Load shedding, Visas and Pit Latrines

With it being hot and dry season and the plain fact that electricity is scarce in Zambia there has been a lot of load shedding happening. Load shedding is when the entire nation’s electrical grid is shut off to conserve energy. This happens every day for a number of hours. Sometimes they will just shut off certain provinces/districts at a time while keeping others open, but usually it’s the entire nation. Crazy. Imagine the U.S. shutting down every electricity plant. So, no electricity has become a common thing around here. With no electricity not only are the lights and internet affected, but it also affects the water pressure. When the power is down the water either barely comes out of the faucets or not at all. Same goes for the toilets too.

So, hopefully rainy season is really rainy this year. Additionally, the weather is reaching the 90’s now so the rain would be a nice change of pace for the Minnesotans.

I will be testing my biology students this week on Thursday. We will be wrapping up the homeostasis unit so a test will be a good way to gage how well they comprehended the material. Next, we will be moving onto the health/disease unit. As I was working in the clinic yesterday I had one of my students come in. He told me that I am a good teacher and speak clearly. I’d say this is a good sign. It was nice to hear.

Zack and I will have to travel back to Mpika this week sometime to turn in our applications for the new visas. It’s a long drive just for that, but we will get it done. It will be nice to have it completed too.

I know this is a smaller post, but everything is just moving along. We are just trying to enjoy each day and do what we set out to do. The only other thing I can think of is that while Zack and I were in the village the other day a lady had tossed a bucket of water out her door and into the street. I couldn’t help but notice to very bad smell that came after. I honestly think it may have been you-know-what. I am unsure, but it really did smell terrible. I mention this because it is just another piece of life here. 

With poor sanitation and bathroom facilities you have to deal with stuff like this. It makes you thankful for the great facilities we have in America. Additionally, the toilets at the school are pit latrines (outhouses). You walk into the little box and there is just a hole in the ground. Being that we are about a 10-15 minute walk from the monastery there isn’t really another option so this is what we use. That’s just life.

Well, the Tommie-Johnnie game is today and even ESPN is in on the action this year. Pretty cool. Good luck and Go Johnnies!

*By some divine miracle I have been able to access my blog. Woooooooo! Have a great day, everyone!

Thanks for reading!