Written Monday...

Perhaps some of you know that I spent almost the entirety of June in South Africa on Med-Evac; for those who were unaware, I had some medical issues and they whisked me out of town unexpectedly and I wound up in the heart of World Cup Madness! But don’t worry…I’m fine and back in Zambia at last!

The day I arrived in SA was the opening of the World Cup. The airport was filled with at least 300 people with signs...it took over an hour to find the driver carrying one that said “Ellyn Lambeck.” I spent the following weeks freezing my butt-off (it was so cold—African Winter is no joke!!), making friend with Peace Corps Volunteers from other countries (Ethiopia, Tanzania, Gambia, Benin…), going to countless doctor appointments, playing with baby lions, and seeing 2 World Cup games (USA VS England and USA VS Algeria.) So despite my long-recovery I made the best of my time there… did a lot of eating and shopping, read Harry Potter V, picked up a vuvuzele--or two and saw Toy Story 3 in 3-D!
In any case I was missing Zambia, slowly forgetting all my Bemba, and getting over the complete culture shock of having a washer and dryer at my beck-and-call!
After 3 long weeks I was finally cleared to go home and arrived back home just in time to celebrate American Independence in Zambia! After a couple days camping at Lake Samfya in Luapula Province I made my way back up North and back to Luyeye.

Being back in the village after being gone so long is not easy because…
• I have a raging cold/cough that subtracts from my enjoyment of sleep or nshima.
• My house and surroundings are run down and dirty.
• My supply of matches, sugar, peanut butter, and toilet paper has been depleted (by my loyal house-sitters)
• I’ve been spoiled with electricity, hot showers, good food, cold beverages, TV, malls and cars and airplanes oh my!!…and now I’m back to buck-bathing and candle-lit nshima dinners

I am SO grateful to be back with my Zam Fam and I missed everyone and EVERYTHING about Zambia (I’m in love with this place!!) But it’s gonna be hard to get back into the swing of things for sure…and back into shape (too many Mc Donald’s in South Africa—for sure.)
So, arriving at school today was a bit nerve-racking… After I’d gone missing for a month of the term I didn’t know what to expect…What had happened with all the projects and classes I left behind? Also the idea of having to explain my disappearance repeatedly to everyone was also discouraging but I came this morning to find I was warmly welcomed by all my co-workers and pupils with smiles and hugs galore! Walking into the grade 1 classroom and being pummeled with love by a dozen iwes almost had me in tears. Of course all the little ones had assumed I was long gone and back in America, so they were all so excited to have me back. I spent an entire Math lesson with one boy curled up in my lap, while another cuddled my arm!
Now comes the rush of work to catch-up on…My VAST proposal is now finished and ready for review (cross your fingers people my HIV/AIDS club needs this money for our World AIDS Day Event!!) I also have to try to bring my computer classes up to speed (although an awesome student teacher from the school covered all my classes while I was gone it seems the Staff Computer Literacy lessons have somewhat dissolved.) and remind my club that I’m alive and we still have a lot of fund-raising to do!
With help from my mom and many others back in the States, money has been raised towards scholarships, LCC’s World AIDS Day event, as well as the building of my families’ house. I cannot thank you all enough for your on-going generosity. It’s so incredible to see things materialize because of the simple deeds of my friends and family back home. For all those still interested, a new shipment of cards and hats will be on its way to CT within the next 2 weeks!!

The next time you hear from me hopefully I will be back in the mix, busy as ever, and loving the village! In the meantime care-packages of sour-patch kids and Reese’s peanut butter cups may do the trick ;o)

Mushale Bwino!

Ellyn Mutale Chileshe