Peace Corps Zambia: Cooking in the Village

I would normally list "cooking" as a hobby of mine, but during the first few weeks of community entry, it was a burden just to whip up some kind of nourishment. Initially, it took me up to two hours to get the brazier going plus another two hours to cook, eat, and clean. So, eating …

First Month in the Village: Community Entry

After swearing in as official volunteers, we moved into the village and started Community Entry, a two to three-month period dedicated to integrating into the community. During this period, leaving our site is prohibited other than going to the nearest town for food (about a 30km bike ride for us) and required Peace Corps business. …

A Bemba Funeral in Zambia

During pre-service training, we learned about some important customs in Zambia such as funerals, marriage, headmen/chiefs, etc, to prepare us for life here. With 72 tribes living harmoniously in one nation, the customs vary wildly - not only between tribes, but within villages. So my limited experience attending two funerals in Northern Province cannot be …

Peace Corps Zambia – Moving into the Village

After the swear-in ceremony, Lusaka shopping, and late-night celebrations, 72 new PCVs parted ways for their respective provinces. Twenty three Northern and Muchinga volunteers squished into three cruisers for a 12-hour journey to the provincial house in Kasama. It wasn't the most comfortable journey, but we eventually made it. The provincial house is a resource …

Officially Peace Corps Volunteers: Swear-in Ceremony

*I've tried several times to upload photos, but don't think it's going to be possible here in the village! On May 3, 2018, the Peace Corps family received 72 new volunteers. For the first 11 weeks in country, we technically were Peace Corps Trainees. It was not until we took an oath at the swear-in …

Peace Corps Zambia: Culture Day & the Last Day of Training

Eleven weeks of non-stop sessions, learning, practicals, tests, integration, travel... pre-service training is over! On the last day, the trainees and trainers put together a final celebration to conclude the three months of hard work (and sometimes not so hard work). We each were allowed to invite two members of our host family, so Adam …

Learning a Zambian Local Language: Bemba

Peace Corps volunteers are required to speak the local language of the community and conduct work in that language. Some posts have a language requirement, such as Spanish or French, but Zambia did not. Even though English is the official language of Zambia, over 70 local languages are spoken throughout the country. The 200-something Peace …