Ashlee was in the middle of making a Zambian dinner when we called. Andy offered to take over so she could talk and she hesitantly accepted. She is one that has learned to prepare the local cuisine and she was worried about his first time being unsupervised, but she finally succumbed and let him finish up.
Andy is recovering well from his injuries. He is still a bit sore but it is not slowing him down. He will travel to Lusaka before Thanksgiving to visit the doctor and get his tooth capped. Ashlee has to be in Solwezi at that time for HIV/AIDS training so they will travel to Solwezi together and then Andy will go on to Lusaka. Ashlee has decided that she would prefer not to stay in the village solo if she can help it. She will be able to stay at the provincial house while he is in Lusaka and they will travel home together when he returns. That works out well for them both.
They are the envy of the volunteers because they receive so many packages. (Thanks everyone!) Their friend Sarah has a disappointing visit to the post office but reported that Andy and Ashlee had seven waiting for them. So the next day they rode into town. They said sometimes they have to unpack the packages and load up their backpacks to get everything home so sometimes they aren't sure what came from who, but either they still love every bit of it. This time the big score was the car charger from Andrea that will allow them to use the crank charger to juice up their Internet phone, which is critical now during the rainy season when sometimes they do not see the sun for several days at a time. They also were excited about two boxes from Jerry one with Little Debbie's and tons of mac-n-cheese and the other all candy! They figure they burn enough calories to justify scarfing down a bunch of candy, which they immediately did. They also got a box from one of Andy's brothers, Bev, some grad school applications for Andy and one from the PC volunteers that used to live in their house that had a log of Velveeta. They have been finding new things to try with the cheese including Sloppy Joe's, tomato soup and Zatarans. They are always super excited to get anything from home so keep it coming!
Ashlee is excited about the approaching World AIDS Awareness Day, December 1. She has been doing some training and other preparation for the upcoming event. She visited a prison last week as a part of their HIV/AIDS awareness program. They met with 25-30 prisoners and taught them about circumcision, condom use and ways the disease is spread. She said one of the main ways that it is spread in the prison system is the sharing of clippers which use razor blades. It is difficult to approach one of the ways the disease is spread which is homosexual sex. It is illegal in Zambia for men to have sex with other men so they do not provide condoms in the prisons. I guess that would be promoting illegal activity, but it is increasing the spread of the disease and education is very limited.
Joseph, one of the local men that has befriended Andy and Ashlee, has decided to try and come to the US for a university education. His house burnt down recently and he has decided that is they path he should travel. Ashlee was telling him to look at Andrews online as it has such a strong international presence it is a good environment for foreigners. He said that he looked at it and will try to get accepted.
I could hear Andy calling in the background and Ashlee apologized for saying goodbye when there were a few minutes left on the calling card, but the food was hot and she wanted to join Andy. Not a problem at all. There is no microwave to keep it warm. When its hot its time to eat. Enjoy!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Finally home
Aimee Gray
Andy is finally home! Ashlee sounded very relieved. She said that she felt safe enough from strangers as her neighbors are very protective of her and would come to her aid, but she was more worried about other things. She said every mosquito that hit the net at night made her jump. One day she found a snake skin outside the outhouse and so she used the bucket inside the rest of the time. She said all she could think of was getting bit on the butt and having to run to the neighbors' and pull down her pants and try to explain that they need to suck out the poison.
I was curious about the adds from the newspaper that she sent in the last letter and so I asked if the people actually believe in all the charms and spells. She said they absolutely believe in it and it is called juju. She said even the Christians believe in it. It is a big part of the culture, but one she can't really understand.
The first rain was all they heard it would be. Terribly loud and it lasted for hours. She said that she was so glad that Andrea sent ear plugs and sleeping pills as it will be very difficult to fall asleep in the storm.
It has been ridiculously hot. The have been spending several hours each afternoon lying of their concrete floor.
For now Andy is not allowed to ride a bike or to gather water so Ashlee has been doing that and riding into town for things they need and to check the mail. He is feeling fine, but is on restricted duty for a while.
The workshop they did last week was very successful and Ashlee was very energized by it. It was a nutrition workshop with two parts: Eat a Healthy Diet and Grow a Healthy Diet. She said many of their response to the things they were teaching them were interesting. They would not believe her concerning the amount of water the should drink. Their cups are very small and so they were teaching them that they need to drink 12-16 cups of water each day. That was astounding to them considering most of them drink only 1-2 cups per day. One man asked if it was bad that he only drinks monkoya, the fermented corn drink that is popular. One person asked if it was bad to only pee once per day. She said they have absolutely no concept of a balanced diet or any basic nutritional concepts.
She learned some interesting statistics about their village. First it has approximately 500 people. The education level is typically the 8th grade. There is one person in the village with a 9th grade education, 1 with a 2 year college degree and 1 with a university degree. That means that Andy and Ashlee triple those statistics alone. The people ask a lot of interesting questions like: Are there black people in the United States? Which she says they know there are because they know rappers and singers like R. Kelly and 50 Cent, but they do not relate the two. They are also quick to recognize the difference in skin tone between African Americans and themselves. Ashlee said that an acquaintance asked her if she could not tell that he was "from a mixed background" because of his skin and she said that, yes, compared to all the others he is lighter, but she doesn't look at him as different from them because in the US there is such a wide range of color amongst African Americans.
They were relaxing and about to sit down to dinner and a box of wine Andy managed to haul back with him and they were hopefully that it would knock them out for the night. She said it is unbearable at night right now. You wake up in the middle of the night completely naked and completely drenched in sweat with no relief in site. Makes for difficult sleeping. Hopefully they slept peacefully for once.
Andy is finally home! Ashlee sounded very relieved. She said that she felt safe enough from strangers as her neighbors are very protective of her and would come to her aid, but she was more worried about other things. She said every mosquito that hit the net at night made her jump. One day she found a snake skin outside the outhouse and so she used the bucket inside the rest of the time. She said all she could think of was getting bit on the butt and having to run to the neighbors' and pull down her pants and try to explain that they need to suck out the poison.
I was curious about the adds from the newspaper that she sent in the last letter and so I asked if the people actually believe in all the charms and spells. She said they absolutely believe in it and it is called juju. She said even the Christians believe in it. It is a big part of the culture, but one she can't really understand.
The first rain was all they heard it would be. Terribly loud and it lasted for hours. She said that she was so glad that Andrea sent ear plugs and sleeping pills as it will be very difficult to fall asleep in the storm.
It has been ridiculously hot. The have been spending several hours each afternoon lying of their concrete floor.
For now Andy is not allowed to ride a bike or to gather water so Ashlee has been doing that and riding into town for things they need and to check the mail. He is feeling fine, but is on restricted duty for a while.
The workshop they did last week was very successful and Ashlee was very energized by it. It was a nutrition workshop with two parts: Eat a Healthy Diet and Grow a Healthy Diet. She said many of their response to the things they were teaching them were interesting. They would not believe her concerning the amount of water the should drink. Their cups are very small and so they were teaching them that they need to drink 12-16 cups of water each day. That was astounding to them considering most of them drink only 1-2 cups per day. One man asked if it was bad that he only drinks monkoya, the fermented corn drink that is popular. One person asked if it was bad to only pee once per day. She said they have absolutely no concept of a balanced diet or any basic nutritional concepts.
She learned some interesting statistics about their village. First it has approximately 500 people. The education level is typically the 8th grade. There is one person in the village with a 9th grade education, 1 with a 2 year college degree and 1 with a university degree. That means that Andy and Ashlee triple those statistics alone. The people ask a lot of interesting questions like: Are there black people in the United States? Which she says they know there are because they know rappers and singers like R. Kelly and 50 Cent, but they do not relate the two. They are also quick to recognize the difference in skin tone between African Americans and themselves. Ashlee said that an acquaintance asked her if she could not tell that he was "from a mixed background" because of his skin and she said that, yes, compared to all the others he is lighter, but she doesn't look at him as different from them because in the US there is such a wide range of color amongst African Americans.
They were relaxing and about to sit down to dinner and a box of wine Andy managed to haul back with him and they were hopefully that it would knock them out for the night. She said it is unbearable at night right now. You wake up in the middle of the night completely naked and completely drenched in sweat with no relief in site. Makes for difficult sleeping. Hopefully they slept peacefully for once.
Friday, October 17, 2008
12 October 2008
Aimee Gray
When we spoke to Andy on Sunday he was starting to get bored with Lusaka. Initially we tried to call Ashlee, but she didn't pick up. Andy said that the first rain storm of the season had been through a few days earlier and Ashlee probably had not had any sun to charge the phone. Ashlee left for their home on Monday as she had a large presentation coming up and Andy had to stay in Lusaka for physical therapy and to get a temporary crown on his tooth. Their friend and nearest PC volunteer, Sarah, stayed with Ashlee a part of the week and had been with her through the storm, so that was a relief.
After Ashlee left Andy was moved to a host family. He said it was a beautiful home with all the amenities of home. He has been spending his days jumping on a mini bus and riding around to various parts of the city. One day he made friends with a local man who invited him over to watch rugby for a while. On another day he was nosing the Presidential Palace and pretended that he did not know where he was and buddied up with one of the guards who let him on to the grounds. He said it was loaded with different types of monkeys. So he got a first hand look of the palace grounds. He visited the National Museum which he said was quite interesting. He has also been visiting several hotels to scope out the best place for us to stay when we visit next spring. He said the most interesting and "mind blowing" places is the city market. It is packed with every type of vendor and people everywhere frantically trying to sell you their wares. I can' t wait to see it all.
When we spoke to Andy on Sunday he was starting to get bored with Lusaka. Initially we tried to call Ashlee, but she didn't pick up. Andy said that the first rain storm of the season had been through a few days earlier and Ashlee probably had not had any sun to charge the phone. Ashlee left for their home on Monday as she had a large presentation coming up and Andy had to stay in Lusaka for physical therapy and to get a temporary crown on his tooth. Their friend and nearest PC volunteer, Sarah, stayed with Ashlee a part of the week and had been with her through the storm, so that was a relief.
After Ashlee left Andy was moved to a host family. He said it was a beautiful home with all the amenities of home. He has been spending his days jumping on a mini bus and riding around to various parts of the city. One day he made friends with a local man who invited him over to watch rugby for a while. On another day he was nosing the Presidential Palace and pretended that he did not know where he was and buddied up with one of the guards who let him on to the grounds. He said it was loaded with different types of monkeys. So he got a first hand look of the palace grounds. He visited the National Museum which he said was quite interesting. He has also been visiting several hotels to scope out the best place for us to stay when we visit next spring. He said the most interesting and "mind blowing" places is the city market. It is packed with every type of vendor and people everywhere frantically trying to sell you their wares. I can' t wait to see it all.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
How to hate a goat....
Andrew G.
Fritz
Ok, so I'm sure most of you have heard news by now of my crash. Since the codeine is wearing off I figured I would get around to sending out an email. To begin with, the circumstances are ridiculous. Riding my bike back from what will be a new volunteer site in our district next year I was clipped in the rear tire by a fast moving sedan. Here's the best part, though - it was so they could avoid hitting a goat. Consequently, I have decided to organize an anti-goat campaign in Kasempa (which is undoubtedly doomed to failure due to the fact that goats are the village equivalent to a bank account) for the remainder of my service. After clipping my bike, I lost control and veered down an embankment beyond the shoulder. The driver continued to speed away as I stated cursing them in both English and Kaonde, a testament to the fact that in times of stress I can count on my language skills in this country.
Gaining speed as I went, my body decided that it would be a thrilling ride if I continued this path without my bike as I shot over the handlebars. I managed to tuck myself into as much of a ball as I could, which helped significantly with lessening the bodily impact, and began a comfortable roll over fairly grassy terrain. Unfortunately, the large tree in my path thwarted my efforts to walk away without injury. I took the brunt of the impact with my right arm, shoulder, face, and head. After a few minutes of unconscious relaxation, I awoke to find blood starting to come out of my mouth with several pieces of teeth. I put my teeth in my bike bag, dusted off the broken helmet, bent my rear derailleur back into place, and began the roughly 20 kilometer ride back home.
Later that day, a doctor Ashlee and I know at the local mission hospital gave me an initial checkup to ensure no neurological damage. We spent the night at his family's home and went to Solwezi in the morning with help from our forestry office. After putting my arm in a sling and munching some ibuprofen, our Peace Corps liason for Nortwestern Province took me fill out a police report and get donuts. The donuts were great on the painfully long bus ride to Lusaka the next day. After arriving in Lusaka, I have had numerous doctors and dentists poking, prodding, and taking x-rays with some fortunate results. Apparently, I am quite a blessed young man.
The roots of my teeth are intact, and healthy - so I only have to be fitted for a crown and fill two small chips. There are no broken bones, only a slight separation in my shoulder which will heal itself with the aid of a sling for a few weeks. The majority of the damage is to soft tissue, which is keeping me in Lusaka for a week of ultrasound therapy followed by exercises I can do in the village. In a few days, all my bruises should be gone, and I will soon be on my way home to wage war on the goats of Kasempa district.
Thank you for all your concern and love. The support system at home makes it much easier to be here. We (Ashlee and I) will let you know if anything changes, or if there are any updates to my condition. In the meantime, if you see a goat - kick it hard for me.
Much love,
andy
FritzOk, so I'm sure most of you have heard news by now of my crash. Since the codeine is wearing off I figured I would get around to sending out an email. To begin with, the circumstances are ridiculous. Riding my bike back from what will be a new volunteer site in our district next year I was clipped in the rear tire by a fast moving sedan. Here's the best part, though - it was so they could avoid hitting a goat. Consequently, I have decided to organize an anti-goat campaign in Kasempa (which is undoubtedly doomed to failure due to the fact that goats are the village equivalent to a bank account) for the remainder of my service. After clipping my bike, I lost control and veered down an embankment beyond the shoulder. The driver continued to speed away as I stated cursing them in both English and Kaonde, a testament to the fact that in times of stress I can count on my language skills in this country.
Gaining speed as I went, my body decided that it would be a thrilling ride if I continued this path without my bike as I shot over the handlebars. I managed to tuck myself into as much of a ball as I could, which helped significantly with lessening the bodily impact, and began a comfortable roll over fairly grassy terrain. Unfortunately, the large tree in my path thwarted my efforts to walk away without injury. I took the brunt of the impact with my right arm, shoulder, face, and head. After a few minutes of unconscious relaxation, I awoke to find blood starting to come out of my mouth with several pieces of teeth. I put my teeth in my bike bag, dusted off the broken helmet, bent my rear derailleur back into place, and began the roughly 20 kilometer ride back home.
Later that day, a doctor Ashlee and I know at the local mission hospital gave me an initial checkup to ensure no neurological damage. We spent the night at his family's home and went to Solwezi in the morning with help from our forestry office. After putting my arm in a sling and munching some ibuprofen, our Peace Corps liason for Nortwestern Province took me fill out a police report and get donuts. The donuts were great on the painfully long bus ride to Lusaka the next day. After arriving in Lusaka, I have had numerous doctors and dentists poking, prodding, and taking x-rays with some fortunate results. Apparently, I am quite a blessed young man.
The roots of my teeth are intact, and healthy - so I only have to be fitted for a crown and fill two small chips. There are no broken bones, only a slight separation in my shoulder which will heal itself with the aid of a sling for a few weeks. The majority of the damage is to soft tissue, which is keeping me in Lusaka for a week of ultrasound therapy followed by exercises I can do in the village. In a few days, all my bruises should be gone, and I will soon be on my way home to wage war on the goats of Kasempa district.
Thank you for all your concern and love. The support system at home makes it much easier to be here. We (Ashlee and I) will let you know if anything changes, or if there are any updates to my condition. In the meantime, if you see a goat - kick it hard for me.
Much love,
andy
Saturday, October 4, 2008
4 October 2008
Well it has been a crazy week in the Fritz hut-hold. As Bev reported earlier this week, Andy was in an accident on his bike on Tuesday. He was cruising along on his bike when a woman in a car swerved to avoid hitting a goat and got his back tire. He went off the road and was able to tuck and roll, fast thinker! The bad part is that he rolled right into a tree. Fortunately he had his helmet on. He hit his head and shoulder on the tree. He chipped two teeth, sheared off a molar and hurt his shoulder. Two lessons we all can learn: There are women drivers everywhere and you are always second place to somebody else's goat.Andy was able to ride a good distance home where I am sure he scared Ashlee half to death. They called the forestry department and three hours later someone arrived in a vehicle and took them into Kasempa. When I heard from Ashlee she said not to worry because she has his teeth in her purse....alrighty then. They went to the hospital where their American doctor friend came out of surgery to examine Andy. He thought that he was fine but needed to x-ray his shoulder and get his teeth repaired which required traveling to
Ashlee said their PC contact was awesome and she was in touch with them every 30 minutes to an hour that day to check on Andy. She kept asking Ashlee if Andy was acting strange. Ashlee said, "Actually, yes, but I assure you that is quite normal." The same lady made all their arrangements for doctor's appointments and a hotel for them in
They had three doctor's visit on Friday. Ashlee had a funny side note. She said that the doctor's offices had a lot of American magazines and so she grabbed one to catch up on some gossip. She looked at the magazines and they were all from 2001 and 2002. She said that reading material is like currency there and American writings are highly coveted. They had Andy's shoulder x-rayed and found out that he needs physical therapy for two weeks. They saw a dentist that said that Andy's molar was sheared off but is still alive so they will be able to crown it. So Andy will need to stay in
They are currently staying in a Chinese hotel in
It was Ashlee's birthday 26th on Saturday. Kinda of a stressful way to spend your birthday, but they did have a nice day. They went out for a good breakfast and had cappuccino which they were psyched about. Then they went to a movie with some other volunteers: House Bunny. Didn't sound like they would recommend it, but did say there were some funny lines about PC volunteers that made them all laugh. When we talked to them yesterday they had just returned to the hotel from the movie because Andy was not feeling well. He was sick to his stomach and had a fever. Ashlee thought that he was just exhausted. He was going to lay down for a while and if he wasn't feeling well later Ashlee was going to order some Chinese food from the hotel and stay in. Hopefully some rest has him feeling better.
We talked about the weather and their plans for their garden. Ashlee said she may get started on that when she gets back to the village as the rain will soon start. The have built up the grave like beds of soil for planting their wide variety of plants. They have waited until now as hauling water would be very difficult to keep the plants watered but they are considering hiring a village boy to carry water to the plants when the dry season comes around again so they can have more fresh veggies all year. When they left home Ashlee said there were hundreds of thumb sized mangoes on the trees in their yard. That will be fabulous when they start to ripen! I am sure they will eat themselves sick.
Ashlee said they received two packages last week: The birthday box that Bev sent and a box from her coworkers from
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