PCV: its official.

Well, Friday we had swearing in and I am officially a Peace Corps volunteer. It was very exciting, though my day was a bit subdued because of lingering illness. As of today, I feel almost 100% recovered from my medical nightmare. At swear-in, the Ambassador to Zambia as well as a bunch of other people.

Thursday and Friday night we stayed at a lodge in Lusaka and I only mention it because of the incredible shower that I had. Scalding hot, good pressure and adequately positioned above my head. You may not realize that this was my first real shower in Zambia. And I was beyond thrilled. It was the perfect ending to my day from hell on Thursday, when I had my rash breakout. After two months of a bucket bath, I really can't express how awesome it was to take a real, hot shower.

On Saturday morning, we shipped out to Chipata, the Provincial capital of Eastern Province. Peace Corps has a house in every province for volunteers to use and come and decompress. So we are here for several days while we do necessary shopping, etc. before we get posted in our villages. The house is pretty cool. It has electricity and running water--both of which go out about once a day. We have met some of the other volunteers in the province. The house is honestly about 20% frat house if you know what I mean. A bit dirty, disorganized and chaotic. What did you expect though, it has 30+ peace corps vols using it and we're all dirty hippies, right? JUST KIDDING. stop judging.

okay....well thats about it for now, I might be inspired later in the week.

Trials and Tribs of sick in Africa

So, you may or may not have heard that earlier this week I contracted Malaria. Thats right, the number one killer in Zambia and possibly all of Africa. But don't be alarmed I have good medical care and drugs. I will start at the beginning....

On Sunday night I woke in chills and rigors followed by sweats. The following day, I was quite achy and had a headache. Lisa said, "That sounds like Malaria." The thought crossed my mind but I hadn't seriously considered it. I gradually started to feel worse and called the PCMO for a consult. She told me to go take a quick test at the training office, which I did, and it was negative. However, because of the prophylaxis we take once a week to prevent malaria, tests often come up negative. So because I had such distinctive symptoms I was instructed to start treatment anyway. The treatment lasts three days and is just 4 pills twice a day. By the time I got back to my hut I could barely take the meds I was feeling so bad. For the next two days I basically slept and writhed around in pain in my hot little hut. I really have never felt so bad in my life.

Fast foward to day 4 post-malaria: I should be feeling much better, but the last two days I've had a persisent, immobilizing headache/migraine. I woke with a rash on my arms and chest. Luckily we were coming into the Peace Corps office and I got to see a Med officer face to face. She nearly immediately assessed that I now have tick-borne encephalitis. (Google that if you want). All this the day I move out of my homestay. It was sad to leave my Zam Fam but I really couldn't soak it in because I'm sick. Tomorrow is our big Swear-In ceremony and I also won't be ale to fully appreciate this, which sucks. Gilly (PCMO) says I will feel much better by Saturday. Just wanted to give an update, but I have to go now...

Love you guys and miss you!

CJ

New Zambia Address!

Hey peeps!!
So from now on I will have a new address:
Caitlin Johnson/PCV
Peace Corps
PO Box 560059
Petauke
Zambia

this is effective now, because by the time anything sent now arrives I will be in Petauke. So spread the word! Also, my birthday is May 31, about a month and a half away so now would be a good time to send things:) hehe.

I got my first package yesterday from my mom and it was fabulous!! It had candy, tuna, pictures from the going away party, and other great stuff inside. For some reason all the trainees' packages had accumulated and we all got them on the same day so it was seriously like Christmas in Zambia.

Lisa, Christa and me waiting for our ride to Lusaka...

Picture of Eric (trainee), LaShaya (PCV), me, Rob and Laura, our site visit hosts, and Ryan (trainee) during Second site visit.

Hi! We are getting down to the home stretch of training because two weeks from now I will be posted at my site in Petauke. I am looking forward to the end of training but it will be strange to be away from the 50 other volunteers that I see on a regular basis. Here are some highlights from the last couple weeks:
--The fauna of Africa: One day in language class, my classmate Ryan looked down and started screaming because there was a TARANTULA crawling up MY leg. We had a minor freak out and the tarantula ran away. Apparently they are harmless. However, they look very scary. Also, one day as I was investigating a small bug infestation all over my walls, I found two frogs and and a spider in my hut within the span of 10 seconds. Stressful, but I dealt with it and luckily there has been no more fauna in my hut since then.
--Transport in Zambia is comical, stressful and overwhelming. On our way back from Petauke, we were responsible for getting our own transport back to Lusaka. Up until this point, we had been nicely chauffeured around by snazzy Peace Corps Land cruisers everywhere. So after an unsuccessful attempt at hitchhiking, Ryan, Eric and I decided to take a bus back to Lusaka. It cost us 60,000 kwacha to get a bus (about $15) for a 5 hour ride. The bus was a charter bus like you'd see in America except there were way too many people on it. There were people standing all down the aisle when we boarded so we squeezed in at the front. Eric and Ryan sat on the console next to the driver. The center of gravity for this bus was frightening as we raced down the Great East Road at abou 110 K/hour. This is very fast for a windy, hilly road. After 5 hours squeezed into a half-seat my bum has never hurt so bad in my life. We arrived in Lusaka just in time.

Chitindi village--Here I come!

Thanks for the messages everyone! Right now i am in petauke boma, which is the nearest town to where i will live the next two years. i was at at my site yesterday and the day before and it is beautiful! I was greeted by a group of villagers who SOO excited for me to arrive. It was awesome! My temporary hut is also amazing, but they will soon be building me a bigger, better house, which is hard to imagine. I have the cutest little fenced in yard with a pretty tree and cooking shelter in front. The family on the compound seems really nice, but they don't speak much English. The predominant language of the area is Chinsenga, a dialect of Chinyanja, the language i've been studying for the last month. Its going to be difficult to learn two different languages, but I don't think I'll have any trouble finding someone to tutor me in the village. I have to go now, but I will hopefully get back online on Saturday, and tell more fabulous details.