Hydration, School Term Coming to a Close and Pros and Cons of African Life

My hair is the longest it has ever been. It’s a cross between my Uncle Tom’s mullet back in his high school hockey days and Orlando Bloom’s long locks in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean. The reason I am growing my hair out is so I can donate it once it reaches 8-10 inches. The one drawback to having all of this hair is that is causes me to be really hot. With how the temperature is in Africa it’s no wonder why Africans keep their hair short.

I have now come to just deal with the all-day every day sweating. Even meal times have become hard because all of the food and beverages must be warm so they are clean. You know how you sometimes begin to sweat when drinking hot chocolate or eating a hot bowl of soup…yeah, that happens at every meal. However, the rain that is supposed to come this week should help with the temperature. I find myself saying that a lot. I hope it works this time.

Even with the extreme heat, there is something that is worse - dehydration. Okay, super cold and hot temperatures suck, but there is truly nothing worse than dehydration. It will cause a person to go crazy. I take long walks and always make sure to bring a bottle of water, but even with the extra water the heat causes me to become dehydrated. I have noticed that some of the monks don’t drink much water at meals. I don’t know how they do it. I would down the entire pitcher of water if they would let me. Ha, seriously I don’t think there is a physical challenge worse than dehydration. I will have to remind my brother of this before he heads to Air Force survival training. You may be cold, hot, or hungry, but as long as you are hydrated you can make it.

My resting spot which is 8 miles away from my room.

Every once in a while I will walk 16 miles. When I do I tend to stop and rest at a small spot next to the creek. There is a big tree that provides shade and it’s nice to just sit and relax. I tend to walk only 10 because of the heat, but when I do have time for more miles this is the spot I walk to.

With the review week coming to an end I have officially completed my teaching here in Zambia. I still have to administer the final exam in December, but I don’t have to teach any more classes. I actually really enjoyed teaching. I taught in South Africa and enjoyed it, but found it difficult because I wasn’t teaching something I liked. Here, in Zambia, I have been able to teach biology and that has made a world of difference. It was a lot of fun.

My students told me that they thought I was a very good teacher. This is because I made sure to summarize and repeat myself many times. When you know something very well it can become easy to skim over important information or to go too fast. This is why I make sure to repeat myself (like 15 times) so that they can understand it. Furthermore, explaining the information in a way that will help them understand is important. If you use examples and easy vocabulary the students will be able to pick up on the information much more quickly.

My parent’s second package finally arrived even though it took 3 months to get here. It contained school supplies and creative items such as markers. I will have to make sure to get the supplies to my students. I know they will love using all of it. I am still playing Frisbee with my students after school so it shouldn’t be too hard to get the items to them.

Some of my students with their new toothbrushes!

With the term coming to an end, my students have asked if I would stay and teach them next term. I told them that I must move and head to Tanzania. It’s hard to leave them and they told me that they will miss me. You never expect all the emotions and feelings that moving on brings, but now that the time is approaching and things are coming to an end it is pretty sad. The connections I have made with all of these people are strong and I have become great friends with them. It is hard to leave that.

The clinic has been fairly quiet recently. Not many patients which is okay. There are a few older women who come in for blood pressure readings every so often. I have found that many have high blood pressures. Besides dealing with the patients, baby Grace is getting close to walking. She is around 8 months I believe. With breast-feeding being very common I asked Violet when it is normal for a baby to stop and she told me around 1 year. I think I will give some of the markers and paper to Grace and Violet. They will enjoy them and it will give Grace something to do while hanging out in the clinic.

Many of the monks have now discovered my last name and find it difficult to pronounce. I don’t see how Kerber is that difficult, but with the different letter sounds it is funny to hear them say it. Rather than use my last name some just tack on Br. Joseph or Saint Joseph for the fun of it. I don’t mind and think it’s funny too. When living at a monastery you have to expect these kinds of things.

Some of my students after the Kerber Games! Some still have some maturing to do haha :)
Also, it is common not to smile in pictures here.

As I was speaking with some of the monks yesterday they asked me what we call Africans in the U.S. I told them that we say African-American. They thought this was interesting. They asked if we classify them as ‘colored people’. I told them that term is somewhat of an offensive one in the U.S. which they couldn’t believe because it is very common in Africa, which is true. If one of your parents is black and the other is white then you are considered colored. So, there are whites, blacks, and coloreds. I have heard this term in South Africa as well as in Zambia and Tanzania.

Sister Agness’s time here is quickly coming to an end. She has been on retreat at the Katibunga Monastery for a month now and will be heading back to her convent this Tuesday. She has been on retreat because she will be taking her final profession/vows on Saturday the 28^th. She said that she is nervous, but also excited. She even invited me to the ceremony which will be held in Mpika. I have enjoyed having Sister Agness around and think that I may attend the ceremony. If there is one thing Zambian’s know how to celebrate it is religious milestones. I guess that is expected when you live in a Christian nation.

Lately, there have been bananas at each meal. They had been missing from the meals for about a month so I am glad that they are back. The bananas here are fantastic. I have never eaten so many in my life. They are fresh and picked directly from the banana plantation that is owned and run by the monastery.

With the 23^rd of November quickly approaching people are getting excited for the small market that comes to town. The 23^rd of every month is when vendors will come and sell items to the people of Katibunga. Considering Katibunga is located so far from the city people from Chinsali and Mpika head into Katibunga once a month to sell clothing, food and other items. There isn’t too much a guy like me needs, but it is nice to walk around and check out the market.

Recently, I was asked about the pros and cons of volunteering in Africa. One of the biggest pros I would have to say is the freedom that is given to volunteers. I am able to do what I want, when I want. There is no assigned job for me to do like most other volunteer sites. I enjoy the freedom of being able to teach, work in the clinic or even farm which I will be helping do in December.

However, one of the biggest cons is trying to keep busy and learning how to spend your free time. It can be difficult to hear about how your friends were able to go out and celebrate Halloween or seeing them enjoy a nicer and more elegant lifestyle. Yet, this is just something you have to face. It is a blessing and a curse.

This is because I feel as if I am receiving a more authentic and true experience. Knowing that I will have the rest of my life to do the things that they are doing now helps with not doing those things during this year. It strengthens you mentally. I have become more creative and patient with the ways I fill my free time. Additionally, it teaches you to be thankful. I hear many of my friends complain about the smallest things that truly don’t matter. It’s quite sad actually.

Volunteering in Africa has allowed me to see what really matters and all of the things that we need to be thankful for. So, rather than wasting time on going out into town or watching TV, which are two things I’ll have the rest of my life to do, I am able to focus on learning new skills, building new friendships, learning a new culture, being active and understanding the importance of giving to those who are in need.

It’s all about learning from your experiences. 

*I want to congratulate my brother Thomas on his graduation from the United States Air Force pilot training. He is one person that truly knows what it means to learn from your experiences. He always gives it his all and by his graduation yesterday we are able to see that it has paid off. Enjoy the C-130!

Thanks for reading!