:

• It’s really hot.

• When it’s not really hot, it floods. Like roads close and people get cut off from service.

• There’s a lot of sand…not just a little sand. lots of sand. One person gave me a visual of sand spilling over the top of your shoes when you walk (hopefully this was an exaggeration).

• You can get great fish in Mongu because it sits near the Zambezi River. Too bad I don’t eat fish.

• It is the major rice growing region of Zambia. Everyone tells me the “best” rice comes from Mongu. Oh, and they also grow cashews.

• I will be learning/speaking Lozi (which is somewhat similar to the Bantu language I learned in South Africa, thank goodness).

• There is a really cool African ceremony called the Kuomboka Ceremony which takes place in March/April and I’ve been told thousands of people come to the area to see the Lozi King journey from his dry-season palace to his wet-season palace via a huge wooden canoe. Sounds pretty amazing?

• I get to travel through (literally through – there are no fences or gates or anything) a game park to get to Mongu. People see lions, elephants, kudu right by or even on the road…and you don’t have to pay to do a game drive. That’s pretty amazing?! And sort of dangerous…

But, this is all informaiton that I'm just picking up from others. I will tell you about my new home when I get there. I’m looking forward to actually seeing what Mongu has to offer. I just like saying Mongu.

I don’t have an address yet but when I do, please send me letters…and packages too.  Maybe I'll send you some rice.