Thursday, February 10, 2011

L.I.F.E


This is such a cute video. I really like the message...  coming from Mid-America you can't help but form stereotypes about what it is like to live in a rural village in a developing country. I hope the only stereotype I stick with is that all the kids will be able to act out Arnold Schwarzenegger movies for me, ha!
In a couple of days i'm off to start my new life volunteering with the Peace Corps. It's both beyond exciting and scary at the same time. Exciting because this has been a goal of mine for a very long time, and scary because of the what-ifs. What if I'm unhappy there? What if the relationships I have here won't be around when I get back? It's risky either way and I knew that before accepting my invitation. Either way, I'm sticking with my decision.

L.I.F.E stands for Linking Income Food and the Environment and it’s the project I will be working with while in Zambia. The three areas of concentration for the project are: 1) sustainable agriculture 2) environmental education and 3) income generation. From reading the packets I was given and other volunteer's blogs it seems like the majority of the work I will be doing is collaborating with local farmers, trying out things I’ve learned in training with demonstration plots, starting environmental clubs with school kids and hopefully beekeeping. About 10 % of my time will be spent working with HIV projects. Oh yeah, Peace Corps is giving me a pretty snazzy bike that I’ll get to ride around and talk to farmers with… pretty cool.

The Peace Corps sent me an email with information for my family and friends. I think this was the most important thing they said:
 Irregular communication: For the first 3 months at least I'll be in a pretty remote place with little chance of internet access to check my email, also I'm not sure if I will buy a cell phone there yet. So the best way to contact me? Letters! Here's my address:
Nora Kennedy, PCV
Peace Corps
P.O Box 50707
Lusaka, Zambia
I would also appreciate drawings to decorate my hut, just sayin'.


 I want to thank my friend Chelsea for the bangin' header she made me for this blog. It was a really nice surprise to get in my email!

My next post will be in Africa, wish me luck!