“Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes…how do you measure a year in a life?”
~ “Seasons of Love” from Rent

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In commemoration of my first year anniversary in Zambia (20th April in the country and 24th April in the town of Mazabuka), I unearthed this survey from ages ago and answered it again to help me look back to the significant people, places, events that have been part of my life for the past 12 months.

Here goes:

TEN Random Things About Me (in my present context as a resident of Mazabuka, Zambia)
1. The local name that my colleagues have given me is “Mutinta”—meaning a girl among boys.
2. I miss watching basketball games live!
3. My laptop has been my lifeline in Zambia. Seriously.
4. I prefer power cuts to water interruptions (both of which are day-to-day occurrences in Mazabuka)
5. I haven’t had a proper haircut in a year.
6. It bothers me that I cannot jog in peace in my neighbourhood. (Too many people passing comments, asking for the time, etc.)
7. I am now a reformed insomniac.:)
8. I have discovered that I’m actually a decent cook!
9. I still don’t wear skirts.
10. I still don’t like the color pink.:)

NINE Places I’ve Visited (My favorite ones so far)
1. Victoria Falls, Livingstone (Southern Province, Zambia)
2. South Luangwa National Park, Mfuwe (Eastern Province, Zambia)
3. Zanzibar (Tanzania)
4. Lake Kariba, Siavonga (Southern Province, Zambia)
5. Mongu/Barotseland (Western Province, Zambia) for the Kuomboka Festival
6. Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania)…a lot better than Lusaka!
7. Kitwe (Nothern Province, Zambia)
8. The Kilwas (Tanzania)
9. Petauke District (Eastern Province)…the rainbow capital of Zambia (according to my friend S)!

EIGHT Things I Want To Do Before…I Leave Africa
1. Make sure that the Council is sustainable, resource-wise
2. Build capacity in the grassroots level
3. Visit Egypt
4. Travel to the Northwestern Province
5. Visit Kafue National Park
6. Create a Children’s Book with characters based on the people I’ve met in Mazabuka
7. Create a Zambian-English Dictionary
8. Attend more ceremonies and festivals in different provinces or regions

SEVEN Ways To Win My Heart
1. Be honest.
2. Treat me (and everyone else) as an equal.
3. Make me laugh.
4. Consult. Don’t dictate.
4. Know how to listen.
5. Show consistency.
6. Don’t invade my private space.
7. Don’t just talk. Act!

SIX Things I Believe In
(This hasn’t changed much over time…)

I believe that…
1. “My life is more than a vision. The sweetest part is acting after making a decision…” ~ Indigo Girls (Hammer and Nail)
2. The power of choice transcends one’s capabilities (ala-Harry Potter)
3. Behavior is a function of the interaction of a person’s situation (context) and how s/he perceives that situation (disposition)
I believe in…
4. The power of non-active violence
5. Being a person for others
6. Education as the ultimate development tool
7. A being that which nothing greater can be conceived

FIVE Things I’m Afraid Of
1. Being complacent
2. Being irrelevant
3. Not meeting my placement objectives
4. Losing my independence
5. The vicious dogs in our neighbourhood

FOUR Of My Favorite Items In My Bedroom
(There aren’t a lot of stuff in my bedroom, but…)
1. My bed
2. My mosquito net (which has kept me malaria-free for a year)
3. The plastic Globe that my housemate Inge gave me for my birthday (which constantly reminds me how far I am from home…hehe)
4. Postcards from friends all over the world

THREE Things I Do Everyday
1. Take a bath
2. Walk to work…and walk back home from work
3. Cook dinner

TWO Things I Am Trying Not To Do Right Now
1. Get involve in more projects/activities…I already have too much on my plate
2. Bloat my expenses

ONE Person I Want To See Right Now
(It is so hard to choose just one, but…)
1. Bess (my co-volunteer who is finishing her placement in Zambia…so I could properly say goodbye to her)

~pol 4/24/08