Just a quick update today. I'm writing a project proposal that I have to finish today before I go back to site tomorrow morning.

Butticles and such...

We had our WASHE workshop (Water And Sanitation Health Education). It was a huge success!! It was scheduled to last for 6 days, but we had to extend it to a full week in order to finish the toilet we were building as one of our practicles. The participants completed 3 days of theory where they studied various water and sanitation practices, as well as the protection of wells, and the building of toilets and spring boxes. Then we had 4 days of practical work in the field where we were able to do hands on work protecting a well in the community, as well as building a toilet and a spring box. In the morning before going out into the field, we all did a bit of yoga (which everyone loved)! Libby took some great snaps, so when I have a chance I'll post them. Since there were people to facilitate the sessions I spent a majority of my time helping in the kitchen, preparing breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 tea breaks. Part of helping in the kitchen was clearly preparing food, during which time, I slaughtered countless chickens and even a goat!!! I know, I know... last year I wouldn't have even considered doing such a thing. The knife was so dull, I could have done a much better job with a spoon!! But it was a good cultural experience. Needless to say, I didn't eat goat, or anyother meat for the rest of the week... I still haven't gotten to the point where I can see my dinner wandering around the yard, and eat it a few hours later when it appears on my plate! Libby came over for the last few days to help with the workshop, and she was a huge help. I couldn't have finished the workshop without her.
So now, I'll explain "butticles". When we were preparing chickens, not only did I slaughter them, but I also learned how to pluck them and prepare them... which includes taking the insides out. Ba Mavis (a traditional birth attendant in the community) was teaching me how to gut the chicken, and when we came to cutting off the rear-end, she promptly said "and Ba Lea, now we cut off the butticles, because we don't eat that part". So as I'm looking at this poor chickens rear-end I said "oh yes, the butticles, that must be a very techinal term" to which Ba Mavis replied, very seriously, "yes, it is a very techinal term, it's a medical term". I thought it was pretty funny, I mean, clearly... butticles seems to be a very techinal term to me!!

Back in the Saddle Again...

So i'm readjusting to village life after quite some time out of the village. After the cholera outbreak, I was in the village for the WASHE workshop, then shortly after, it was back to Mansa again, but this time for Raven's going away party. I went back to site for a few days, then left for Libby's wedding and Egypt. The day after I came back, I hosted a 2nd site visit for the new HAP volunteers coming to Luapula. Now I'm back in Mansa again to finish one project proposal and write another. This time, we are organizing an HIV/AIDS workshop for Traditional Birth Attendants, Community Health Workers, Community Counselors and Traditional Healers. It's another week long workshop, so the community and I will be quite busy for the next couple of months organizing this.

The roof on my house was finally put back on, after over a month of having no roof (luckly I was gone for 3 weeks of it). It had to be replaced because the termites had eaten through the grass. It wasn't as bad as it sounds. At least it wasn't rainy season, and sleeping in a tent on my bed WAS a bit of an adventure.

Mutomboko Festival...

At the end of July, a bunch of us went to the Mutomboko Festival in Kazembe. Its an celebreation of the battle victories of the Lunda people in Luapula. It was quite an interesting day. In the morning, everyone (and I mean literally everyone) gathers around the gates of the Paramount Chief (the Chief to all the Lunda people, and other Lunda Chief's) to await his exit from the palace walls. When he finally comes out, there are drums so loud that you can feel the beats rumbling through your body, and gun shots from old guns which have to be loaded from the top. He comes out to pray to his ancestors by a tree with bones surrounding it. After that he makes his way to the river to make offerings to 2 brothers who drowned in the river. It is practically a stampeed of people all russhing to witness the Mwata (meaning chief) make his offerings in the river. In the afternoon, there is a ceramony at the "stadium" in Kazembe, where all the Chiefs come out and dance. There are offerings to the Mwata and the Vice President of Zambia even came and gave a speech. When the Mwata makes his entrance, again the beating of the drums, and he is carried in sitting on a wooden chair (which he will also be burried in after he dies) by several others. He is dancing in his chair, and also beating a drum of his own. It was spectacular!! I have some pictures which I will post when I get a chance. But we stayed with a missionary family during the ceremony, and Tom (the father) has made a website fully explaining Mutomboko, and all the symbolism which makes the ceremony. He also has AMAZING pictures there for you to see. The website is www.mutomboko.org I hope you enjoy it. I haven't actually seen it, but if it's half as good as his pictures I've seen, it will be fantastic.

I hope everyone is well. I miss you all.