Peace Corps is a unique development organization in that volunteers live in the communities they serve. Like our neighbors, our house is made of mud bricks and mortar. We poop in a hole, cook over a fire, and fetch our water like everyone else does. Living in a rural village isn't an easy adjustment, but … Continue reading 5 Essential Items in a Zambian Village
Only a small fraction of Peace Corps volunteers serve with a partner. Until recently, only those married for at least one year were accepted, but the organization opened positions for unmarried and same-sex couples. The Peace Corps' reasoning for only accepting married couples is that service can put a strain on a relationship, but I … Continue reading Serving in the Peace Corps as a Couple
Reflecting on the first 48 hours of Peace Corps, I remember a whirlwind of packing, introductions, buses, airports, and flights. Eventually, we found ourselves in a conference room in Lusaka where the medical officer gave a bottle of medicine. "Take one, pass it on". We all gulped down what I found out to be Malarone, … Continue reading Fight the Bite! Malaria Bike Tour
Peace Corps Zambia recently held a video contest for PCVs to share what life is like in their villages. I've enjoyed watching everyone's creativity and seeing how much each site varies. There is no typical day, but we tried to fit little snippets of our life here. Hope you enjoy! Be sure to check out … Continue reading Peace Corps Zambia: Day in the Life Video
When Adam and I applied to serve in the Peace Corps last year (our application timeline), we originally selected to be Environmental Education volunteers in Panama. Since we were in Australia, we couldn't take the Spanish language test to meet the requirement, so we said to place us anywhere. Two weeks later, we open the … Continue reading Peace Corps Zambia: Rural Aquaculture Promotion (RAP)
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 … Continue reading Peace Corps Zambia: Cooking in the Village
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 … Continue reading Learning a Zambian Local Language: Bemba
