Posted by Karly
Written May 13, 2009
(Sorry for the delay. I was out of the country, then I moved. It took awhile for the letter to catch up with me)
ALL THAT GLITTERS IS GOLD
First, let me preface this entry by saying that I believe people are born with a sexual preference and people don't choose to be gay or straight. And while I am straight, I admire those who embrace who they are even when it can be a more difficult path. I will continually fight for equal rights and think they gay marriage struggle in America has gone on way too long. That being said, I don't think I will continue the fight in Zambia.
In Zambia being gay doesn't really exist and if it did, it would be illegal. One of the good sides of this (if there could ever be one) is the fact that men can be as feminine as they like. Grown men can wear pink cheer camp t-shirts. Guys hold hands in public. Men can sing as high and as loud as they want, and basically act as openly gay as they wish to and no one assumes anything because there isn't even the question of gay or straight. As heart-breaking as it is to see a clearly gay man and know he will never accept a part of him, it still makes me smile just a bit when I see a man just flaunting it!
Today I walked past the most flamboyant bike I have ever seen. Now a lot of people in Zambia trick-out their bikes with reflectors or crazy mud flaps, but this one went above and beyond. It was wrapped in streamers, covered in fake flowers, and even had a pinwheel on the handlebars. The driver of said bike is part of the praise team at the Church of Destiny and when I walked into the church and saw him tuning a guitar-like instrument, I thought, "now there is a homosexual." I felt so bad for him knowing he could never truly be himself (with that said, I don't actually have any idea what the underground gay scene is. As far as I now, no one has heard of any. Lusaka might be a different story, but where I am, I think the chances are slim--but there must be something, right?) So I sat there thinking, "at least this boy can sing and no one will say anything," but he broke my heart.
Then a week later her passed me on the coolest bike ever! It happened while I was in a bad mood getting worse, and it turned my whole day. I mean, how can a grown man riding a mike with a pinwheel and so may shiny additions it glitters not make you smile?
If you've got it--flaunt it!
Love to all,
Stevie
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Communtiy Entry Songs
Hey every one! I thought I would break from tradition and post something myself. I am currently in Lusaka at Headquarters and have a real computer at my disposal. Well the internet is a bit fussy and getting pics on facebook has been a nightmare but I am trying. I have now been in country over 6 months which just seems crazy! I have finished my community entry period and have been down in Lusaka for an in-service training with my intake (the group I flew to country with). It was wonderful seeing everyone again after 3 ½ months apart! It was an exhausting 2 weeks with long days of training and late nights of…catching up. After that 11 of us headed down to see Victoria Falls for a few days. And I jumped off a BRIDGE! Yes that’s right and I did it not once but twice. Victoria Falls is the 3rd highest bungee jump site in the world, measuring at 111meters high. Five of us decided to jump and the company that does it runs this package deal. So for 20 dollars more you can bungee jump, gorge swing, and zip line. After I jumped on my own, I took off one harness and put another one on, strapped to my friend and stepped off the bridge again. Let me tell you the second time is way scarier. The falls were absolutely beautiful and we had a great time at the hostel. But lets bring it back to the reason I started writing this entry…
We were all asked to present on our life in the village and summarize our community entry at training. Most people just kind of talked through some funny stories, Brittany (my neighbor) was interviewed by a puppet of her cat she made (which was equally hilarious and slightly worrisome). I decided to switch it up a bit and wrote a song, well two songs that sum up life in my village. I have had some many requests for the lyrics and suggestions to put then up, so I thought I would. The first one is called “Go Slow” and is a bit of a jazzy medium swing. A “go slow” is similar to a sit in or a strike. The teachers show up to work, sit there all day but don’t teach; which often doesn’t look much different than a normal school day. My schools were on a go slow for a good 6 weeks and all my work quickly disappeared. Let’s see…there are other references in the song you might not get but I promise they are funny. BOMA= my “town” nataz = school performing arts competition. Mazungu= white person. DEBS = incharge at the district level. “just ok” = everyone’s answer to everything. “Used”= phrase meaning I am comfortable with or used to… mufu= mufumbwe the district I live in. Don’t worry about the acronyms, it isn’t worth explaining there are so many of them. Hope that is enough to get your Zamlish started…
Go Slow
Chorus
[Go Slow, don’t move too fast
Just enough to keep the kids coming to sweep the class
Go slow, don’t move too fast
Next term might see some teachin’ so sit back and relax]
Now let me tell you all a little tale
Of life under the sun for one quite pale
The mission in front was impossible
To make teachers willing not just capable
Chorus
At first I hoped to be just a fly on the wall
But soon there was nothing to see at all
The first week of term was for cleaning the class
And all the complaints were just a pain in the ass
No rural hardship so we fight for the cause
And then with the what what, sports and nataz
The strike was decided the only way
No learning to do so pupils stayed at bay
Chorus
Yet I still have three months to fill with time
So I thought I’d tell you about in this here rhyme
With the schools all deserted and empty
I found many other things tempting
There is the important job of entertainin’
Always a hit- what’s that mazungu makin’
I became master of the brazier cake
Cause mufu birthday’s were serious to take
Chorus
Chasing after the DEBS took many a day
Happy to find a new one’s on the way
See our DEBS happened to be a big fat jerk
And seemed to hate me just as much as my work
Never turned down a single invitation
Resulting in hours of church and salvation
I made friends with the small one block boma
On days with power we cried HALLEJAH
Chorus
The strike finally ceased with 3 weeks to go
Hit the ground runnin’ on with the show
My ZIC’s quite a rockstar, she is one sassy lady
We were bikin to schools in my zone daily
Managed to fit some TGM’s in
Did lots of work with a program called SHN
I am used when it comes to life village side
Just ok with selling my soul… for a free ride
Chorus
House décor included some painting
And when I get home there’ll be kitty waiting
Let’s hope that the go slow is truly finished
Otherwise my to read list will be diminished
Not sure how much real teaching there will be to see
When all of these kids out runnin’ free
But I’ll still be there tryin’ to fight the good fight
One step at a time, proving education’s a right
Chorus
…just a bit of culture exchange
So the second song I wrote is a bit more on the ‘real song’ side. This one is more about just being here in general and what service really means or does. We all spend a lot of time wondering if any of this matters. Would our village just be better if we or all the NGO’s just left? Why are we actually here? Needless to say I had plenty of time to think all about this over the past 6 months and really still don’t have an answer. Nor do I think I will have a better one in two years. I just know this is what I am meant to do right now. Even through all the frustration and difficultly, I am really happy here and for now that is what matters. I believe there is true value in choosing to spend your time for others and most days that is enough for me.
I also had a few conversations with another volunteer in northwest about how often life in the village feels a bit like life on a boat- even though we are completely land locked. Often you look out and see nothing for miles. I live a simple life that can basically fit in to three suitcases; I cook one pot dishes on a small brazier; shower with a bucket; sit out in the sun and read a lot. The list goes on but you get the picture. In addition to that, the stars have become my biggest comfort. No matter what the day has been like, the Southern Cross always makes me smile and reminds me I love it here. I think partly because I was so excited for an entirely new sky before coming, but there is something about the Southern Cross that seems to connect me to my home here and my home in the states. The Southern Cross is just magical I guess.
But I put this disclaimer out- Please take these lyrics with a grain of salt. I really hate just putting lyrics down with out the music because I feel they always sound cheesier when read and not sung. Unfortunately I am lacking a recording studio, so you will all just have to wait for the real thing ‘til either you visit or I come back in 2 years.
Southern Cross
Verse 1
Cast out on a ship
set on land all a blaze
unknown how life has come this way
everyday set the course
destination unsure
and the patience of waiting and waiting, not knowing if it matters at all
Chorus
When the sun melts away
And one by one the stars appear
Then I gaze at the Southern Cross
And the world melts away
All the worries and the doubts
And I know that this is right
Verse 2
Some days start so strong
endless movement forward
this could be the real start of things
yet somehow turn away
everything falls apart
and I'm sinking and spinning and trying just to keep floating at all
Chorus
When the sun melts away
And one by one the stars appear
Then I gaze at the Southern Cross
And the world melts away
All the worries and the doubts
And I know that this is right
Bridge
How much can you change without taking what is there
And How much take you give without knowing if they care
And How much can you take without loosing while you came
There's value in unseen efforts
The beauty's in the choice of time
Verse 3
All it takes is one day
one sweet moment of bliss
then the shore somehow comes into view
on it goes spend your days
slowly gliding along
without seeing, or asking, not knowing how this became home at all
When the sun melts away
And one by one the stars appear
Then I gaze at the Southern Cross
And the world melts away
All the worries and the doubts
And I know that this here right
When the sun melts away
And one by one the stars appear
Then I gaze at the Southern Cross
And the world melts away
All the worries and the doubts
And I know that this is right yes I know that this, this is right
Hope you enjoyed and it wasn’t too long of an entry. To sum it up life is great- crazy- but great. I miss you all and think of you always! Wish you all to be happy, healthy, and great letter writers- Stevie
We were all asked to present on our life in the village and summarize our community entry at training. Most people just kind of talked through some funny stories, Brittany (my neighbor) was interviewed by a puppet of her cat she made (which was equally hilarious and slightly worrisome). I decided to switch it up a bit and wrote a song, well two songs that sum up life in my village. I have had some many requests for the lyrics and suggestions to put then up, so I thought I would. The first one is called “Go Slow” and is a bit of a jazzy medium swing. A “go slow” is similar to a sit in or a strike. The teachers show up to work, sit there all day but don’t teach; which often doesn’t look much different than a normal school day. My schools were on a go slow for a good 6 weeks and all my work quickly disappeared. Let’s see…there are other references in the song you might not get but I promise they are funny. BOMA= my “town” nataz = school performing arts competition. Mazungu= white person. DEBS = incharge at the district level. “just ok” = everyone’s answer to everything. “Used”= phrase meaning I am comfortable with or used to… mufu= mufumbwe the district I live in. Don’t worry about the acronyms, it isn’t worth explaining there are so many of them. Hope that is enough to get your Zamlish started…
Go Slow
Chorus
[Go Slow, don’t move too fast
Just enough to keep the kids coming to sweep the class
Go slow, don’t move too fast
Next term might see some teachin’ so sit back and relax]
Now let me tell you all a little tale
Of life under the sun for one quite pale
The mission in front was impossible
To make teachers willing not just capable
Chorus
At first I hoped to be just a fly on the wall
But soon there was nothing to see at all
The first week of term was for cleaning the class
And all the complaints were just a pain in the ass
No rural hardship so we fight for the cause
And then with the what what, sports and nataz
The strike was decided the only way
No learning to do so pupils stayed at bay
Chorus
Yet I still have three months to fill with time
So I thought I’d tell you about in this here rhyme
With the schools all deserted and empty
I found many other things tempting
There is the important job of entertainin’
Always a hit- what’s that mazungu makin’
I became master of the brazier cake
Cause mufu birthday’s were serious to take
Chorus
Chasing after the DEBS took many a day
Happy to find a new one’s on the way
See our DEBS happened to be a big fat jerk
And seemed to hate me just as much as my work
Never turned down a single invitation
Resulting in hours of church and salvation
I made friends with the small one block boma
On days with power we cried HALLEJAH
Chorus
The strike finally ceased with 3 weeks to go
Hit the ground runnin’ on with the show
My ZIC’s quite a rockstar, she is one sassy lady
We were bikin to schools in my zone daily
Managed to fit some TGM’s in
Did lots of work with a program called SHN
I am used when it comes to life village side
Just ok with selling my soul… for a free ride
Chorus
House décor included some painting
And when I get home there’ll be kitty waiting
Let’s hope that the go slow is truly finished
Otherwise my to read list will be diminished
Not sure how much real teaching there will be to see
When all of these kids out runnin’ free
But I’ll still be there tryin’ to fight the good fight
One step at a time, proving education’s a right
Chorus
…just a bit of culture exchange
So the second song I wrote is a bit more on the ‘real song’ side. This one is more about just being here in general and what service really means or does. We all spend a lot of time wondering if any of this matters. Would our village just be better if we or all the NGO’s just left? Why are we actually here? Needless to say I had plenty of time to think all about this over the past 6 months and really still don’t have an answer. Nor do I think I will have a better one in two years. I just know this is what I am meant to do right now. Even through all the frustration and difficultly, I am really happy here and for now that is what matters. I believe there is true value in choosing to spend your time for others and most days that is enough for me.
I also had a few conversations with another volunteer in northwest about how often life in the village feels a bit like life on a boat- even though we are completely land locked. Often you look out and see nothing for miles. I live a simple life that can basically fit in to three suitcases; I cook one pot dishes on a small brazier; shower with a bucket; sit out in the sun and read a lot. The list goes on but you get the picture. In addition to that, the stars have become my biggest comfort. No matter what the day has been like, the Southern Cross always makes me smile and reminds me I love it here. I think partly because I was so excited for an entirely new sky before coming, but there is something about the Southern Cross that seems to connect me to my home here and my home in the states. The Southern Cross is just magical I guess.
But I put this disclaimer out- Please take these lyrics with a grain of salt. I really hate just putting lyrics down with out the music because I feel they always sound cheesier when read and not sung. Unfortunately I am lacking a recording studio, so you will all just have to wait for the real thing ‘til either you visit or I come back in 2 years.
Southern Cross
Verse 1
Cast out on a ship
set on land all a blaze
unknown how life has come this way
everyday set the course
destination unsure
and the patience of waiting and waiting, not knowing if it matters at all
Chorus
When the sun melts away
And one by one the stars appear
Then I gaze at the Southern Cross
And the world melts away
All the worries and the doubts
And I know that this is right
Verse 2
Some days start so strong
endless movement forward
this could be the real start of things
yet somehow turn away
everything falls apart
and I'm sinking and spinning and trying just to keep floating at all
Chorus
When the sun melts away
And one by one the stars appear
Then I gaze at the Southern Cross
And the world melts away
All the worries and the doubts
And I know that this is right
Bridge
How much can you change without taking what is there
And How much take you give without knowing if they care
And How much can you take without loosing while you came
There's value in unseen efforts
The beauty's in the choice of time
Verse 3
All it takes is one day
one sweet moment of bliss
then the shore somehow comes into view
on it goes spend your days
slowly gliding along
without seeing, or asking, not knowing how this became home at all
When the sun melts away
And one by one the stars appear
Then I gaze at the Southern Cross
And the world melts away
All the worries and the doubts
And I know that this here right
When the sun melts away
And one by one the stars appear
Then I gaze at the Southern Cross
And the world melts away
All the worries and the doubts
And I know that this is right yes I know that this, this is right
Hope you enjoyed and it wasn’t too long of an entry. To sum it up life is great- crazy- but great. I miss you all and think of you always! Wish you all to be happy, healthy, and great letter writers- Stevie
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