You'll Live as You've Never Lived Before

Let you mind start a journey through a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before, let your soul take you where you long to be…Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you will live as you have never lived before.

I found this quote, during my first week at site, on a letter given to me by Peace Corps Staff. It rang for me. Just as life rang while I walked back from a football game. As darkness settled in an almost full moon rose, a little girl (one of my favorites in the village) rides on the back of my bike as I push it towards home, I sing to the children as villagers move in mass around us. The first week at site was spent cleaning, meeting people, “scouting” on my bike (this by far being the best part), understanding a difference in the meaning of time, dancing with the women, ect. Riding my bike through elephant grass twice my height, in a landscape which holds you captive…There is always something new to discover. A termite mound, a little stream which reminds of home, a big open view that spreads before you, villages placed oh so remotely… The simplicity of this village life is full of meaningful activity. Time has definitely slowed for me, though not in that reciprocal to “time flies when you are having fun”. Rather in a way where hustle just is not necessary, for there are many things to do, but if you take your time and enjoy the moment everything is completed by the end of the day, and you feel accomplished, tired and happy. I have started a garden. The first part was to clear the grass, for it was very tall and very thick. I then started turning the soil and planting. I have replanted a mint and aloe plant, which I picked up at training. I have also planted tomatoes, sugar cane, Echinacea, red sun hemp, and Marigolds…I plant to bring in bananas, eggplant, cabbage, squash. The soil is very dark and moist. Though as things dry up I have been told it will become hard due to a lot of clay, and when the rains come it may flood. So what appears to be an Eden may soon become an earthly lot of hard work. Though I do look forward to eating homegrown veggies! The women have been teaching me to dance; in a closed dark room so as to keep the secrets hidden. Though the secrecy is a front for most men and young girls, those who are to be kept in the dark or out of it, know. Their hips flutter like birds and I have finally accepted that I just can’t shake it like they can, though I practice. Some women asked for a women’s group meeting…Women are always women…There are rivalries, laziness, exclusivity and a want for immediate satisfaction that stands in the way…It will happen when it happens. While visiting my BOMA (British Occupancy Management Area) I watched The Band's Last Waltz. In doing felt a homesickness that was refreshing. Not that I was ready to return yet, but that I began to see the forest for the trees. I also watched some BBC news and realized just how important America's spending is to the world???????? As part of the world's financial review the reporter talked of how American's are avoiding big ticket items like automobiles and tending towards discount stores like Walmart. And though Walmart's was experiencing a rise in profits they were not anticipating meeting yearly targets. With consumerism as a way of life, is the pursuit of happiness in vain? I have realized also that my desires to run to the wilderness, like Christopher McCandless or my father, represented a longing for silence and calmness. I have found this in the village; there are disturbances, but they are manageable and not overly distracting.The biggest stressors are: sickness (both humans and animals), witnessing deforestation, and dealing with a neediness felt by those that surround me. Was told the other day by a Zambian man that if a women is not married by the age of 20 there is not hope for her. Why does this bother me?