Can you spare some cinder blocks?

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  Tisengy Pimodzy, Zambia
Thursday, July 13, 2006

Unfortunately/Fortunately depending on how some of us look at it, we've had to take today off from working. Our delivery of cinder blocks didn't arrive last night so we had nothing to build with. Things like this seem to be common here. Either people are on what we have begun to call "Zambian time" or there is simply a shortage since the blocks are made by hand.

We are also getting really tired from sleeping on the cement floors and dealing with the dust and blazing sun every day, so a break may have been divine intervention for us.

Yesterday we learned to mix gravel in with the concrete and laid the floor of our house. The ladies were again assigned to water duty (my least favorite duty at this point) but I managed to finagle my way into the spreading concrete job and even using a pick axe! These are generally not womanly things to do, but I'm glad I got the chance to get away from the water barrels for a little while.

Last night the village Chairman took us around to a few of the villagers houses so we could see how people lived. It was really interesting. Most of them had pretty good amounts of furniture and lots of clocks (?). They have no electricity or running water so they eat by candle light and, for the most part, go to sleep soon after sun down. Some of them did have little black and white TV's that are run by battery. Alot of people had electrical appliances like refridgerators and fans etc. that they collect with the hope they will have power some day. They have a deal with Habitat that they cannot get electricity until they've paid off their house. The mortgage rate fluctuates depending on the price of concrete (which is on the rise) but most estimate they can pay off their house in 5 years. And, the best is that they will own the land with it, which most Zambians don't. Alot of people are uprooted suddenly when the government wants their land back.

Today we went to a reptile park and to a wonderful African craft market. I plan to leave all my tools, and most of my clothes for the village kids so I'll have more room for souvenirs! Apaprently shopping is a universally fun passtime!

That's all for now! Our group is headed back to the village to try Zambian fish for dinner. Apparently one of the village women fishes in a nearby lake. Should be interesting...

Hopefully tomorrow we will finish our house. Things remain good and the people are so wonderful. My only problem is that I miss my husband!!! )::

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