In Zambia

So we did our training in DC. Then slept for a night in South Africa. Our hotel was pretty much like we were in the US ;) Now we are in Lusaka for training. Rob an I found out that we will be in Eastern Province in Zambia. Eastern is by Malawi and Mozambique so hopefully we will be able to visit them at some point. Mayb you can visi and we can travel together ;) We are in the South part of Eastern, about 5 hours drive from Lusaka, the capital. We will be speaking Nyanje (sp?). Our training as of yet has been good. We are in a training group with about 40 other Peace Corps Volunteers and they are great. We are the only married couple, but they all seem to like us anyway ;) Tomorrow we will be going to the Northwest Province to to a site visit for a week.It is cool because it' a different part of the country. Also there is a maried couple there, the only other couple in Zambia, so it will be good to her how their experience is in Zambia. Lusaka as we have seen it so far is good. We are at a mallish area today to get stuff for our site visit. Very deveoped, most of the time it does not seem like we are in Zambia, since we are with American all the time. But it's good. We went to the Peace Corps Zambia headquarters in Lusaka it's very nice. We also got more shots, I will be sooo set with immunizations for the rest of my life ;) Our training site for the next two months has electicity and cold water from 6am-8pm, pretty sweet! So far the wildlife I've seen are toads, mosquitoes, and catepillars, saty tuned ;) So that's all for now. We are good and safe and healthy. We heard that to get cheap calling cards to Zambia you should go on www.callingcardsplus.com. We are supposed to get a cell phone today so I wil post my number shortly hopefully. Love you

More info

Starting the 3rd of February going until the end of March, I will be around a cell phone on Thursdays. So if you want to give me a holler, you can call 011-260-97-210-831 or 01126097-210832. This phone will only be accessible to me during 8am-5pm Zambia time. Zambia time is 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. I hope to hear from you if possible. I also look forward to emails and letters. I will miss you greatly!!

nerve racking

So. . . I am excited about Peace Corps, Zambia, and everything. But it's the final crunch time right before we leave, and I have to say this stuff is stressful. You know, trying to get all your financial stuff straightened out so you might leave for two years involves a crazy amount of paper work and frustration. Packing all your belongings to be put away for two years is a bit daunting. Deciding what is needed in a place that you have never been is an interesting endeavor. Not to mention, trying to get a hold of all your loved ones and chat before you go away is just plain sad and depressing :( I will miss you guys!!! Please write. Nevertheless, we will survive this part, and hopefully it will make us appreciate this experience even more ;)

How to Visit Us ;)

To get to Zambia from the US:
African carriers flying to the capital include Air Zimbabwe, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways and South African Airways. Lusaka Airport is 20km (12mi) east of the centre. South African budget airlines fly to Livingstone and Lusaka from Johannesburg - Nationwide has the most flights.

To get to Zambia from neighboring African countries:

*From Malawi, the main crossing point is east of Chipata, on the main road between Lusaka and Lilongwe.
*The only crossing point between Zambia and Botswana is the ferry across the Zambezi River at Kazungula, about 60km (37mi) west of Victoria Falls, though there are plans to build a bridge here.
*From Namibia, buses run from Windhoek to the Namibian outpost town of Katima Mulilo. From here you can cross the border into Zambia, go over the Zambezi on a ferry, then go via Sesheke to Livingstone. An easier option from Katima Mulilo is the bus, which runs through Botswana to Victoria Falls in Zimbawe, from where you can easily cross the border to Zambia.

More Travel info about Zambia can be found at: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/letters/afr/zam_pc.htm

Recent understandings

So, I'm getting all ready for the move. It's crazy exciting! But I also have the feeling like I really won't feel it's truly real until, oh a couple months into being in Zambia. I mean then maybe I will really understand that I am living in Zambia. So, I have been trying to connect with people that have lived there to see what I should expect ie what to bring, if I should try and connect with NGOs now, etc. I have been told that the most common desires when living in Zambia are as follows:
Crystal Light (to flavor the water)
Soup mixes (to flavor the constant cassava meal)
Batteries (to energize flashlights/headlamps, since we probably won't have eletricity)
Books (to entertain, since no TV/movies, etc)
So if any of you feel so sweetly inclined to throw a package my way while we are gone, these things would be greatly appreciated :)
Also, your presence would be the best package ;) I hear Victoria Falls in Zambia is 1 of the 10 natural wonders of the world! Also, there are photo safaris. Plus, you have a window of 2 years to come visit. So come visit! We will love to see you!!! But, regardless of your ability to come visit, I will love to visit with you through letters and blog posts. I will hopefully talk to you soon before I go.