As I was sitting on my new couch on the porch, writing my most recent blogpost, I was enumerated - that is, I was counted! Before I left the US in May, I filled out the 4 page long census document, listing very basic information (I think it was just name and age) of myself and my roommates. In Zambia, there are enumerators (yes, they wear orange traffic vests that say "Enumerator" on the front, and "2010 census" on the back). Over the past month or so, they have been going door to door at every home in Zambia, counting the occupants. They also have a four page long document which they fill out, but rather than the fill in the blank simple questionaire that I received in the states, this is a combination of fill in the blanks and bubble charts that is reminiscent of 7th grade final exams and #2 pencils.
In additon to being asked my name, age, nationality, marital status, number of kids, location as of October last year and length of continuous stay in Lusaka, I was asked questions such as the presence of a TV, radio, landline, mobile phone, internet or latrine inside the house, material used in the building, and how we dispose of refuse (municipal collection).
Unfortunately, the original person who was responsible for doing our enumeration cheated - she came by and put a sticker on the door saying that we had been counted, when she had never taken the time to actually interview us. She was found out however, and so my friendly counter took off the old sticker, and replaced it with a new one attesting to the fact we are now, officially, counted in the Zambian 2010 census. As Dennis said, "welcome to Zambia." As my guard Alex said, "we are now officially Zambian."
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Giving Thanks
A quick look at the left side of my blog informs me I haven't written a post since August. Perhaps the fact that my mom has long since stopped bugging me to update my blog should have been a good indication that I was long overdue. Busy weekend, patchy internet connections and perhaps a bit of laziness have come between me and my blog, but with the Thanksgiving turkey finally finished, I have decided I shouldn't wait until January to start on my New Year's resolution - doing better at staying in touch.
It is a lazy Sunday morning in Lusaka; hot and sunny. A stop by the nearest shopping mall for an iced latte this morning found the Sunday curio market already in full swing. I have already spent far too much money this weekend, so I didn't stay. Perhaps I'll swing by in the afternoon and try to pick up some few last christmas presents.
It is amazing to realize that December is just a few short days away. I find it confusing to think that in another part of the world it is cold - even snowy. In another place, I would probably be playing Christmas music right now, the rule was always no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. Still, it seems mighty strange to play chrismas music while I sit on my front porch sweating at 10 in the morning, and I can hear the airconditioner humming outside the room of my still asleep roommate.
We had a lovely Thanksgiving feast on Thursday. I took the day off of work, as did two of my American friends, and we cooked quite a feast, all completely from scratch. Turkey, gravey, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, wild rice and quiche all graced our table, as well as many bottles of wine, apple pie and bread pudding. In the evening, we sat around the living room - Zambians and the odd Canadian and Irishman outnumbering the Americans, but all still enjoying the friendship, laughter, and sleepy post meal haze that Thanksgiving brings. Unlike many other holidays, Thanksiving is an easy concept to explain - it is a day to give thanks for the many blessings in your life, and of course having food on our table and friends to share it with are two of the fundemental necessities in life. Many cultures have traditions that celebrate the harvest, including some of the tribes in Zambia. Of course this time of year - the beginning of the rainy season - is not the harvest season, it is the time to till the soil and begin planting, but it still seems a good time to take stock of all the things I am thankful for. I am extremely grateful for the good friends I have both here and all over the world, and was happy to share a feast to honor them. It was also a chance to think of people and traditions I am missing out on - I thought of my brother, cousins, aunt and uncles sitting around a table (likely with many dogs present as well) in Cazenovia, I thought of my dad in Amherst with his mom and brother, and what it must be to celebrate their first Thanksgiving without my Grandfather, and I thought of my mom and grandmother in boston. I thought of Lizzy and her extended family - their annual pie making party, family soccer game and 2 story dessert party. After everyone had left - sleepy and full by 9pm, I turned on the TV. Because I am currently housesitting for someone with the full cable package, I was able to watch ESPN, and managed to turn on the TV in time to see the last 2 minutes of the Patriots game. Afterwards, I talked to my mom and grandma as they made their way to their 4pm dinner reservations.
It is a lazy Sunday morning in Lusaka; hot and sunny. A stop by the nearest shopping mall for an iced latte this morning found the Sunday curio market already in full swing. I have already spent far too much money this weekend, so I didn't stay. Perhaps I'll swing by in the afternoon and try to pick up some few last christmas presents.
It is amazing to realize that December is just a few short days away. I find it confusing to think that in another part of the world it is cold - even snowy. In another place, I would probably be playing Christmas music right now, the rule was always no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. Still, it seems mighty strange to play chrismas music while I sit on my front porch sweating at 10 in the morning, and I can hear the airconditioner humming outside the room of my still asleep roommate.
We had a lovely Thanksgiving feast on Thursday. I took the day off of work, as did two of my American friends, and we cooked quite a feast, all completely from scratch. Turkey, gravey, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, wild rice and quiche all graced our table, as well as many bottles of wine, apple pie and bread pudding. In the evening, we sat around the living room - Zambians and the odd Canadian and Irishman outnumbering the Americans, but all still enjoying the friendship, laughter, and sleepy post meal haze that Thanksgiving brings. Unlike many other holidays, Thanksiving is an easy concept to explain - it is a day to give thanks for the many blessings in your life, and of course having food on our table and friends to share it with are two of the fundemental necessities in life. Many cultures have traditions that celebrate the harvest, including some of the tribes in Zambia. Of course this time of year - the beginning of the rainy season - is not the harvest season, it is the time to till the soil and begin planting, but it still seems a good time to take stock of all the things I am thankful for. I am extremely grateful for the good friends I have both here and all over the world, and was happy to share a feast to honor them. It was also a chance to think of people and traditions I am missing out on - I thought of my brother, cousins, aunt and uncles sitting around a table (likely with many dogs present as well) in Cazenovia, I thought of my dad in Amherst with his mom and brother, and what it must be to celebrate their first Thanksgiving without my Grandfather, and I thought of my mom and grandmother in boston. I thought of Lizzy and her extended family - their annual pie making party, family soccer game and 2 story dessert party. After everyone had left - sleepy and full by 9pm, I turned on the TV. Because I am currently housesitting for someone with the full cable package, I was able to watch ESPN, and managed to turn on the TV in time to see the last 2 minutes of the Patriots game. Afterwards, I talked to my mom and grandma as they made their way to their 4pm dinner reservations.
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