Something very cool happened yesterday. Mushota walked into an internet cafe yesterday and was intrigued to find a young man selling a Baha'i book in the store. She asked him about it and they got to talking, turns out he had heard about the faith and was very interested, so much so that he had intended to try and learn more about it via the internet. So she told him she was a Baha'i and invited him over to her house to talk more about the faith. So Kawawa and I are going to meet him and talk with him tomorrow morning at Mushota's. I'm very excited.
So Karen and I were talking about it tonight, and how other people around Kabwe have heard of the Faith and they are aware that there are Baha'is and it seems our presenece is becoming more and more known. And so she had an interesting observation that I noticed too, which was that it seems far more effective when Zambian Baha'is interact with thier fellow Zambian's and tell them about the Faith, show them how Baha'is are. Because when they see us foreignors, we're already foreign and somewhat strange in thier eyes, so they expect us to be something strange and different than what they're used to. But to see fellow Zambian's that they grew up with, they know their grandmothers and used to live next door to thier uncles, and see them as Baha'is then they become intigued and say 'You're a Baha'i? What is that?". Rather than to us where they would say "You're a Baha'i? Ohh ok. I'm a maize farmer". So it was noticed that the word of Baha'is in town hadn't really started to spread until Mushota and Chuungu moved to Kabwe. Its an interesting thing, and I think about how that tool can be used back home in our own communities. But we only just discussed it tonight and m thoughts haven't cooked fully yet. ^^
So I have a few more pictures that I managed to get off my laptop and onto this computer which has internet, but I can't upload them now because I suppose the connection is too poor or something. But just letting you know more pictures are coming soon. Just hang in there man!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
A generous society
I must say, Zambia has the most generous society I have ever seen. From the moment I arrived I have been receiving gifts from everything I meet. The dogs they give me slime for sleeves, holes for my shirts and dirt for my clean clothes, the ground gives me cuts for my feet, and mud for my shoes, the everything shoulder height anywhere that sticks out gives my cuts and scrapes for the shoulders, I especially love those, the mosquitoes give me malaria, the roads give me headaches, the car fumes give me nausea... but the people, they give me hospitality, the people give me lunch and conversation, the people give me comfort words, things to laugh at, they give me comfort when I'm sick, hot tea when I'm cold, movies when I'm bedridden and can't sleep, asprin for my headache, take me to the doctor, pay my expenses, buy my medicine and read stories in the night, ask me if I'm ok, if I need anything, if they can help me with anything.
The people here that I have encountered are phenomenal, extraordinary people. Of the delightest nature and of good humor, hard working, I have much to be thankful for while I'm here. Much. I only hope some of it can rub off on me.
The reason I haven't posted in so long is because I've had malaria the past few days, about a week, and have been bedridden and writhing the entire time. For those who don't know the symptoms of malaria are high fever acompanied by headache, chills, general uncomfort, aching of the muscles and joints, and above all generally no energy.
It started with no energy and headache, I found my sitting down for something and it becoming increasingly difficult to get up. Then the fever picked up and I would go lay down. After the first few days I became routine, and I would go through "episodes" throughout the day. Between episodes I was fine, felt healthy, looked healthy, even had a certain degree of energy. But when an episode would begin, it would with a slight fever, also my energy level would drop sharly and I would be stricken with fatuige. The chills would kick in, the chills were profuse. The first time I was in the office with one of the other guys who noticed I was shivered and advised I get a blanket. I did and on my return I realized my finger nails were all purple and blue and I was totally freezing. I went to bed and there I stayed for the next 7 days. After the chills a violently high fever with headache with kick in, but I was chalk full of panendo, an asprin like drug, and that took care of the headache. The fever would climb and climb until it peacked at nearly 40 degrees cel and then would be sweated out. That was more or less the end except for the aching and the discomfort, preventing and good long term sleep.
It was a rough 7 days but after two trips to the clinic and two trips to the doctor, I took the drugs and I feel fine now. Though curiously, they never actually diagnosed me with malaria, I had all the similar symptoms but the test showed negative and even now the doctor has labelled my alment as what he calls a PUO (Parasomething of unknown origine) I say parasomething because he said something that wasn't paracite but it began with para... anyway, he said he would name what it it was after me when he finds it.
The journey to health was made far less uncomfortable than it could have been by the polluck family who were so gracious in taking care of me and making me comfort drinks and keeping me company, otherwise I was cooped up in my room or my "cave" as Karen called it all the time, it was a dark warm place in which my bed was nestled neatly in the corner and I wrapped like a present in the sheets. Today even Garth drove me 12 km out to one of the only places in Kabwe you can get milkshakes and get me a chocolate large milkshake. It was just ok, but the place was a real groovy little joint, very classy. The shakes were no Prince Albert's shake but hey, 24 km plus 24 000 kwacha for 2, made my day. Needless to say I'll be starting work again tomorrow, see how it goes. Today, in the morning I was feeling sharp but shortly after breakfast I found myself right back in bed exausted for no reason. It's this that seems to worry everyone and is perplexing the doctor. There is a theory that I had a combination of two alements, malaria and what have you: typhoid, mono, even hepetitis was suggested as a possible suspect. Maybe if tomorrow goes well, we'll never find out.
But the point is I feel good now and I have the Polluck's to thank.
So, here are some picture I found in my email, its not much but its a start, and it has nothing to do with what been said in this blog. But I promised pictures so gosh darn it, pictures there shall be.
Ok, so they're all disorganized and I can't figure out how to organize them, so I'll just decribe them how they are, from left to right. So to the far left on top is a picture of Mushota, the mother of the family who was staying with us until they found a place to move to. She's very sweet and very wise, good to go to for advise. Now above is a good picture of everyone so from left to right: Mushota holding baby Chisanchi, Scotty, little head behind the chair is Kawawa, he's one of the youth serving as an administrator at Inshindo (he's 22? 24, idk), then in the chain is Ryan, then me all the way in the back, then the boy standing is Mwape, my little buddy, Mushota's son, and last the gentleman sitting there with the chicken breast in his hand is Chungu the father, and also a councilor, and also a funny chap, and also wildly brilliant. So that's that.
So down here we have a very nice picture of me teaching guitar in the sitting room to Mwape, you see I used to teach his guitar and in exchange he would teach me the local language Bemba, chawama. Then on the right is me teaching all the boys graffiti from Naysson's old graffiti book that he lent me and never got back. It was very cool, while I was away at Banani Mwape made a little sketch book and did some cool graffiti in it from the book. So when I got back as a project we all made books like Mwape's to draw graffiti in. Some day I'll get a good picture of the inside of out books.
So there you have it, four proofs that I am in fact in Africa, and not in an undergroup bunker somewhere eating snacks and drinking soda, watching movies, taking a vacation playing you all for suckers. Ah but I guy can dream can't he. Until next time. Malaria out!
Happy birthday shout out to my man my life this cat is bad, ANTHONY RODGERS! Turning 18 finally, now he can vote and reap all the other benifits of being a voter. Peace.
The people here that I have encountered are phenomenal, extraordinary people. Of the delightest nature and of good humor, hard working, I have much to be thankful for while I'm here. Much. I only hope some of it can rub off on me.
The reason I haven't posted in so long is because I've had malaria the past few days, about a week, and have been bedridden and writhing the entire time. For those who don't know the symptoms of malaria are high fever acompanied by headache, chills, general uncomfort, aching of the muscles and joints, and above all generally no energy.
It started with no energy and headache, I found my sitting down for something and it becoming increasingly difficult to get up. Then the fever picked up and I would go lay down. After the first few days I became routine, and I would go through "episodes" throughout the day. Between episodes I was fine, felt healthy, looked healthy, even had a certain degree of energy. But when an episode would begin, it would with a slight fever, also my energy level would drop sharly and I would be stricken with fatuige. The chills would kick in, the chills were profuse. The first time I was in the office with one of the other guys who noticed I was shivered and advised I get a blanket. I did and on my return I realized my finger nails were all purple and blue and I was totally freezing. I went to bed and there I stayed for the next 7 days. After the chills a violently high fever with headache with kick in, but I was chalk full of panendo, an asprin like drug, and that took care of the headache. The fever would climb and climb until it peacked at nearly 40 degrees cel and then would be sweated out. That was more or less the end except for the aching and the discomfort, preventing and good long term sleep.
It was a rough 7 days but after two trips to the clinic and two trips to the doctor, I took the drugs and I feel fine now. Though curiously, they never actually diagnosed me with malaria, I had all the similar symptoms but the test showed negative and even now the doctor has labelled my alment as what he calls a PUO (Parasomething of unknown origine) I say parasomething because he said something that wasn't paracite but it began with para... anyway, he said he would name what it it was after me when he finds it.
The journey to health was made far less uncomfortable than it could have been by the polluck family who were so gracious in taking care of me and making me comfort drinks and keeping me company, otherwise I was cooped up in my room or my "cave" as Karen called it all the time, it was a dark warm place in which my bed was nestled neatly in the corner and I wrapped like a present in the sheets. Today even Garth drove me 12 km out to one of the only places in Kabwe you can get milkshakes and get me a chocolate large milkshake. It was just ok, but the place was a real groovy little joint, very classy. The shakes were no Prince Albert's shake but hey, 24 km plus 24 000 kwacha for 2, made my day. Needless to say I'll be starting work again tomorrow, see how it goes. Today, in the morning I was feeling sharp but shortly after breakfast I found myself right back in bed exausted for no reason. It's this that seems to worry everyone and is perplexing the doctor. There is a theory that I had a combination of two alements, malaria and what have you: typhoid, mono, even hepetitis was suggested as a possible suspect. Maybe if tomorrow goes well, we'll never find out.
But the point is I feel good now and I have the Polluck's to thank.
So, here are some picture I found in my email, its not much but its a start, and it has nothing to do with what been said in this blog. But I promised pictures so gosh darn it, pictures there shall be.
Ok, so they're all disorganized and I can't figure out how to organize them, so I'll just decribe them how they are, from left to right. So to the far left on top is a picture of Mushota, the mother of the family who was staying with us until they found a place to move to. She's very sweet and very wise, good to go to for advise. Now above is a good picture of everyone so from left to right: Mushota holding baby Chisanchi, Scotty, little head behind the chair is Kawawa, he's one of the youth serving as an administrator at Inshindo (he's 22? 24, idk), then in the chain is Ryan, then me all the way in the back, then the boy standing is Mwape, my little buddy, Mushota's son, and last the gentleman sitting there with the chicken breast in his hand is Chungu the father, and also a councilor, and also a funny chap, and also wildly brilliant. So that's that.
So down here we have a very nice picture of me teaching guitar in the sitting room to Mwape, you see I used to teach his guitar and in exchange he would teach me the local language Bemba, chawama. Then on the right is me teaching all the boys graffiti from Naysson's old graffiti book that he lent me and never got back. It was very cool, while I was away at Banani Mwape made a little sketch book and did some cool graffiti in it from the book. So when I got back as a project we all made books like Mwape's to draw graffiti in. Some day I'll get a good picture of the inside of out books.
So there you have it, four proofs that I am in fact in Africa, and not in an undergroup bunker somewhere eating snacks and drinking soda, watching movies, taking a vacation playing you all for suckers. Ah but I guy can dream can't he. Until next time. Malaria out!
Happy birthday shout out to my man my life this cat is bad, ANTHONY RODGERS! Turning 18 finally, now he can vote and reap all the other benifits of being a voter. Peace.
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