A Morning in the Marketplace

We drove to Choma today to see the town and stores. There were people everywhere in every direction we looked. And in every direction that we looked, there was at least two or more people looking back at us with curiosity. I was in a group of five along with an instructor, so I was not alone as I walked through the crowded streets. The non-verbal communication was that of smiles and nods. Our instructor told us that if the people look at you and are not smiling, it is because they are trying to understand what mood you are in. But, if you smile back at them when they look at you, they will return the smile. Which is what we did and we were met with a gleam of shining pearly whites.

There was the main road that was sometimes paved, but most of the time it was dirt, and then there were little 'alleyways' where three or four people could fit across it shoulder-to-shoulder. But, these little alleyways were crowded enough that you had to twist sideways to avoid people.

There was so many products being sold in the marketplace. All types of fishes, some that looked like minows and others that looked like salmon and bluegill. I do not know any of their real names, though. But there was a lot of those little minow-like fishes everywhere. They are as dry and flat as potatoe chips. There was also fabrics to make chetinge's, bags, and clothing from. Necklaces, bracelets, shoes, groceries. Anything you can think of they had. They even had a place where they exchanged flat tires or fixed flat tires for vehicles. And a car wash (there were three cars underneath a straw roof held up by carved limbs of wood and people washing them with rags and soap).

Interesting thing about cell-phones: my instructor told us that Zambians use cell-phones, but normally do not talk on them; they text. There were little stalls all over the streets where people could plug in their cell-phones to charge them because a lot of people do not have chargers, just the cell-phone.

Many people we passed shouted, "Magua! Magua!" as a greeting and was said excitedly as we passed by, and people would smile back at us when we smiled at them. Even when they were straight-faced and we smiled at them first, their face and eyes would just light up with their smile.

There is no such thing as Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, or any of the fast food restaurants that we are used to in the U.S. The Wal-Mart's name is called Spar, and there are a lot of little restaurants. It was a great experience. It helped to be in a group of five other people because it helped make me more confident and less self-concious. Overall, think hot and breezy with no humidity, and people walking, standing, and driving all around you. A busy place, the market place!

Sunday Service

Church service at Mochipapa church was very unique and amazing. First there was a Sunday School that started at 9 or so talking about the Love of God and what it means to love someone else in return. They used 1 Corinthians 1:1-7. That was for the first part of the hour. Once it hit 10 or around 10, more people started to come in and the church service started.

The sermon was about communion in the church and what significant link it has to Christ’s blood and body that he shed for us. He used the last supper passage in Luke 22:17-20, as well as other passages I cannot remember, but saying the same thing. Prof. Leslie said that today’s communion was the first communion the church has had. I hope that it will still be a very sacred event even when it becomes more common for them to do, as it has in other churches. Next week they will be having a baptism, which I am excited about!

The singing was amazing! I kept thinking to myself how they sound so good without any lessons. God gave them amazing and harmonizing voices! And they sing out, they are not shy to use their voices to praise God and ‘Jesu’ – Jesus. There was very little ‘dancing’ as you might say, they did sway a little, and one of the songs says “higher higher higher, lift Jesus higher, lower lower lower…. Come and see what Jesus has done” and they all put their hands in the air and flashed their fingers to the beat.

At the end of the church service, the Zambians made a line outside of the church to shake everyone’s hands that came out of the church. They shake with the right hand and you go down the line to shake EVERYONE’s hand. It was fun to shake them individually. Then, when you got to the end of the line, you would turn and join the line to shake the oncoming people’s hands. A lot of little kids grabbed my hand to shake it. One little boy wanted to take my hair tie that was on my wrist. He didn’t take it the first time, but the second time (after everyone was done shaking hands) he ran up to me, said something in Tonga real excitedly and snapped that hair tie off my wrist and put it on his and ran off. He did the same thing to another girl in my group. So, now there is a little boy out there with an orange hair tie on his wrist that he got from a magua (white person). Later on, the little boy who had my hair-tie around his wrist came up and grabbed my hand, and another little boy came and grabbed my other hand as well and walked the road with us until we came to the corner to the main road. It was interesting, the boy who took my left hand I think was trying to tell me to stand aside for the car that was coming, but I was trying to tell him that my group was ahead of me. So, I stayed behind and waited for the car to pass. I then, had to get going, but didn’t know how to say good bye, so I just left. I am ridiculous. Goodbye, I learned, was “Mbubo” so, next time I will need to tell them “Mbubo!” instead of just leaving them awkwardly.

God is working and I am so glad that he is also in Africa and not just in one spot on the globe. But, that he is everywhere and in everything. The Zambian people are also very sincere and envelope themselves into the service and worship. There was a time when they could pray out loud, and the voices just over-spilled in that little church. Altogether a great Sunday experience as a guest in a Zambian church!

First few hours in Choma, Zambia

I am finally in Choma, Zambia!! The internet is very slow with about 10 people using it at the same time. Patience is a virtue. The guest house is very nice and roomy. I like the tiger rug that is hanging on the wall in the living/dining area. Good news – all my luggage arrived safely, no flat tires on the 2 hour stretch of dirt road, no lost passports or money, and nothing stolen (that I know of). Altogether an enjoyable flight. I especially liked the international plane ride, a 15 hour flight, but I could watch a lot of movies and TV episodes to my heart’s desire. I ended up watching 17 Again, Fighting, and parts of Australia, and Star Trek as well as listening to Taylor Swift. It was fun. The only part that wasn’t fun was the leg cramps, but that passed.

the leg cramps, but that passed.

While going through the road that led to Zimba from Livingstone, Zambia, we saw a lot of people walking on or next to the road. There were a few cows wondering around, and some were being herded by their masters. When we passed little kids, they would wave and smile at us, very excited to see us. There was one small group of guys traveling who whistled at us and blew kisses. And, of course, we gave them no encouragement and just lost eye contact.

I had my first taste of Nshima tonight – the finely ground up corn that is tasteless. We were trying to compare it to something, and thought that it looked like play-dough. Kindof. More like drying mashed potatoes. The chicken was amazing and there was also salad and cooked green beans. They told us that, ceremonially, they wash their hands right before getting their food and right after. Which is understandable, considering your hands can get easily dirty and, after eating Nshima (which is sticky) you want to wash your hands again. Also, it was kindof hard for me, believe it or not, to leave that little bit of food on my plate out of politeness. I have been taught to eat my food and clean my plate, which I normally do. However, it is polite to leave a little bit of food here to show the cooks that you are full and satisfied. But, if you’re plate is clean, that means that you want or need more. But, I dutifully left a little chicken and salad to fulfill this custom.

Now it’s off to church in the morning! And getting introduced to a lot of people!

I think that I need to pick a different internet time… or just check my e-mail for about an hour at a time. And fuses have been blown – two so far. Ah, well J.

Last Day of Waiting

We are all excited to start our adventure. I am quite tired, but seeing friends and getting fun updates and visit time has been my lasting energy - like charging my 'battery' power. I was afraid that I wasn't going to visit everybody that I wanted to... and found out that I couldn't :(. If there was anyone I missed, which I know there were, I am sorry that I couldn't come see you :( but know that I will seeeeee you when I come back!! Definitely!

I had more meeting today from 8 to about 4:50. It was interesting to hear about Zambian culture and what to expect. There was a lot of information given, which I feel pretty overwhelmed to recite back, but one of the things that I do remember is the handshakes that is custom in Zambia. Also a few phrases: Muli buti (How are you?) Twalumba kapati (Thank you very much), and Kabotu (good). There are other phrases that I cannot remember due to brain energy depletion, but I will try to post them later.

I have also been informed that I may not be able to upload pictures due to how much it will cost because of slow internet and another factor concerning voltage or whatever it is that makes the the power of the signal or something. SO, I will try to describe it, or I'll just show whoever wants pictures later, and upload the pictures later on this blog when I get back. But, know that I WILL be using my camera :)

Here's a picture of our group (I am in green touching the globe on the right).

Right now I am downloading a whole bunch of e-mails for the history class I am taking. It will be two hours for two weeks with an average of 40 pages a night. Sounds intense... but I'll survive, I am sure of it. And then, to bed! The bus pulls out at 9:15 am tomorrow morning!

And the correct plural for syllabus is syllabi, thank you Katie :)

One more day ahead!

I am sitting in the Shattuck study lounge, thinking to myself how I don't have any academic responsibilities as of yet. I have no subjects to study, and quite a few of us in my group think it's weird not being in class like everyone else on campus.

However, we did have meetings from 8 am to 5:30 pm (with breaks, of course), and I am feeling quite accomplished with it all. I got all my syllabuses... or however you spell it, and met my Topics of History teacher. The history class will be in session for two weeks, two hours a day (Monday through Friday). I am actually excited about reading the novels that she has assigned, due to the fact that they are about Zambian and African history.

Also, today we learned about team building and leadership, insurance, and how not to be an easy target for people who would take advantage of the touristy-look that we will probably have. I thought it was interesting to know that when people want your money or your luggage while in the airport, thieves can travel in groups so that one can distract while the other grabs the goods. One story in particular that they talked about was when there is a wallet on the ground and a passerby picks it up, not to claim it but to see who it belongs to, the thief will come and demand to be paid the money that the passerby 'stole' out of the wallet. Clever. The passerby can't prove that he didn't take the 200 dollars that was supposedly in the wallet, even though the passerby didn't even open it, and therefore has to shell out the 200 from his own wallet unless he wants trouble. Lesson learned: leave lonely wallets alone in airports and let the security pick it up. And don't get distracted. Not that I am paranoid or anything, but it's better to be cautious than carefree.

All the information was a bit overwhelming now to think back on it. I recieved four syllabuses in about ten seconds. Whew!

More meetings tomorrow - same time same place. New set of information. Can't wait!!

I still have to make a few visits to some of my friends, so I had better get at it!

One more week

I arrived savely in Indiana, but not without some car trouble, as is a Sloan tradition. Our car leaks oil, so we had to check it every time we stopped for gas. I think it downed about three quarts altogether, which is a great improvement since the car 'got fixed'.

About 5 hours and 48 minutes (according to the Tom Tom) from our destination point (my grandparents' house), there was a strange sort of subtle jerking. I was going about 70-75 miles an hour. We stopped at a gas station (it was 2 or 3 in the morning) and called my dad. We checked the transmition oil, which was fine. We kept the air conditioning and the defrost off, due to the thought that the engine switching on the air conditioning may have caused the small jolting. However, this seemed to be unrelated because we put the air conditioning on in the day time and nothing happened - no jerking.

So, the jerking motion is a mystery. It stopped after another gas station break, while going only up to 60-65 mph. At one point in the trip, we were thinking about spending the rest of the night somewhere, and engine/car trouble seems to be more threatening at night when there is no one open than in the day. So, mom and I prayed that we would get here in one piece and that the car would behave enough for us to get here. I am so glad God answered our prayers and yours who prayed for a safe trip for us! It amazes me when he answers prayer when you are in the midst of the tough times!

So, we are now safe and settled at my Grandma's house with a four hour power nap behind me. Still tired, though!

Shopping for the rest of my school supplies tomorrow and hanging out with family! Yay!

Off to Indiana!!

I now have everything packed and ready to go! I’ve got my bug spray, Malaria pills, hat/bandana, and all other items I will need for my journeying in Africa. All the stuff I need for second semester is packed as well, which means that I’ll have to repack some things for the plane ride, but that probably won’t take very long. Right now, I am excited just to leave for Indiana. It will take about 22 hours to get to my

Grandparents’ house. Mom and I plan on driv

ing straight through in my brother’s ‘boat’ or Grande Marquis. As a prayer request, please pray for a safe trip for us. Can’t wait to see family. Can’t wait to see friends. Anyone who feels like calling, feel free to do so ANYTIME, even in the night – I guarantee you one of us will be up. We would love to chat with you J. I am also learning a little lesson due to this time before I go to another country: Take one day at a time, and never mind about the other days until they come – at least when it comes to waiting for them to get here. I am driving first. Yay! First stop: Rapid City.

Farewell, Montana sunsets – at least for a while!

See all you Indianan's soon!