Enumeration

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."