Wow! so much has happened in the last week. We left on the 18th and flew to London. In London, we had a 10 hour layover so we (the Africa-bound SALTers) went the the National Art Museum there. Then we flew 10 hours to Johannesburg. That was a LONG flight. When we finally got to Lusaka I was very tired.
In Lusaka, we stayed at the MCC guest house which is connected to the country reps home. We were there for three days, during that time we got our work permits and got adjusted to
Zambian time.
On Thursaday, Mark and I left to go to Southern province. He is living in Batoka and I am in Sikalongo. They are about a 20 min drive from each other. The drive from Lusaka to Sikalongo reminded me of driving through western KS/eastern CO because it is very dry and brown here this time of year.
Sikalongo is a very nice quiet place, especially now because school is on holiday until September. However, the downside of this is that there is not much going on, so I have spent most of the past two days reading. (I've been reading "Irresistible Revelution" and highly recommend it). I am very thankful for the MCC library in Lusaka otherwise I would be very bored.
I still have not met my host parents because they are away at a convention. They should be home on sunday. I have met their three daughters and one of their sons who has accompanied me to Choma today. His name is Clifford. He has been a big help in getting me aquainted with life in Sikalongo. Also I still do not know what specific subjects I will be teaching. I am guessing that I won't learn that until school starts in September.
It has been a very interesting experience being the minority. There have been several times when I knew people were talking about me but I could not understand what they were saying. (My language training begins on Monday and goes for a week -- it will not be enough but it will help). Also the children usually have one of three reactions when they see me. They either stare, giggle, or try to follow me and see how close they can get before I turn around and they run away.
But overall, everyone is very friendly.

Greetings to all,

Currently I am in Akron, Pennsylvania for a week of orientation. Orientation basically consists of a couple seminars in the morning and a couple in the afternoon, covering things like how to adjust to a new culture, personality tests -- turns out I'm an introvert , and expectations/goals for the year. In one form we were asked what we expect to miss the least. I put "cats," as in the 20+ cats that rule the Stutzman plantation. Accordingly, "cats," and my desire to get away from them, was also my answer to the question asking why I chose to go overseas for a year. (Just kidding, Mom.)

This Saturday I will be leaving for Zambia. Once there I will have some in country orientation before I begin teaching. I have learned that the Sikalongo School has about 600 students and my classes could consist of 50 to 60 students! I have also learned that the staple food is called Nshima and is sort of like corn-meal.

Overall, orientation has been very helpful thus far. Perhaps not so much through the seminars -- although those have been helpful -- but more through talking with other SALTers who are in the same life situation and share the same excitement and concerns as me.

Well, I am not sure when I will be able to blog again, but before I go, I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support and say that I would love to get an email from you: tyler_stutzman64@hotmail.com.

--TS