I'm alive.

Dear Pope, President Obama,Prime Minister,Aretha Franklin,Snookie and everyone else who has put their life on complete hold until I update my blog. You may now proceed living...

So here I am, in Zambia doing the damn thing. Life here has been kind of a whirl wind looking back on it thus far but its crazy what you can get used to. I'm sure everyone has a lot questions since I have yet to provide any answers of what my life here is like but rest assured that I have never been happier and my biceps are looking amazing.

Well, here are the basics. I live in a mud hut which probably isn't exactly what you're thinking. Yes it is mud but the mud is formed into bricks and "baked" in "ovens" so it looks like a pretty legit house you'd find in the ghetto of Detroit except with a grass roof. Its two rooms. One I sleep in the other I dont. I have a real bed, thats quite comfortable and I put my clothes in a real dresser. I sleep with real sheets and real pillows. Amazing, right?

Work...I'm a teacher. I'll be teaching grade 8 and 9 math and science to classrooms of about 60 students. I bike to work everyday (almost, but sometimes I get tired and stay home, not gonna lie). It's about a 10k bike ride one way.

Village... I live in Kaflekuma village in Chimba located in Mungwi district in the Northern Province of Zambia. I'm sure you've all heard of it. The trends in my village include Obama t-shirts, missing teeth, mismatch flip flops, the occasional fur coat, night gown and snow suit can also be found on days I like to call, zambian casual friday. Life in the village is grand and besides the bats, rats, snakes, termites and the flies that make me feel like I should be sponsored by some christian white family in America, I'd say I love everything (almost) about mud hutting it.

Food..I cook, then I eat it. Nothing really special there. I have a garden. I grow vegetables. Very Martha Stewart.

I dont really know how to sum up everything I've experienced in a blog post anyone has the time or interest to sit down and read. Above all else I want you to know that Yes, I am happy. Yes, I am safe. Yes, I would do this again 100 times (maybe 99), and Yes, you have to come see it for yourself.

Up,Up and away,
J.Obayan