Last week of training

Training is finally ending next week, and we will be officially swearing in on May 7th. Today, we had our Final Language Proficiency interview. I had a role playing situation for my interview in which I had to explain to a village headman what I was going to do in the village and why I was there. The good thing was, when I visited my village a few weeks ago, I was faced with that exact situation in real life. I am very anxious about getting to my village. It's the situation I have been thinking about since I decided to apply for Peace Corps; getting dropped off in a village and being there for 3 months until you can return to civilization. I'm very excited about getting used to being there. I have been selected to give a speech in Lunda at the swearing in ceremony next week in Lusaka. I will be thanking everyone involved in training us. Here's the speech I have written...

Budidi mwani. Atwimushi mwani.
Ijina dami yami Larry Maurin. Kwimenaku mabwamu jami akashikola mu Peace Corps, tunazang'alali kwikala kunu.

Tunakukeng'a kusakilila mfulumendi ya United States of America hakututemesha kwinza nakuzatila mu Zambia.

Chamuchiyedi, tunakukeng'a kusakilila mfulumendi ya Zambia ha kutwiteja kwinza na kuzatila kunu.

Chamuchisatu, tunakukeng'a kusakilila ankong'i ejima amu Peace Corps, swejee antang'ishi a madimi, chisemwa, na Technical ha kuwunda kwanyichima yawu hadetu.

A Lunda ahoshang'a nawu: Winu wambachi wekala mukachi.
(This means: The dance of the tortoise is within)

Nasakilili mwani.

I will be getting to the provincial house next week, so I will be able to post some more pictures. I have photos of my house from my visit to my village. My house is not quite a hut; it has 5 rooms and glass windows, something not common in villages in Zambia. It's the nicest volunteer house I have seen in this country. My host is a pineapple farmer with 8 acres.

I have a new address effective now:

Larry Maurin
Peace Corps
P.O. Box 13
Ikelenge, Northwestern Province
Zambia, Africa