day 28: random thoughts

This first 3 months is called PST; permanent sandal (Chaco) tan. But in all reality it is really called; Pre-Service Training.

It is boot camp for us to learn how to become our inner African teachers. Everyday we might have a few hours of language and a lot of technical training.

Saturdays are half days and Sundays are our day off. I think we need a week off sometimes.

Today in learning how to become more African; I washed my clothes. I can't take all the street cred for this... my Bamaayo helped me. I couldn't have done it without her.

Last time we washed clothes we did it at the old nga'anda. I think hauling all that water two weeks ago was quite the task and so we found ourselves today washing right on the shore of the lake. Mind you, this is the same lake that while I was on my lovely afternoon stroll yesterday I saw cow udders tickling the top of the water surface amongst other things. This does not even phase Bamaayo. Off with the shoes and she is wading almost to her knees to fetch water. And that is a he-woman.

Blah. Blah. Blah. We wash clothes.
Time to haul everything back.

We have two basins now. One smaller but still pretty large full of water and a bigger now full of wet two weeks worth of laundry. It is obvious what has to happen.

I get my first lesson on how to carry water on your head. Bamako took off her chitenge and twrilled it up to put on my head. There I was; looking so African. Water on my head and everything.

Let me tell you, I never thought walking with water on my head would be easy and I was right. But being stubborn, I made it all the way home. It isn't that far. I still get brownie points.

Now all my clothes are out on the line drying their hearts out.

I shower at night here. After my sweaty ride from training it is the perfect timing. My shower is outdoors. I bring my radio and shower during the sunset. It is something else.

But there is a flaw to this plan. Every morning I wake up and my hair looks like a train wrecked lion.

You win some. You lose some.

I taught my first lesson. It had to be 30 minutes. It was on conjunctions. Would it have been bad if I had only taught the song the whole time?

I don't know if my bataata (dad) knows that my bamaayo (mom) is almost fluent in English. When he is around she only speaks Bemba and he will translate.

I need to get better at my icibusu aiming. I get little squirts of pee almost everywhere sometimes. All the volunteers are having this problem.

My data still hasn't ran out. One month on 6 dollars of data. Not feeling too shabby.

I hope I go to Central Provience for my permanent site. If I go there I will be able to attend church. I have vocalized that is where I want to be sent. Here's to hoping.

brain farts

Today we had our first language simulation. It depended on your language for what you did.

I will speak solely for my Bemba experience. There were 3 different rooms. I started out my group in the room about commands, random everyday objects and being able to describe someone. I did it all fine except when I got asked, "Multia shani toilet wa ici Bemba?" I blanked on how to say toilet! I use that word a thousand times a day. I racked my brain. Don't worry after like 30 seconds of pure struggle... I think it came out of my lips.

Room one: finished.
On to the next.

It felt like a series of embarrassing brain farts after that. I know the stuff they asked me. I study it for hours everyday but all the sudden I could barely remember my name. And that is how most of the last two interviews went. Oh well.

Here is the thing... my language teacher can vouche for me. He knows that I know.

So, it didn't go the best but in the long run, it doesn't really matter. I will get posted. I will continue to learn Bemba. It was just to see where I am at. Obviously, I am a nervous Bemba speaker. This is nothing a little time and more attention can't cure.