This is NOT Goodbye

Time flies when you are having fun...i have been through a lot in my last four months in Africa. I have met so many wonderful people in both Kenya and Zambia. However my time here has come to an end well at least for now. I leave for Canada in 2 days and i am very excited to be going home. However, after being amongst my people i feel as though i am leaving a home as well. I am having mixed feelings about going home but i know that i will return soon to Zambia. Is it possible to be sad and happy at the same time?? Well i think i am proving that now as that is how i am feeling.

On my last day in Kabwe, the team from one of the HBC's sang me a farewell song in Bemba and gave me a Bemba name. My name is Subilo which means Hope, they said that they believe i am their hope and that i will not allow the world to forget about Zambia and its stuggles. I am not one who wants to be given such a task but i feel as though that is one of my reasons for coming to Zambia. After witnessing the things i have, how can i forget, anyone with a heart should never forget.

I will speak to those i will see when i get home to express myself, as i have seen so much and have experienced so much it is hard for me to put it into words. This is the end of my blog until i start it again in February 2009 when i am coming back to Zambia to continue with capacity building in gender analysis and proposal writing.

Ryan=)

FYI

I have been sick for the last three days I think I caught a bug from one of the kids here in Zambia…I am doing better now but I have lost a bit of weight. However, now I am eating and have more energy. It has been frustrating because I am usually an energetic person who is always on the go, so it was hard to be still and stay in one place for a long period time. I have been getting quite a bit of work done here in the last month; it has been exciting, challenging and interesting working with the local people and with the different CBO’s (Community Based Organizations). I visited another mobile clinic in a different part of Kabwe, Zambia…here I met a cute boy named Andre…. he is in the picture with me, he was the cutest little boy I have seen since I have been in Zambia, and he was so friendly and sat on my lap and loved to smile in pictures. No matter what hardships I am facing I love Africa and I think that everyone should at least visit this blessed Nation at least once in their lives. I have been privileged to be amongst such wonderful, humble and spiritual people, they are actually changing me more than I think I am changing them.

I also went to an African wedding last weekend, it was so good, a lot of dancing and singing and beautiful colourful traditional gowns…I have some videos of it on my camera I will be sure to show them once I arrive home. I have never been to anything like it in all my life. Weddings in Zambia cannot be compared to the weddings in our western culture, they are much more exciting…he he he!!!!

I have also met some wonderful friends, I have another mother here in Zambia her name is Loveness and a grandmother named Mary…they are awesome ladies who have taken care of me when I visit their projects and I will be having a traditional meal at their homes before I leave for Canada… which is in less than 40 days!!!!!!

Ryan=)

Updates

So i have been in Africa for just under 3 months. I can't beleive how fast time is going by. I am really enjoying my time here, i am meeting new friends both Zambian and American. I have plans to go to Livingstone (where Victoria Falls is located- one of the seven wonders of the world, and white water rafting) in November with a friend of mine, that should be fun.

Lesson Learned
- Through my time here i have discovered that Zambian do not value time, they value relationships, so sometimes meetings would go on for such a long time, where in Canada the meeting would of been done in like 3o minutes. In a way this is a blessing because if forces me to focus on the people rather than the work. This has proven to be helpful when i am trying to get information from the patients so that i am able to collect data. They open up to me once we have a conversation about thier family and thier personal lives.

I have only learned 3 greeting phrases in Bemba and i sound absolutely ridiculous saying them out loud, but it is neccessary becauseit is good manners to greet and shake hands with everyone you meet (thank God for hand sanitizer) I feel as though when i come home i will be shaking everybody's hand that i meet...he he he!!!

I know the town very well now and it is becoming like a little home for me, but don't get wrong i miss my home a great deal and the countdown is going to when i will arrive back into Canada...even though it will be bloody cold when i arrive in December.

Please continue to pray for me as i go through the adventure of a lifetime.

Ryan=)

Adventures in Zambia

I have just returned from spending the week in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. I had a great time. I spent time with the director and my supervisor from Canada. I also traveled with them to a place called Siavonga which is about 3 hours outside of Lusaka. We went to visit remote remote remote villages where there are mobile clinics. We traveled through dirt roads as there is are no infrastructure in this area to support cars. The villages were about 40 km from town, without the mobile clinics located in these remote areas many people would die without health care. Most have to walk this distance to see a doctor and many do not make it back home. I witnessed these mobile clinics and saw the great work that they are doing. At one of the clinics i took some pictures of children which you will see in this post.

We stayed at a place called Sandy Beach...it is located right on Lake Kariba. Lake Kariba is the largest man made lake in the world. It is so beautiful but i would never swim in it because there are crocodiles and hippos YIKES!!!!...i have some pictures from outside my room...ENJOY!!!

As well we went to the Kariba Dam which is right in between Zimbabwe and Zambia so i was in two places at the same time....he he he!!!

Annoying

Ok so one would think that spiders, cockroaches, scorpions would be the insects that would annoy people...actually i am most annoyed at ANTS...they are everywhere...i hate them so much....even when i clean they are there...looking for food, i think i take the most joy in killing them. I know in my posts i often speak of insects but they are a big part of my life here in Zambia (even though i think i make it that way..he he he)

I have been sick a few times since i have been here i think it was some chicken that i had. It is from this place called Hungry Lion...which is basically a chicken and chips place...i feel like this is all they sell in Zambia not sure if it is that way in other African countries. Anyway, i have not eaten the chicken and i seem to be better.

Zambia Updates

Since i don't think i have told you all what my job here is let me break it down for ya'll...

i am a monitoring and evaluating intern with Crossroads Christian Communications for those who don't know they are the umbrella organization for 100 Huntley Street (on channel 9, i think?) This job is an internship that is a requirement for me to graduate from grad school which i completed in June 2008. My job here in Zambia is to do reporting on HIV/AIDS mitigation projects and street children projects. So far i have been to several Home Base Care Projects in Kabwe where they took me into villages to visit many people, those living with HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB. These projects are CIDA funded and i need to report back to Crossroads to advise if the activities being done are done properly according to donor requirements.

Every month in these Home Base Care projects, there are mobile clinics...these mobile clinics are put in place to allow those who are sick to access medicine and counselling if needed. The line up for those to see the mobile clinic nurses is a long cue around the whole building about 300 people come. However, a mobile clinic once a month is not enough as many people need medicine alot more often than once a month. As well alot of people in the villages are bed ridden and cannot access the mobile clinic when it comes into the project. As well there are VCT (voluntary counselling testing) this is where people from the project and those in the surrounding community can test if they have HIV. Their results are given to them in about 10 minutes. Whether they are found to be positive or negative they are given counselling by a trained counsellor. I had a chance to visit one of the mobile clinics, on Sept 18, 2008, i met the counsellor from the VCT she was explaining to me about how the test is done and how she counsels those who are found to be HIV positive. She told me out of every 5 people that come into the VCT, 3 people are found to be HIV positive. When she told me that i felt a big weight on my chest, i was overcome with emotion. I am truly blessed to be here in beautiful Zambia and this visit to the mobile clinic and VCT has pushed me to do a great job while here, because it will benefit so many people. The prevalance rate of HIV/AIDS in Zambia is very high leaving many orphans and a very youthful population.

I am now in Lusaka the capital of Zambia, where i am going through reports from mobile clinics from the last quarter. I have to make a report on my findings, however the gentelman that i am supposed to contact has contracted Malaria and is very sick. But i gotta roll with it because this is very common in Zambia.

Ryan=)

Electricity!!!!

We really do not know how lucky we are in North America. Here in Zambia, Electricity is a luxury that MOST people do not get on a regular basis. Honestly, i think i am doing ok with everything else i am dealing with the bugs ok...i saw my first cockroach two days ago and i took great joy in killing it. But having no electricity is probably the worst part of being here. When you are trying to eat, cook, do work, shower the lights always go off. It is actually quite annoying. I found out that our area having so much power outages is political. Our area in Kabwe does not have "big shots", or political leaders so we are not on the priority list to receive power. However i have read two and a half novels because of the lack of electricity...i have lots of candles and flashlights. I don't think i have read a single novel since university that was like 4 years ago..its sad i know=(

Anyway i just felt i needed to vent about that to you all

Ryan=)

Not too much to say but here are some pictures!!!

Hi all,

I am pretty much settled in now in my place and i am getting to know the town very well. Not sure if you all know but i am not a big fan of bugs...but i have to live with them...i have decided to accept them in my life...ha ha ha...and deal with the spiders (about the size of a silver dollar)...but that is neither here nor there!!! ha ha ha...please all of you continue to pray for my safety and strength as i go through this journey...

Here some pictures with the staff, beneficiaries and I in Kabwe, Zambia

Love Ry=)

Work has started!!!

I have now started work in Zambia. I have been visiting Home Based Care Projects Kabwe, Zambia. I had the privilege of visiting a few patients from the project in their homes. I visited a lot of HIV/AIDS patients ranging from an elderly woman to a 5-month-old baby. I spoke to them about their lives and how they are feeling after receiving treatment. The majority of staff in the Home Based Care projects are volunteers. They are often not given a lot of incentives to continue working, as the work they do is selfless, dangerous and courageous. I spent quite a bit of time with the volunteers hearing their stories about their experiences with the patients and about their home lives. The volunteers and the patients have definitely touched me. Makes me think that the lack of continuous electricity and running water in my guesthouse is nothing compared to what most Zambians have to go through on a day-to-day basis.

I am getting used to living on my own…I have been gone for a month now…I can’t believe it!!!! But I still have 3 more months to go. However, it is nice to know that I will be home for the holidays and most of January.

Here are some pictures of the projects I have been visiting
Love Ry=)

Getting Better!!!

Hi all,

Things in Zambia are getting better now...i have realized that it is going to be rough for me at the beginning...it is something i have never experienced before...being alone is not all that bad. I have realized things about myself like...i am pretty innovative...when i do not have the luxury of going to the store to get a tool to fix something in my house...i have to create a different way to fix it. Also, knowing that i am capable of doing things on my own without relying on the help of others. I know i am here for a bigger purpose and not for a vacation!!! i am glad that i am able to express myself on this blog to let you all know my journey. I will be doing field work in a few days so i am sure i will too busy to worry about anything. Thanks for all of your prayers and support

Luv you all

Ryan=)

P.S. I often listen to Beres Hammond and other reggae which makes me feel nice and as though i am in my room in Canada.

Zambia?????

I have arrived in Zambia. I am staying in Kabwe, Zambia about an hour away from Lusaka, the capital city. Kabwe is much different from Nairobi…there is more to do in Nairobi and I also knew few people in Nairobi; in Kabwe I do not know anyone. I am having a bit of a rough start, I never realized how privileged I was in Canada, like having water and electricity accessible at all times. I think I haven’t had water for hours at a time. I miss my home, family and friends very much. Living and working in Zambia for 3 ½ months is not going to be easy, but somehow I will make it through. I am trying to create a routine for myself to make things easier, as I live in my own guesthouse. It’s been 3 days since I arrived and I have bought groceries, cleaning supplies (very necessary) and few more supplies that are desperately needed for the house. Anyway I hope my next blog will be a bit more uplifting, but it’s only been 3 days. Sorry if the blog is not updated regularly but i have to walk to the internet cafe and it is about 4 blocks from where i am living...it might not sound very far but in 30 -40 degree weather it is not a fun time.

Here are some pictures of my place LOVE RYAN=)

Leaving for Zambia in 2 days

Wow...my Kenya trip has gone by sooooo fast. I have really enjoyed my time here. I have met really nice people especially those from the guest house i am staying at.

Rule #1 when staying somewhere foreign....make friends with the kitchen staff...they will hook you up...when i would miss breakfast at 7am (that is way too early for me) the staff would have tea and breakfast waiting for me to eat...well it was food prepared for the board members but they allowed me to eat it ha ha ha.

Off i go in about 2 days to Zambia where i will indeed be in a new adventure. Not sure i will be able to update this blog before Zambia because i have alot of stuff to do before i leave Nairobi.

Oh and before i forget below is an image of an ant hill in the rural areas of Kenya...keep in mind what our ant hills look like in Canada. ENJOY!!!

Love you all

Ryan=)

P.S. i did get one mosquitoe bite...on my forehead...right in the middle=(

Getting into the swing of things

So its been 10 days since I have arrived in Nairobi, I am now getting into the swing of things. I feel a lot more comfortable than I did when I first arrived. I sleep much better now, I am on Kenyan time so when I am sleeping you all are wide awake. Good luck to my sleeping patterns when I return home. I have been doing some work in the past few days, getting my last bit of data from the head office. I have also been out to a few places, I have met up with my sister’s friend Nafisa who is the greatest host ever. She has taken me to the market where I bought beautiful paintings, sculptures and scarves. She did all my bargaining because obviously I don’t speak Swahili. The funny thing though is that when those from the market see me they automatically think I am from Kenya and Nafisa is the foreigner. We both had a laugh about it. I also went to a pub/bar with Nafisa and her friend that was fun we just hung out for a few hours there and went to the mall yesterday, not as big as Square one but it is very fancy. I am so glad that I got in contact with her because she has made this experience so much better for me. As well the employees at the guesthouse are so nice and I talk to them often.

Funny story: When I went out with Nafisa one night we came back to my place at around 1:00am, the guard refused to let us in the compound because I had come back so late…I had a curfew and I did not know…anyway he would not let Nafisa come in with her car so I had to walk into the compound on my own…he was very upset and speaking very sternly to me in Swahili…I had to be back by 10:00pm…I will not make that mistake again…ha ha ha!!!!

The weather…it is actually quite cold here I wear a lot of long sleeve shirts and sweaters. I actually wear socks and a sweater to bed it is that cold. I am dealing with it just like everything else, the good definitely out weighs the bad. I come from Canada when the weather is –30 degrees so really should I be complaining?

A taste of home…this morning I had some tea…by the way Kenya has the best tea I have ever tasted…I just bought a box to bring home…anyway…for breakfast they had “bakes” for you Guyanese readers you know what that is, very similar to fried dumplings. It was so good…I thought of my father’s “bakes” as I tasted a piece of home

New experiences

Everyone…. I used a pit latrine!!!!!…for those who don’t know…a pit latrine is a hole in the ground where you use the bathroom and is covered by a small shed for privacy…this has happened twice and each time I was very hesitant to use it but when you gotta go you gotta go, as westerners are used to having porcelain toilets with toilet paper. Not to mention there are no lights in the latrines so I was in the dark hoping I would not fall in…ha ha ha…well anyway I got to experience it, because that is what I am here for.

When at the mall I had Kenya’s McDonalds called “Wimpys”. The food does not compare to McDonalds but it was ok. I didn’t get sick so that is always good. My health is good and I have not contracted anything or have gotten sick. I am eating a lot healthier here aside from eating “Wimpys” the other night. I have lost some weight but nothing too drastic.

Karibu ("welcome" in Swahili)

Hi Everyone,

I have arrived safely into Kenya at 8:30pm which is about 1:30pm your time on August 8, 2008. This blog has been delayed because i have not had the best Internet connection and i have had no time to post. It has been about 8 days since i arrived and i love Kenya...it is so beautiful and full of lovely people. Nairobi is a very busy city and people drive like they are 'mad'...thank God that i am not driving anywhere...I have stayed at some very nice hotels since i have been here now i am at a missions house where it is very "cozy" not as luxurious as the other hotels i have stayed at.

Everyone here thinks i am Kenyan... ha ha ha...specifically from West Kenya. They often start to speak to me in Swahili and i just look at them as though i am def and dumb. Well that is how they look at me when i don't respond. In a way it is OK because then i blend in with the rest of the population because everyone here looks like me...definitely not like Canada which is very multicultural. I have been to the local church i believe it is called "Nairobi Pentecostal Church" it is HUGE!!!!! They have three services on Sunday and every one of them is packed (standing room only) I really enjoyed the service well its Pentecostal so you know that the place was jammin'. I also visited the Masai market (probably spelling that wrong) it was nice i got a painting made from banana skins its actually kinda cool.

In the middle of last week i visited the projects which Crossroads is working in. I worked in a small village where the project was...it is a girl's rehabilitation center and they have done amazing work. For my data collection i had to interview young girls and young boys to see how much this project has helped their lives. I heard many stories from each young person, it is amazing to see how healthy and loved they feel now since joining the project. Some were street kids and some are orphans. Many young girls have babies, some girls as young as 15 years old. They have shown me what true strength is and i am grateful and thankful to God that i had a chance to meet them and hear their stories.

Now i am putting together all of the data to write a report for Crossroads. I have not gotten sick yet, or bitten by any bugs at all. Praise the LORD!!!...i will be in Kenya for the next 7 days then off to Zambia until Dec 7, 2008.