Namwianga, Zambia

    1.  Learn how to Knit

Most of the older ladies here know how to knit.  I wanted to learn how to knit so I could master this skill during my time here.  Luckily one of my aunts was kind enough to help me get started on this endeavor before I left.  After starting over twice, I am finally making progress and my scarf is coming along quite nicely.  Hopefully it’ll be finished by the time I come back. 

  1. Use your head

A lot of the women here transport their goods on their head.  This is the ultimate etiquette lesson.  The other day when John, Joseph, and I were coming back from Livingstone, we decided to walk the 7 km back to the house.  I had bought some things that were quite heavy so this was not the easiest walk.  After about 1 km, Joseph suggested that I carry the bag on my head.  This worked for about 5 minutes before I convinced them to take a cab. 

  1. Master tying a chitenge

A chitenge is a wrap that is worn around a woman’s waist.  They are also used to tie a baby onto the mother’s back.  Obviously since I don’t have any children I was using it for the former reason.  I am not a girly girl, so having to wear a skirt everyday has been quite difficult for me.  I would much rather wear jeans and a t-shirt, however it is very important to respect the culture.  So as they say, “when you’re in Rome do as the Romans do.”  It is very difficult to tie one unless you have some put onto the chitenge.  Unfortunately I found that out the hard way.  The first day I wore one without the ties, the chitenge constantly kept coming open.  The Zambian women can effortlessly tie them without any ties made and a baby on their back.  Maybe I can get some tips from the women and actually master this before I leave. 

  1. Learn Tonga

In the southern region where I am staying Tonga is the main language spoken.  Many people can speak multiple languages, especially since there are seventy-two languages spoken within the country of Zambia.  I can’t talk the talk, but apparently I can walk the walk.  I say this because I’ve already had a couple people come up to me speaking in Tonga, but all I could do was stare at them blankly.  So far I’ve mastered about five words in Tonga, so I have a very long way to go. 

      5.  Start a family

The majority of the people here get married quite young and start a family almost immediately.  Everyone will ask me questions in this exact order.  1) How many children do you have?  2) Are you married?  This nurse Freddie told me the timeline for getting a spouse, which ironically sounds just like the philosophy that most Lipscomb students follow.  For those of you who don’t know what that is, it is to get engaged by your senior year and married the summer after you graduate.  Well I’m just going to have to nix this step because I don’t plan on accomplishing this before I leave.    

Although I am rather far away from my goal of becoming a Zambian and have quite a lot of work to do in the time left here, I look forward to learning more about the Zambian culture.  I love being able to experience another culture from a first hand perspective.  It has been an amazing experience so far and I enjoy every day of it.