Field Visit

My work as Monitoring and Evaluation Officer has not officially kicked off but I have been doing other things which are not directly in my placement objectives. I am not complaining because it keeps me busy however, I am almost reaching to the point of frustration. When I was informed that I will be joining the Food Security Team to field visits back to back with the monitoring visits of one of Caritas Chipata’s funding agency, I eagerly agreed.

Off we traveled South of Chipata, approximately 65 kilometers of bumpy and muddy roads. The place was called Vubwi, one of the VODP which is part of Chadiza District. It was good that along the way, the vehicles didn’t get stock in the mud. There were two vehicles in convoy, and I traveled with the funding agency’s car. There was a bend on the road which was really muddy where we lost sight of the other vehicle only to find out that they have given a lift to a dead body. Yes, a dead body! I learned afterwards that they picked these people by the road close to the Adventist hospital. Another shocking culture for me because in the Philippines, you would not normally travel a corpse in any vehicle but from a funeral home. I assumed that they probably failed to refuse because there was a nun seated at the front seat of the vehicle. I was relieved that I was not in that vehicle.

After the long trip, we arrived at our destination and the first thing I looked for after the introductions was a toilet. I was shown the toilet which was open pit type and large flies flying out of it. Unable to control how I was feeling, I braved to enter the toilet only to pee on the floor because I failed to bear the flies coming out of the pit latrine.

There was a prepared programme for the monitoring visit of the funding agency representative. I would say a very formal one since it was complete with opening and closing remarks and long messages. After the programme, we proceeded to see the fields of some of the Food Security Programme beneficiaries. I was impressed by the large fields of maize and sunflower. I learned that sunflower is the major source of oil of the people in Zambia. We also visited the hog-raising project which was a communal one. I was surprised that this scheme seem to be successful compared to the Philippines where such project type fails. After the field visits, there was another processing session with the same long speeches.

Courtesy call to the parish priest was done after lunch. Vubwi is a good hideaway place if you want a quiet weekend. It was so cool and probably since it is rainy season, there were greens all over. I also learned that there are saints called Uganda Martyrs. They were the first Christians burned in Uganda when they tried to do their missionary work. The brief courtesy call was the last activity after which we proceeded to Chipata through the border.

I have learned and realized so many things during the field visits in line with culture and probably social aspects. During one of the visits, we have found a family eating with bare hands with flies all over their food. I also realized that learning the language is really important. With my line of work, I must learn how to speak their local language so I would be able to communicate with the people. Through the field visits, I was able to gain insights on how I would approach the M&E when I start the real work on systems installation.

Noche Buena

Litsong manok (grilled chicken, the Filipino way), banana cake, spaghetti, rice and a bottle of Amarula (a drink made of cream with fruits of the marula tree, otherwise known as elephant tree) were on the table as noche Buena meals. I invited over the 3 priests from the Mchini Parish (where I take meals at least once a week) but only the two, Fr. Richard and Fr. Aaron made it because Fr. Odron was assigned in another district. However, Brother Charles, a seminarian joined as well. It was a simple evening which started with drinks to keep everyone awake, well not alcoholic drinks but coffee and tea. While reheating food, Christmas songs from the computer were playing to feel the spirit of Christmas at home since there was no single decoration because I decided to keep my attention away from the holidays. But it was inevitable so the meals compensated for the lack of feel of Christmas at home. Of course prior to eating was the serious and wacky shots…photo ops…so called.

The meals started with a prayer, I think it was impossible not to say grace before meals with priests around. I was happy that everyone appreciated the food I cooked. They were not extraordinary but they were well done, the cake, pasta and chicken. While sharing the meals we also shared the traditional Filipino Christmas. And I was able to do my global education using the national symbols and map posted on one side of my seating room walls, as visual aids. Unfortunately, I failed to show the miniature jeepney that was also on display.

The evening ended after almost three hours of chatting, sharing laughter and cultures. It was a good celebration, surviving Christmas away from home and making the most of the situation. I was glad and happy that the priests shared the evening with me. I remember back home, our Parish Priest was also at our home for the Noche Buena, so more or less, it was similar. Life is what you make it, I guess, you can sulk if you want but you can also be happy if you want to be. It’s up to you to choose which one you want.

Christmas Midnight Mass

Failure to travel to Malawi right at the start of our office break was a positive thing eventually because I was able to experience Christmas in Zambia. I was wondering when I learned that mass starts at 7.30 in the evening which was quite early compared with the one I usually have at 10.30 or so in the Philippines. Fortunately, I was able to cook the food for Noche Buena late in the afternoon since there was nothing to keep me busy anyways. Besides, I anticipated power cut and if it happened during evening Christmas meal would be spoiled. I was with two other Filipino volunteers to celebrate it with. We started off to church at 7.30 anticipating that mass would start late as usual. However, we did not foresee that walking would be difficult since the road from my place was not flat but rather bumpy and clayish. Apart from this, it was dark and we were really groping on our way to the church. Because of these unanticipated situations, we arrived late for the mass and we have to squeeze ourselves in the available seats which were at the men’s side. Culturally, men and women have separate sides inside the church. They cannot sit together. On this occasion we were excused probably because we were “mzungus”. Initially, I was comfortably seated which lasted for less than 30 minutes. People became busy when the stage play started reenacting Christmas Day from annunciation to the birth of Jesus Christ. The skit took sometime to finish. People keep on moving alternately sitting and standing in order to watch the performance. At this point, I failed to bear the heat and lack of air. I stood up by the door to inhale cool air outside the church. It relieved me but I was not able to find a seat so I have to stand up during the entire performance that lasted for a long time. I have observed that people were excitedly watching the play and whenever there is opportunity for dancing, it was lovely to see them swaying their body and moving their arms as a form of praise. This is another practice I find different the way it is done in the Philippines because Filipinos don’t dance during masses. One striking observation I had during the mass was people’s enthusiasm when a thanksgiving song was sung by the choir. Almost everyone stood up to praise through singing and dancing. It was a very lively celebration although it lasted for almost 5 hours.

After the mass, I went closer to the altar to see the “belen”. I felt sorry that baby Jesus in the manger was a makeshift cloth shaped like a baby. I wished I would have the opportunity to go home during my two-month stay in Zambia so I could bring an image of the baby Jesus that Mchini Parish can put in their “belen” in December. It was humbling on the other hand, that efforts were exerted in order to show to people the importance of the celebration. I was also amazed at the decorations inside the church using rolls of tissue papers. Christmas greetings were exchanged then afterwards; we proceeded to the Fathers’ House for a drink as well as to get a ride since all of us moved together to my house for the noche Buena.

Welcome to 2008

Today is the feast of Epiphany...1st Sunday of the year, yes! it's 2009 already. I couldn't believe it. The year has changed while i am in Zambia...one of my new year's resolution is to keep this blogspot updated as much as possible. I am remaining with more posts from 2008....and to those who regularly (is there anyone anyway?) follow this humble page of mine, watch out for it because i have interesting posts that will be uploaded soon.

I just want to wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR...a peaceful, bountiful and joyful 2009 to all....cheers!