One Word, Abasambi Project and World Maps

One word, my friends, one word. I traveled back to Chinsali with Br. Simeon yesterday and had everything they asked for (cover letter stating my reasons for being in the country, verified passport photos and passport, money, bank statement and application forms), but was denied because of one word on my cover letter which was written by Fr. Nzota. 

The letter was the exact same one that he wrote for the volunteers last year, but for reason it did not work for me. It was supposed to say "please grant Joseph a visitors permit" but it had said "please grant Joseph a work permit" which is what they told me to say last Friday. The officer yesterday told me this was unacceptable and that I shouldn't have listened to the other officer. I respond with "I'm sorry, I'm confused. How am I supposed to know which officer is telling the correct information and which one is not?" I couldn't believe it. Last Friday they were mad at me because I said I was volunteering at the school, but trying to get a visitors permit when I should be getting a work permit. So, I did as they asked and went for a work permit. Now they are saying I should be applying for a visitor permit. Dang, man, just tell me what the heck you want!? They keep flipping back and forth. 

So, I must travel back to Katibunga and have Fr. Nzota change this one word that they couldn't seem to get over (I said that we could just cross it out, but that idea was dismissed as well). They aren't very efficient and don't seem to want to compromise very much. Everything seems to take longer than it has too (that's probably a bit of the American in me coming out, but it does take awhile to complete things in Africa).

Downtown Chinsali

Then I will have to travel back and turn it all in on Thursday. Of course, Zambia's Independence Day is on Saturday which means government offices will be closing on Thursday at noon which means I must leave Katibunga at 5 or 6 in the morning to get there before they close. I'm seriously considering packing my bags just in case I need to hop on a bus and get across the border before my visa expires on Friday. I'm guessing the problem with that scenario would be that the public holiday will shut down the border patrol/immigration. I hope not. The only positive I could see is that they may let me pass on Monday considering I was unable to leave due to the holiday. I hope it doesn't come to that, but we will just have to see.

The monastery has assured me that I will be able to get the permit on Thursday, but that doesn't mean I'm not a bit nervous because so far the immigration office in Chinsali hasn't been any good to me. Even the monks and Zambians are telling me that immigration is treating me very unfairly. Not only is this costly because I must keep traveling back and forth, but it also will now come down to a few hours before my visa expires. The sad thing is none of this will matter three months from now either.

I will keep trying, though. 

As for other things...

I have just kick-started the Abasambi Project! The word 'abasambi' means student in Bemba which is the local language in this region of Zambia. I am going to run the project for ten weeks. Each week I will post a new photo, fact and the donation link to Facebook to try and get as many people as I can to donate. The money raised will benefit the students at Katibunga Primary and Secondary school. The money will be divided between students' tuition fees, textbooks and medicine for the students at the local clinic. The main objective is to keep as many kids in school as possible while giving them the best possible education. I hope the project is a success. 

Please remember, if you do donate it is important that you write "Abasambi Project" in the comments box prior to submitting your donation to the Benedictine Volunteer Corps. This way we know that the money should be given to the Abasambi Project for the kids in Zambia.

Donation Link: https://secure.squarespace.com/commerce/donate?donatePageId=5459255ae4b0632613863853

When gathering the required items for my visitors permit in Mpika on Monday I was able to check the post office. I finally received the first package my parents sent me back in August! Two months later, but it made it. That made my week! It is nice having a package and the school supplies are wonderful. The kids will love them. Additionally, my sweet tooth is very satisfied by the big bag of Starburst! Thank you, Mom and Dad! The world map you sent is being displayed proudly outside the head teachers office for all the students to enjoy! 

The world map at Katibunga Secondary School

As I was eating my piece of bread for breakfast the other day I noticed one of the brothers putting honey on his piece. I love honey so I asked if I may use some. He said of course and so I did. I noticed when I squeezed it out of the bottle that there were black specks in it. I thought that was funny and so I looked closer. There were about two hundred little ants mixed in with the honey that I just spread over my bread. It must be how they package the honey. They don't pull the ants out before they package it or they get in afterwards. So, that morning I dined on some black ants. I guess I can check that off the bucket list.

Fr. Francis, who is from the Philippines, recently left to go and start a new community in a city nearby. He has been stationed in Katibunga since January 2014 and has been given a new assignment. I really liked Fr. Francis because he was hard working and really brought life to the Katibunga Monastery. I guess it makes sense that he was the one chosen to start a new community then.

I have begun a Monday and Friday after-school study group for my biology class. I have a Frisbee and so I meet my kids near the school and pass the Frisbee around with them. As I do so I make sure to ask them questions and quiz them on topics I have taught them. I think this is a good way to make learning more fun and to help them retain the material. 

Starbursts are the best!

As I was speaking with a few of my students last week they asked me if I had any children and if I was married. I told them no to which they seemed a bit surprised. They told me that some students in my class already have children of their own which amazed me. That is quite young to have children. However, this part of the world is much different than our part so it is quite normal for young girls to have babies in their mid-late teen years. This is another reason why I hope the Abasambi Project  does well. Girls need to know that they have opportunities and a future outside of the norm which is just getting married and having kids. They need to stay in school and be allowed to pursue bigger and better opportunities.

The other day I found an old bike in the monastery garage and asked if I could take it for a spin. They told me I could. It was great being on a bike again. As a kid I biked and skateboarded miles around town with friends. It felt freeing to get on a bike and peddle off down the dusty road in Katibunga. I went for a few miles and then brought it back. I haven't been able to find the bike since then, but it was nice to take it for a ride.

Rooster!

As we were driving home from Chinsali yesterday (a 3 hour car ride one way) we encountered some goats crossing the road. You can find wild goats, roosters and chickens all over Zambia. My mother would enjoy seeing the roosters because she likes them. However, the goats are much like the deer to us in America. I explained to Br. Simeon that many people crash into deer in America, but not so many goats. He thought that was wild because people crash into goats here and never deer.

Also, on the way home we stopped to visit Br. Simeon's sisters (so his Uncle's daughters). When you visit someone they always bring out a chair for you to sit on. It's something I have come to notice. Whenever I stop by a house in a village they bring out a chair for me to rest. Interesting.

My hair is getting quite long now. I have been growing it out since March and plan to grow it until I can donate my hair to a program that uses hair to make wigs for kids who cannot grow hair. I think they may like my red hair. However, my beard is also beginning to grow out. The charger that charges my trimmer burned out because of the high voltage in the outlets in Africa. This part of the world uses a stronger current than we do in the USA. I was still surprised because I used a converter and everything, but it no longer charges. I think I have one more trim of battery left in my trimmer which I will use around Christmas I think. Hopefully when I transfer locations I find someone that can lend me their trimmer so I don't have to grow my beard out for several months ha! 

Well, that's all for now. Yes, things are a bit more stressful than I would like, but it definitely adds to the experience of being in Africa. I'll make it, though. Just appreciate the ease of living in America.

Thanks for reading!