I Love Livingstone!

I do, I really love it! First, it reminds me of the Dells and anything that reminds me of Wisconsin has to be good. Second, here's what I did today:
Went to see Victoria Falls, gorgeous as always
Walked across the top of the falls!
Swam in a natural pool on top of the falls!
Saw baboons, and by saw I mean turned around and two were sneaking up on me, plus the main ones we had been watching, about 3 ft in front of us :)
Had a great lunch, a chimpancheese (4 cheese pizza), egg salad baguette and a pineapple and carmel sundae - eaten in opposite order posted.
Walked around Livingstone a bit....I know that hardly compares
And the day isn't over yet!

Last night, after standing 4 hours in the overcrowded bus to get here, we had a wonderful dinner at an Indian restaurant. I didn't even have to keep asking for more milk, the waitress just brought it:) and it was only K3,000 a glass instead of like 6,000 so I only spent $3 on my milk at dinner :)

tomorrow - more fun fun fun

OH, btw - if interested, you can only walk across / swim at the top of vic falls in aug-mid jan. so if you want to do that you have to come visit then. It really is truly awesome. I can't even describe the view looking down from the top of the falls - I mean come on this is like one of the natural wonders of the world or sumtin and your standing at the vampirin' top! It's AMAZING!

Mom, thanks for the candles and the Christmas stocking and the pics and the cd and the cinnamon taffy:) I love you!

{I probably won't post a lot anymore - the lady at the internet in Monze is being a real vampire so I'm boycotting. I'll post when I'm in L-stone, Lusaka, maybe Serenje. Send letters!}

(Original Post)

Ecstatic

Monze

Well it's Monday and I'm not back in town, I still haven't gotten back to Cheelo!

I arrived here Friday to meet Tim and JJ (our APCD, ie. boss) at the bus station.

Mr. Simate the DEBS - head of the District Education Office in Monze, and also the father of the family Tim lives with, had an asthma attack earlier in the week while at his office. He tried to drive himself to the hospital. Along the way it became too difficult. He flagged someone down and they drove him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The burial was yesterday. (His son Joe, is a good friend of mine and a very close friend of Tim's.) I stayed for the service and burial yesterday.

I'm heading back to Cheelo today - then Wed it's down to Kalomo for Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

(Original Post)

Melancholy

Back in Lusaka and gotta jet down to Monze soon.

On the plane from Jo-Berg to Lusaka I sat next to a lady from the American Embassy in Lusaka. Turns out we were on the same planes all the way from Chicago! And she's friend's with the country director's wife and Nikki, who I stay with in Lusaka, is living in the country director's guest house so I got a ride from the airport all the way there! Awesome!!!!

Mommy and Kiefer, I e-mailed you both back but I don't know if it sent, if not try me again. (mommy e-mail me the word wall file and send the disc to monze)

I miss everyone tons!

(Original Post)

Sad

Sadness

So, I leave tomorrow - well really later today. Pretty much all packed and such. I forgot to run to the post office tonight, guess I'll have to go later.

Send me letters and fun things; I love pictures:
C/O Lenix Kayanda
Chona Middle Basic School
Po Box 393
Monze Zambia

I know it's a long address but you can handle it ;)

(Original Post)

Loved

"Heaven Can Wait" Meatloaf

Ok - to update, the beaver is named O G Beave - and he was named before ODB died. freaky
Everything's been so crazy and I leave in 2 days. I love all my friends and family dearly but sometimes I feel the time I'm supposed to try to make for all of them is taxing me beyond ...whatever - I shouldn't complain - I wouldn't trade anything for these past 2 weeks! I leave tomorrow! (At least I have 2 nights left in my bed since it's the middle of the night now).

By the way - that's not a horse, it's a goat.


(Original Post)

Sad

"Deadly Care" Tangerine Dream

I had a really fun day today. First I went and talked to a classroom full of 15 and 16 year olds, for 2 hours! I was worried at first but it was great and a lot of fun. Then I went out to visit the guys from the phy plant and Jonathan even came out to the bar! Holy vampire! And the way things are looking now, the nights just going to keep getting better ;)


I'm having too much fun, do I have to leave so soon?

(Original Post)

One of those silly quizzes

Category IV - The
Musketeer

You have a small, highly edited social group, and
you like it that way.


What Type of Social Entity are You?
brought to you by Quizilla


Well, do you guys agree? ;)

(Original Post)

Request for Help

I need a ghetto fab name for my beaver...any suggestions?

(Original Post)

Oh Dear

I am putting this in here because it really is accurate!

You Know You're African When...

You carry positively EVERYTHING on your head, including huge slabs of raw meat

20 minutes after you have dried from a shower you are wet again from sweat it doesn't take that long

30 degrees is cold 30!? try 60

Water is sold in plastic bags (and juice, and ice, and cooking oil… and just about any other liquid you can sell) We even buy milk in plastic baggies!

"The bush" is the desert

The asking price is always at least three times what is reasonable if you're white

No matter how you cook your meal, there’s always sand in it

Everyone's big dream is to go to “America” this is so true it isn't even funny - ppl have even sd they want to be slaves or wish their ancestors had been

There are more lizards than people at least the lizards don't eat my stuff or pee on me

(Original Post)

Silly

Wow! My days have been busy and crazy and yes, a little strange and random. But woohoo for that! .... i think

(Original Post)

i love silliness

Great quote from Katrina: "Ewwwww, now I have Justin and paisley cooties!"

And her favorite part of her presents - the little plastic cap that comes on the plug for her lava lamps - not the lamps, the PLASTIC CAP!

(Original Post)

Too much fun!

Perhaps I owe her an apology, but really, it is rather fitting. Now whenever someone says something stupid my mommy calls it "pulling an Emily."
Example: Daddy says he has to open the potato chips to eat some because he's drinking Asti. Wendy says, "why? does Asti make you thirsty?"
So Daddy asked if English is a second language for her....Mom said common sense is - hee hee. I love you Emily!!!!!

Katrina's birthday party was great fun it seemed - I stayed away for most of it, but we did all TIME WARP! Way good fun.

And last night was a party of Matts - and girls and Bob - poor Bob - lol

Guess that's all for now - leave me messages, I like them :)

(Original Post)

Way too funny

So for some odd reason I thought I'd try this thing from Emily's journal a long long time ago and it was so ridiculous I had to post it here.
Well Andrea, Lupe, Little and Ang - guess we have some planning to do ;) I don't know how Lupe is going to get me to a democratic convention though.

Which LJ friends will you sleep with?
LJ Username
Favorite Color	redblueyellowpurplegreenorangepinkwhiteblackbrown
Are you drunk?
Sex in the backseat of a car	andrea4103
Sex at a democratic convention	lupeslife
Sex on a nude beach	ccmathgeek
Hottest sex of your life	braves440
Sex rating - 2%
Number of times you will orgasm	99
This QuickKwiz by akasha82 - Taken 98990 Times.

Get Free Daily Horoscopes from Kwiz.Biz

(Original Post)

Lesbians Who Don't Eat Feet and That Farmer with a Computer

I have not laughed that hard in a long long long time!

Happy 16th Katrina (yesterday)! My little sister is getting so big *sniff* - thanks for Gibby ;) Glad you liked your surprise - hee hee.

I can't even thank you guys enough - that was a wonderful night, full of many random surprises! Hooray for alcohol that comes in a bottle, not a bag, and for bathrooms with their own supply of toilet paper and soap. And WOO HOO for sisters :) (and pseudo-sisters that think I'm their co-worker's wife). So so many great comments and random things - but the best, I think: "What is that?!" upon me picking up, from my plate, a knife! Apparently these are new and unusual around here. ;)

Whenever this new Eminem cd actually comes out - I NEED to find it!

well now, I think it's time to take a nice hot shower - BECAUSE I CAN!!!!!!!! (and I don't want to smell funny)

(Original Post)

Ecstatic

"Roses" - Outkast

Wow

So it is def. the 1st time in a long time that I have even SEEN cognac - it's not Hennessey, but still!

(Original Post)

[No Title]

How many of you sit around the bar drinking your beer, soda, etc. talking about what you can possibly do to help your friends that are dying of AIDS?

At a recent training of trainers where volunteers brought their Zambian counterparts for training - they offered free and confidential training - every counterpart did it. Of the 15 that tested - 6 tested positive. Over 1/3 of them....

And how often Washington directly influences things.... A group of volunteers was working really hard to put together a camp for girls that would include a large section of HIV/AIDS education. The girls were most excited about the mobile video unit that was coming. This unit is run by an NGO here in Zambia and brings a movie screen and all the equipment out to the village so the villagers can learn about HIV/AIDS in a fun and engaging way. But the video unit couldn't come... why? Because the NGO received funds from President Bush's 15 million HIV helping money and there is a stipulation on those funds that no NGO receiving them can teach condom use to people under 18. The NGOs, per OUR government's requirement, may teach only abstinence to "children". The video unit could not guarantee that it would not be teaching condom use and so - no funding - no coming - no video unit for the village, no fun exciting HIV/AIDS training.

In the village - by 18, most girls have been married awhile and already have several children. How can we determine what is right or wrong for a completely different culture? Esp. w/o any cross-cultural research?

red tape politics and meanwhile - education is interrupted, people are continuing their behavior, people are infecting others, people are dieing...needlessly

(Original Post)

Irritated

Am I really in a Third World country?

Welcome to Lusaka where the playas play
And we ride on them things like every day
Big beats, hit streets, see gangsta's roamin'
And parties don't stop til' eight in the mornin'


Up to Lusaka to celebrate Halloween with the crew (last night).
The movie on the bus ride up here (China Strike Force) was so bad that Coolio was the best actor!

The first night we went to the Alpha Bar. One girl had a couple of guys following her, and another girl had something slipped in her drink and passed out in the bathroom, cracked her face on the toilet. We didn't stay long.

Yesterday we had Italian food at a great restaurant, went to a movie, had wonderful Chinese food and then we headed off for the Marine house, but we were too late for the party (it ended before 10.) So on Halloween night, we walked down a path lined on both sides with broad flat tress, eerie clouds drifting over the almost full moon - and no lie - bats flying at our heads. It was a fun walk :)

Some people left this morning, others are leaving tomorrow (including me). There's a huge event in Solwezi - CIST (combined in-service training) for our whole training group, both programs. Almost everyone is going to be there - the first organized event for all of us since April!
Gotta love Lusaka - way good fun!

(Original Post)

Rejuvenated

Been awhile

So the internet's been down for a bit - here's a bunch of stuff I've been meaning to write:

Here people tend to have two names, one "English" and one "Tonga". I thought Chipo only had that name but I just found out he has another, though I have no idea how this is Tonga. You'll have to know our family really well to understand why, but this is absolutely hilarious!!!! His Tonga name is: Barnabas!

I can def. tell I've gained weight - but I think I look better. Is that strange? ...maybe it has something to do with the fact that there are no mirrors ;)

Last week or so Ba Feya called me something I have never been called before. "Kwenya" Now of course I've never been called that before it's Tonga, right? except that in English it means "normal". Should I be offended?

Last bike trip to town I passed a guy riding with a coffin strapped to the back of his bike. If that wasn't strange enough, it was painted bright purple.

(Original Post)

A Bet

I forgot this story, somehow, from the party night in Kalomo.

Shane keeps insisting that I'm a lot taller than I am. A LOT of people do actually. But I always tell them, 'no, no, I'm five nine and three quarters.'
Shane didn't believe me and bet me 10 pin that I'm closer to 5'11 than 5'9.75". We marked me on the wall in the Kalomo house and measured it - exactly 5'9.75"! I win :) And now everybody's on the wall.

My dad is silly - "ice down your knee".... oh sure, let me just open up my freezer...oh wait, I don't have one, guess I'll have to walk down the hall to the ice machine - oh, I don't even have a HALL!

Mom, I sent you a letter today and I got the last package - woo hoo :)

(Original Post)

And we're back...

Our last night in Lusaka - we went out to the Irish pub. It was one of the bestest nights ever - I had 4 glasses of milk, garlic cheese bread, yummy soup - and then we went next door to get ice cream. I get my ice cream cone, dipped in carmel coating. I'm standing there holding my delicious yummy scrumptious rare treat, I turn around and EMINEM IS ON THE TV! It was so wonderful. I just stood there staring, didn't even touch my ice cream - trying not to drool. What a night!

We didn't stay in Monze the next night, made it all the way to Kalomo. Stopped at the Choma sports bar and played darts - I kicked vampire. Still lost some but I played well. We got into Kalomo pretty late and then had a fun few days.

We went impala hunting - Shane shot one right in the head! Saw lots of animals on the game ranch, impala, eland, zebra, waterbuck, etc, even ostrich! I decorated the bar in the house like my old walls in the dorm with magazine pics and everyone liked it :) And we hung Tim's friend's pic on the wall (Josie Maran) from a mag too.


The next day we had the first ever Southern Provincial meeting - really long. That night we had a BBQ with eland, impala, maybe even zebra - I don't know, didn't eat it. Great party that night - the whole Southern Province crew, Shane, Mateyo (now I've learned to spell it), Chris from Eastern Prov and a bunch of white farmers from the area. Everyone else got pretty drunk (other than Ariel, who's mormon). I had 2ltrs of milk :) I danced all night - until the old Indian guy tried to grab me and the farmer that took us hunting - Chesney - made some rude comments. But it was a fun time.

Next day it was off to L-Stone. Loads of fun. Hung out at the backpackers, played pool. Sunday we went white-water rafting. Shane, Josh, Amanda, Cathy, her bf Mark, myself and 2 German women from Koln were in one raft. We flipped twice - great time! Tim, Aiyisha, Ariel, Heather, Mateyo, Chris, Heather's friend Bryan and some other random ppl were in another raft. They flipped 3 times. Heather and Aiyisha and Mateyo sd they never want to do it again - wussies ;)

Today - back in Monze - tomorrow it's back home to Cheelo. I miss my Zam-Fam. It was a great couple of weeks - but I'll be glad to be back.

Hope everyone's well :)

(Original Post)

Thankful

LSK is crazy!

I'm in Lusaka - boy has it been a crazy week/end. I'll sum it up for you.

I left my hut at 04:00 on Thursday morning, had to walk the 1st 10k, too dark to see the road, even w/ my light - did see some little creature with glowing eyes, hope it was vegetarian, glad it didn't chase me!

A double-decker bus, coach bus and 2 mini buses later, I was in Serenje - arrival time: 19:00! What a trip. There weren't enough seats on the 1st bus so I had to sit in the baggage hold behind the drivers - pretty appropriate for a girl who took naps in an overhead storage compartment. It was actually nicer and more comfy than the reg seats.

Friday we had the party at Provincials =- Circus theme. This great crazy guy Steve was the ringmaster. He recited this poem about how much Central Prov rocks, just as he was finishing, Doc lit the fireworks and as the fireworks went off and Steve finished the poem, the circus music started! It was awesome!!! (Where do we get circus music in Zambia? My cd collection - hee hee. The fireworks, full size, were from LSK). We even had a popcorn machine and lots of food, 2 pigs this time. Great costumes, Spicer and Booze went as Siamese twins, had a special shirt made for it. There was a human cannonball, a half giraffe half woman, Joey - who's Philippine - went as a savage. There was a mime (not me) some clowns and all sorts of other great stuff. I was the little girl that goes to the circus :) Pink checkered dress (you all know it) white knee-highs, black mary-janes, pig tails with pink bows, a giant sucker I got in a package, the cute pink My Little Pony purse from Mommy and I had Daddy Bunny - perfect! Great fun - except I crashed early because the night before - when I had been up since 3:30, I went to bed at 3:30. Oh well.

Saturday we all got up late - I played cribbage all day and by all day I mean 6 or 7 hours. I only lose when we play teams. In fact, I've been labeled the best cribbage player in Zambia! (Told them they need to play Katrina or Daddy, they usually beat me.) Now, if I can just teach people Sheepshead.

Sunday we came down here - 16 people in the land cruiser, way way squished for the first few hours. We met up with other PCVLs at Kapiri-Mposhi and traded out some ppl. Then we were still squished but no one was laying across everyone else or sitting on the back of the seats and we could shut the back door.

Almost our whole training group is here and that was a great surprise. All the staff and PCVLs that have been around awhile say they have never seen a group with as much commradarie as our group. We rock!

Yesterday we had meetings - I got to be on a committee which means not only do I get input - I didn't have to take ANY vay-cay days to be here and I got paid to be her (per diem K65,00!). Sweet!

Since there's a lot of volunteers here, there are a lot of ppl to still meet. Yesterday Spicer introduces me to this guy Matteau (who's really full of himself and supposedly every girl here wants him) by saying this: "This is ------, she has the best breasts in our group." Thanks Nikki! yi! Not exactly a good way to meet someone - plus she's full of it, there are way too many great sets in our group to say that about me. But Spicer insists and has even started giving her reasons accompanied by descriptions of me and others - oh dear.

The place we went to dinner not only had great food - it had pina coladas!
And then last night we all went out to a bar - over ran the place, about 40 of us (10 in 1 cab). The bar had Jack! Ouch. Here you have to buy the soda and the liquor separate and mix yourself. Jack doubles = K20,000. Coke = K3,000. I had 6...hmmm...bad me. After the 3 pinas at dinner and that, not pretty. Well, everyone here thought they'd never see that and they prob won't see it again. At least most of them were so gone they won't remember. Emily can attest to how little I actually drink like that (unlike her, hee hee.) But I probably shouldn't have told Tim I wanted a lap dance - oh well, at least he's cute, and more importantly, has a sense of humor.

Today is just chilling for me. Tomorrow we head to Monze for a night (not all of us just the So crew, Shane and a few partiers). Then Kalomo for a few nights and then on to Livingstone - We're going white water rafting again!!! WOO HOO! And this time of year they start right at the bottom of the falls. Kick vampire. Oh - Katrina, I've got ppl here saying vampire now :) After that, back to Kalomo a bit then back to Monze and then finally back to my Zam-Fam. I miss them.

So everyone can see just how much traveling this all is, here's a Zam map site: The maps are a bit odd but I had to find some with the cities. http://www.zambiatourism.com/welcome.htm To see where I started select the Southern Map, to see where I passed through select Central and to see where provincials were in Serenje, select Great North Road. :)
Hopefully I'll update again soon(er than last time)


Mom, this website is for you and Kaite: http://www.zambiatourism.com/

(Original Post)

Crazy

Hello

Haven't been on in awhile - just a hello for now.
HELLO


Mom - I e-mailed you at 3 addresses, if you don't get the e-mail check mine, I e-mailed me too, if that doesn't work, e-mail me. Canvas shoes are wherever Dad put my shoes. Love you!

(Original Post)

For My Mommy's Birthday

Happy 50th Birthday Mommy!!!

In keeping with the original spirit (and intent) of this journal - A STORY!!!! A dinner story.


One time on vacation, the whole family was sitting at a table in a resturant. Normal Schultz conversation going on I'm sure, though I don't remember and normal Schultz convo is rarely "normal". Daddy turns to me, "You know, you were your mother's birthday present." "But Dad, I was born around your, oh...."

(Original Post)

Another trip to town...

Hi all... My bike is fixed - hooray! A piece of metal rod, two wooden circles and some thin straps of rubber are holding my front tire on! I was so excited to be back on my bike again after almost a month and then not even 1/2 way here my back tire got a flat - 2 punctures! We (Ba Lenix and I) patched it up and got to town.

I had to take transport in and out of town a few times. I think the cross hanging from the rear-view mirror is a better representation of how that vehicle gets anywhere safely than the gas gauge or speedometer (neither of which move.) First time on the trip out I sat next to a guy with a headwound. Second time on the way in I sat next to an older man and a girl with a skin disease - and all times, sandwiched in the middle of the front of the cab - it's sure better than the flatbed back!

I hope everyone is well. I miss you guys.

Mom that package was awesome!

Tim and I are going to Livingstone this weekend and will be there a bit. The last Monday Emily Day this year and I won't even be in my hut, oh well. Mommy, I'll be thinking of you esp on Tuesday ;)

Our CSC has finished the project proposal and as a back-up it's saved at a new Blog so you can all read it if you want to! cheelo.blogspot.com The budget didn't copy in exactly in form and the action plan isn't there but anyone who wants more details can post there and we'll reply. Mom, can you please save the word part in a Word.doc in case our disc gets ruined and the int goes down - thanks.

I think that's it for today - except for the birthday post I'm doing early.

Thank you to everyone who has sent letters and packages and even just put posts on here. Those things really help when I'm frustrated and keep me going when I'm homesick. I don't know how I'd make it without you guys and the support you send me. Love you all!

(Original Post)

Chipper

For Mommy and Daddy

Happy 25th Anniversary :)

It's late in the evening; she's wondering what clothes to wear.
She puts on her make-up and brushes her long blonde hair.
And then she asks me, "Do I look all right?"
And I say, "Yes, you look wonderful tonight."
We go a party and everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady that's walking around with me.
And then she asks me, "Do you feel all right?"
And I say, "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight."
I feel wonderful because I see
The love light in your eyes.
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don't realize how much I love you.
It's time to go home now and I've got an aching head,
So I give her the car keys and she helps me to bed.
And then I tell her, as I turn out the light,
I say, "My darling, you were wonderful tonight.
Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight."

(Original Post)

Loved

Grrr

This part's for Mommy:
I tried to order my watch battery and the book I wanted (Erica Rosch Field Guide to Sheepshead) and discovered I can't get to the actual shopping cart page on any websites here, grrr... good for you I guess, bad for me.

Anyway, can you make sure you and Katrina are home in the evening on either Sat Aug 14 or 21? - let me know on here which one. You keep saying "such and such is on the same day as such and such" but never tell me dates.

Also, If they're still there, next time you send something can you send my contacts and a bottle of solution. My glasses fog up when I ride at dawn or dusk, which is either coming or going from Monze, and then I can't see anything. And any old pair of loose headphones that are laying around, mine broke. Thanks.


Everyone:
I'm doing well, back at site after my 2 weeks of adventures. Ba Lenix said to let everyone know he really likes dates (the kind you eat) and can't find them here so send some ;)
Guess that's it for today. I miss everyone and love mail!

(Original Post)

Happy

Serenje

Well, Off in a new city in Zambia again..if you can call it a city. I just want to get back to my village, I hate this limbo-land of not village not America, grrr.... I'll be back in Monze in about 4 days.

Mommy - why am I "interesting" this time? Usually I just get, "you're strange"....

Guess there's not much to say today....

(Original Post)

Blah

Mmmmm....Shower

I got to take a nice hot shower!!!! Ok, so the water trickled out, but it was sooooo nice!

Mommy, I have to get a few things (like a watch battery) so I will try to find them on-line. Look on the bright side, you'll earn free gas :)
And I finally got the package from Kitwe! Hooray! I wanted crayons so much!

Caitlin and Emmie, I'll write you both again soon.... and lots of other people.

(Original Post)

Tired

Lusaka

In Lusaka today for IST, will be away from site for 2 weeks, sadness, I miss my Zam-fam. We rode in the back of a pick-up truck all the way here, very crowded (11 ppl and luggage) but cheaper than a bus.

I finally got mail from the Post Office so Mommy, I got your package, thanks!
I will only be able to get my mail when I go into Monze, about every 2 weeks. Please excuse the delays in my responses, it doesn't mean I don't love you all!

Adding onto my list of things to do when I get back:
I'm going to the Dells! who's coming with me? (OK, I bet almost no one got that) - go to the Dells, ride on the ducks, play mini-golf, visit storybook gardens, go on the boat rides, eat at Paul Bunyan's....

I miss everyone at home sooooo much.

Emily - I want mail :( but I can't even be a little upset because I know how busy you are.

Ah well, off to have some pizza!!!! WOO HOO VERY SPECIAL TREAT!!! And tonight I may even get to take a bath with hot water from a faucet and turn on a light switch, oh this is so exciting! :)

(Original Post)

Chipper

Greetings

Trip tp Momnze - not much time. Miss everyone, love you lots. Doing well :)

(Original Post)

Loved

Eh, who needs a subject

Hello! Third trip to Monze, got up at 4:30 to get here early but we didn't leave until 5:30 and then had to stop at Ba Bonifus' to borrow a bicycle (Ba Lenix's is in many pieces) so we didn't get on the road until 6 - but we were here by quarter after 8!

I got to talk to Emily! and it made me so happy (I'm glad I brought a handkerchief). She sounds just like I remember and hearing her voice it was as if I'd just talked to her yesterday.

JJ (my boss) came to visit this week and brought me mail from Kitwe (from April). There're letters from Wendy and Anthony and the Lewins and Grandma & Grandpa and Nelson and my Big Big and even Uncle Tom & Auntie Gail! I'm so happy and excited! I haven't opened them all yet - trying to be good and savor them, Hanukkah instead of christmas - but it's hard. I have to be careful though, letters give me the most joy and the most sorrow - I love hearing how everyone is but I miss everyone sooo much.

Whenever I think of my friends back home I start crying - but not tears of sadness, tears of joy. I am so incredibly blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life - I can't even express how much you all mean to me *tear, smile*.

And something I've been working on sitting in my hut:

Things to do When I get Back (This list is by no means exhaustive and will probably change many times.)
Go to Chili's w/ Em
Visit Katie wherever she's living
Buy Wendy a drink (cause she'll be old enough to have it)
Go shoe shopping and to Leon's w/ Katrina - make her drive
Get a job - at least for the summer to start with
Hug Matt
Talk physics with Daddy - catch-up on everything I'm missing
Meet Ant - providing he be willing
Sew with Mommy

Will add more in future

Miss everyone, Love you all lots

- Nchimunya [that's me :) ]

(Original Post)

Ecstatic

One month

Greetings from Chikuni - came to visit at the mission for a day and Ba Lenix hasn't come to get me yet - guess I'm staying another night - even if I left now (it's almost 4pm) I wouldn't get home before dark. Yesterday I helped package cassette tapes by a local group fresh off the dubbing/printing machines - pretty neat.

One month at site, 23 months to go, gosh 23 months ago, where was I? Ah yes, working at the phy plant trying to get a certain big jack-vampire to notice me *sigh* what a waste of my charms ;) At least I loved the job.

I'll be in Monze again on Friday - we're going to the hardware store :) - so I should be able to update again then and since I need to leave there by 15:00 to be home before dark, the posting shld be up pretty early USA time.

I miss everyone soooooo much!

(Original Post)

Chipper

Address!!

Woo hoo!! Finally. 2nd trip to Monze, left at 5:30 am, arrived about 9 - Ba Lenix's bike was not being very nice.

My address:
c/o Lenix Kayanda
Chona Middle Basic School
PO BOX 393
Monze, Zambia

Send music: Poison, Obie Trice, any music
Send books: Physics, Math, any books

Mommy, I also need more film, esp some b&w because I started photographing the building of the school in b&w and white, and I would like to complete it in such. Thanks!

And this because I thought it'd be funny - from Em's journal:

1: Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4. Write down what it says:
umm...no books around

2: Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What do you touch first?
the wall

3: What is the last thing you watched on TV
umm.. I think it was the Rocky Horror Picture show on the tv in the hotel, but that was over a month ago - I don't remember

4: WITHOUT LOOKING, guess what time it is:
10:38 am

5: Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?
10:40 am

6: With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
people in the hallway

7: When did you last step outside?
before I walked in here - the question should be when was I last inside a real building before this, and that wld be last time I came to Monze

8: Before you came to this website, what did you look at?
Emily's journal

9: What are you wearing?
oh gosh you would all die if you could see me! A long brown and yellow patterened skirt w/ my brown adidas, white socks w/ green turtles, a blue and white striped shirt and a navy bandana - I took of my black biking gloves to type - yikes!

10: Did you dream last night?
yeah and it was bizzare as always

11: When did you last laugh?
Probably today, if not, yesterday, I laugh a lot

12: What is on the walls of the room you are in?
a few signs

13: Seen anything weird lately?
I have to swerve around cows to get anywhere, is there anything here that anyone reading this wldn't think is weird?!

14: What do you think of this quiz?
ehh

15: What is the last film you saw?
I have no idea what-so-ever

16: If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy first?
ummm..... i don't know, music and books and stuff for my friends

17: Tell me something about you that I don't know:
nope

18: If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
nothing

19: Do you like to dance?
sometimes

20: George Bush: is he a power-crazy nut case or some one who is finally doing something that has needed to be done for years?
As part of my job description I am not allowed to discuss politics

21: Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
Elysium Eden

21: Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
Ba Lenix says he wants to name my 1st boy - he asked me to name his newest son

22: Would you ever consider living abroad?
Umm.... I'm IN Zambia - what do you think?

(Original Post)

Here

One week at village so far, by bike it took almost 3 hrs to get into town (and we are not talking paved roads here). The Post Office doesn't have any Po Boxs so no new address yet, will figure something out - miss you all!!!

(Original Post)

Quick notes

Hello from Lusaka, at all volunteer conference - real volunteer now! Move into hut this week. Doing well, miss everyone. Great birthday. The group surprised me by gathering outside my door and singing happy birthday and they got me a piece of cake (real luxury here), 3 Super Maheus (a drink made of corn meal that I love) and 2, yes 2 bottles of real Scotch Whiskey, and Laney gave me a straw hat and Justin bought me a t-shirt at the conference today! Gotta go, time's almost up!

Mom - got book package, did not get one listed in birthday card (thanks for the wonderful card) - won't get for few months as will have to be forwarded through Peace Corps - still don't have new add yet - will be a PO Box in Monze w/ Tim.

Love you and miss you all,

Sisters - thanks for the wonderful comments on my last entry :)

(Original Post)

Random smattering

Greetings to all who happen to read this!

Just stopped at the PC HQ house in Lusaka on our way back to Kitwe from Monze (get a map and look ;) )

I had just written a nice long blurb about upcoming events and then lost it all, so plhhh - poop on that.

Mommy, Daddy, Wendy, Katrina, Emily - I miss you all soooo much. I love you!

The list of things I would miss was pretty accurate, with a few (surprising) exceptions.

Training ends in a few weeks - swear in is April 2nd, then the hardest week yet: April 4th, Palm Sunday, my 2nd favorite holiday, we will be in transit to Lusaka - no church! >:(
The 5th, 6th and 7th is all volunteer conference for the 150ish volunteers in Zambia. Seems to me those dates are some other things too, not to mention the middle of Holy week.
Then sometime between the 8th and 11th, I'll be posted to my site. Easter Sunday, I will probably have just moved in to my village - again, no guaranty I can go to church. No church?! on my favorite holiday! grrr...

Oh well...

I miss everyone and everything sooo much! Take care all!
Hugs and kisses to all.

P.S. Mommy, please do clean out my spam and send me anything important/interesting - thanks!!!

(Original Post)

Content

Answers

If you haven't tried the 20 question post yet, don't read this one!


A Fred da Feesh

B Tibetan Monk

C Santa Claus

D Ghetto Booty

E Zack Morris

F Main Hall

G Josh Harnett

H Eminem

I Koln, Germany

J Dr. O. Lamar Cope

K Downtown Waukesha

(Original Post)

Anxious

Conversations

Here is a list of the people I have talked to so far today (convo talked to, not just "hi":

Jeff B - told me all about the flag pole taking out the main power line
Bill B - asked if I learned to talk by clicking yet
Scott - kept telling me about bugs - ugh, got a hug :)
Dave M - general "ready to go?" questions, got a hug :)
Bill C - same as above, got a hug :)
Kathleen - woo hoo! good angel fun began with "why are you up this early?" it was 7:30, 10am is early for her
Dennis - doesn't seem to realize I'm leaving
Emily - nough said!
Tiff - work and class convo
Jonathan - yay, well it's Jonathan, actually pretty good convo for once - although I would have liked to hang out w/ him more - 1/2 hour will have to do, got a good hug at least :)
Sharon - she has class with Krystal
Jess S - french class and a certain Michigan football player and Phil and other goodies - got a hug :)
Tom - he just said "don't you leave for Africa tomorrow?"
Clasen - only on-line, but that is nice too
Elan - came in to say goodbye, got a hug :)
BC - lots of fun stuff, picnics and airplanes and such
Lupe - my yellow person :)
Pat - today's schedule, not so friendly (the schedule, not Pat)

I'm sure there will be many more as the day goes on!

(Original Post)

Giddy

20 Questions

Ok, let's try this a 3rd time and hope the computer doesn't restart again.
Here are the 20 questions I had previously on my aim profile. Play them with a friend! Not all of them have 20 clues, but hey - I'm not perfect! The answers will be posted in a different entry.

A
Instruct Players that I am a Person
1. I was a Beta
2. Go back 3 spaces
3. I was a cool color
4. I dropped dead
5. I enjoyed swimming but never won a race
6. Choose a player to go back 1 space
7. Loose your turn
8. Although I spent lots of time there, I never worked at Wal-mart
9. I never put soup in my bowl
10. I was smaller than a bread box
11. I was smaller than an elephant
12. I hatched from an egg
13. My owner likes alliteration
14. Rather than a priest, a DR directed my funeral.
15. I didn’t die from drowning.
16. Take out Cal and you get me
17. Lose your turn
18. I wasn’t gold
19. I hated salt
20. Before I died, I brought many great amusement.

B
Instruct players that I am a person
1. I am Buddhist
2. I chant
3. I do not live in the jungle trees
4. Although often heard of, I am rarely seen
5. My leader was once a Hindu
6. I am from a specific area of Asia
7. I have Christian counterparts all over the world
8. I am male
9. Lose your turn
10. I am celibate
11. I‘ve been around more than 7 yrs
12. I am single
13. I am bigger than a bread box
14. Go back 3 spaces.
15.

C
Instruct Players that I am a person
1. Although often surrounded by midgets, I do not work in a circus.
2. Some go South for the winter, I stay North.
3. I’ve never met a penguin
4. I love presents.
5. I am very old
6. I don’t need headlights
7. I used to be called Chris
8. My stockings rarely match
9. I am jolly
10. I’d make a good chimney sweep
11. I have “claws” but I won’t scratch you.
12. If my friends were German, they’d be eleven
13. People love to sit on my lap
14. One month a year I have many twins
15. I love snow
16. I fly without wings
17. Pick a player to go back 3 spaces.
18. I’m a Kringle you don’t eat
19. I only work once a year
20. My “ho”s don’t stand on corners.

D
Instruct players that I am a thing
1. Although my name implies it, you will never find me on a Jewish person.
2. Sir Mix-a-Lot loves me
3. I’m made of special jelly.
4. I’m mostly found in the inner city
5. I’m not worn on babies’ feet
6. Cosmo hates me
7. I’m big and round
8. People love to squeeze me
9. I’ll keep the seat toasty warm
10. I may be shaped like it, but I don’t tell time
11. White girls may shout about me but they never have me

E
Instruct players that I am a person
1. My best friend sounds like an owl.
2. I dreamt I was in a rock band
3. I dated a cheerleader
4. When I went to college, I bombed
5. The New guys weren’t as cool as my friends
6. I got into Yale but didn’t go
7. I lived in CA
8. Go back 1 space
9. I am fictional
10. I always picked on the principal
11. I was in the ballet “Swan Pond”
12. I am blonde
13. I am in syndication
14. One of good friends later became a stripper
15. My girl friend moved to Beverly Hills
16. I’m also known as Mark-Paul
17. Lose your turn
18. One a free guess any time.
19. It wasn’t the liberty bell that saved me.
20. In Middle School I lived in Indiana

F
Instruct players that I am a place
1. I am very old
2. I burned down once
3. I am constantly being remodeled
4. People do not like my 3rd layer
5. I often get snow
6. My windows have V’s.
7. I’m never Moody but I usually have one
8. There are many names a few yards from me
9. I am often hit with flying discs
10. I have a lawn and a quad with the same name
11. One free guess any time
12. I have lots of memory
13.

G
Instruct players that I am a person
1. I once said I wanted to fly and later got to
2. I can be deep and brooding or sweet and sentimental
3. I am male
4. I am living
5. I have worked with Julia Stiles
6. Lose your turn
7. I have worked with Ben Affleck
8. I am not Chinese but often on screens
9. I never “Doolittle”
10. I have been to boot camp
11. I have seen Arizona
12. I am cute
13. Go forward 3 spaces
14. I’ve been in water (H2O)
15. I was in The Faculty
16. I’m from Hollywood
17. I am single
18. I am always surrounded by cameras
19. I don’t like Japanese
20. I always wind up in love triangles

H
Instruct players that I am a person
1. I am always Slim no matter how much I eat
2. Many people don’t like me
3. I am male
4. I divorced my wife
5. I love my daughter
6. I’m sorry Stan
7. I’ve hugged Elton John
8. I am living
9. Many people mistake me for black
10. I stand up because I’m the real one
11. I called Detroit home
12. I’m a musician
13. It’s not my Devil’s Night
14. I work with a famous Dr.
15. I sometimes talk to a Dogg
16. I tell it like it is
17. I’ve worked with Dido
18. My name is sort of an acronym
19. I’ve got a “shady” character
20. My mother sued me

I
Instruct players that I am a place
1. I am responsible for making people smell nice
2. I have the world’s first drive through brothel
3. I have a beautiful Cathedral
4. My citizens speak Deutsch
5. I am not a capital
6. I am a city
7. Lose your turn
8. I am bigger than an elephant
9. I do not come in a bottle
10. I have a large chocolate factory
11. I am in Europe
12. I am not in America
13. I am very old
14. My neighbors speak many different languages
15. My money is the Euro
16. Go ahead 2 spaces
17. I have streets
18. You can fly or drive to me, some even walk
19. Many tourists visit me
20. I am not in Asia

J
Instruct Players that I am a person
1. Lose your turn
2. I have written books
3. I am familiar with Jesus
4. I have been called a pope
5. I love riding my bike
6. I climb stairs often
7. My first name is not what many people think
8. I am male
9. I am married
10. I am living
11. I am a biblical scholar
12. I know Greek
13. I know Hebrew
14. I retired in 2003

K
Instruct Players that I am a place
1. Go back 3 spaces
2. Go forwards 3 spaces
3. All roads lead to me
4. I have a Gazebo
5. I have little parking
6. I have a small town feel
7. I am American
8. I had few two-way roads
9. Most of my buildings are quite old
10. My name is Indian
11. Lose your turn
12. A river runs through me
13. I have many choo choo tracks
14. I am constantly under construction
15. When you're blue you can go to me

(Original Post)

Excited

Killing Time

Hello All! Since I am sitting in the library computer lab waiting for Emily to come back from class and start working so I can make faces at her - I am going to up date my journal. I don't know when I'll get to update after today so I think I will just ramble for awhile to give you all plenty to read.
But for simplicity's sake, I guess I can split the rambling up into different entries!

(Original Post)

Anxious

Emily said so

Emily said I have to update, and as I am sitting here still trying to finish these cds - this is all I got for now.
Quizilla results:

kiss on the lips - you're sweet and simple but
quite daring. you move for the kill confidently
knowing the other person wants the same thing.


What Sign of Affection Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
but Emily says it's right on!

(Original Post)

Exhausted

Gotta Get Broom Off Roof

an event that could only happen here!

One time when we were little; ok, not so little; ok it was Yesterday!
Wendy and I decided Nathan couldn't come all the way to Wisconsin and not play roof volleyball. However, it was the middle of a long period of lake effect snow which had accumulated quite a bit, including on the roof. The cold temperatures also contributed to our problems by making the balls a bit flat, but we decided to try anyway.

First serve that makes it on the roof, goes right over the side - great, we can play!
Second serve on roof, oops! ball stuck. So we get out the broom with the nice telescoping handle and manage to get it on the roof so that the broom is behind the ball and the handle is hanging off the end of the roof. Luckily, Nathan has a nice vertical jump and is able to grab the handle, bringing broom and ball off roof.

Third serve on roof, (yes, there was a third, but not a fourth) ball got stuck higher up. So we tried our first method. Well, the broom got on the roof again, but this time so did the handle!
Problem, it's winter, it's snowing, there's too much snow on the ground to put a ladder there, not to mention the ladder's put away. Time for drastic measures (that's Daddy's brand new telescoping handle on the roof!) gotta get broom off roof.

Now, once upon a time we used to crawl out my bathroom window to go on the roof. So I went up to the bathroom to discover, since then, the window's been replaced, it's now about 6" narrower and quite a bit smaller than before - it was already a tight squeeze back then. So I went window hunting. Wendy had a new window too, bigger though so promising. The screen doesn't come off... next stop, Katrina's room. One look at the windows, uh nope. Back to square one. Okay, If I wiggle enough, I might fit through, gotta get broom off roof.

I took down the curtain rod, took off the screen and opened the window only to discover that when the pane is cranked open, it moves towards the middle, making the window even smaller, great :\ gotta get broom off roof.

I cranked the window back a bit so it wasn't open all the way but then wasn't in the middle of the space either. Somehow, in my big poofy jacket, I stepped from the counter top, through the window, onto the roof. Then it was time to grab hold of the house as tight as possible, one broken leg = no Africa. I quickly gave up on walking and sat down, slowly pushing myself towards the front. (My bathroom window is towards the back of the house on the side, the broom was on the front of the other side.) gotta get broom off roof.

I got to the front and crawled, on my hands and knees as close to the house as I could, until I got to the spot above the broom and ball. Then I went back to sitting and scooted to the objects, scooped them up and launched them off the roof down to Nathan and Wendy. Then I had to begin the trip back. Crawled back to the window and then, the most dangerous part, jumping from the roof into the bathroom, onto the smooth floor, shoes covered in snow. Just as I feared, sliiiip sliiide into toilet, ow! But I am ok! And the broom is off the roof! And I had an adventure!

(Original Post)

Accomplished

Museum

I am at the museum right now with Nathan and Wendy. This is in the Discovery World. We just saw an Imax film on Beavers! It was way cool. I want a pet beaver; they are uber cute! I think we should get one and drain the swimming pool and refill it with fresh water and then the beaver can live in it! What fun! My favorite part of the film was when the beaver went looking for a mate and found a skunk. The beaver took one look at the skunk, said "un uh" in its cute little beaver voice and then ran the other way. I like beavers.

We looked at maps and found Cudahy and Weeping Waters (Nathan's town) and even Steele-Swarthout! Yup, we could zoom in that far on the map. I was like, "hey, it's circle drive!"

We also saw How to Dig a Hole through the Center of the Earth and the clay-mation dinosaur movies. The Howler monkey in the rainforest didn't howl at me, but there are new moving creatures where the front desk used to be. We played the caterpillar game and I won; I became a butterfly and had baby butterflies first!

Wendy is now inserting my credit card into some weird machine, so I better go.

Good-bye all, from the Museum!

(Original Post)

Enthralled

The List

Yup, I did it. Shocked? Caitlin and Em, let me know who I'm missing ;)

Bryon
Adam

Jason
Mike
X
Charlie
Mikey's friend
Lance

John
Matt
Sean
Matt
Ryan
Peter
Jonathan*
Chris
Joe
Justin
Pat

Jeremy
Paul
Jim
Matt

(Original Post)

Shocked

The Presents

As promised, here's a list of the presents to go with the labels. See if you can match them up!

A Metallica Calender
A small wooden box filled with pennies
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies book
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles board-game
A large/tall orange polo shirt
A mini ice cube tray for the freezer in the spa room
Ink cartridges, black and color
Cabaret on DVD
A baby-doll Metallica t-shirt
Kentucky Bourbon
The Magic School Bus dinosaur book
A blue spring shirt
A pair of tan corduroy pants, size 5
A lawyer calender
A frying pan
A stuffed, really soft, lion
A Robe
A book on Africa
A plaid mini-skirt, a long sleeve black shirt w/ patches and snaps, and socks that say 'rebel' and glow-in-the dark
An address book and refill pages
A roll of wrapping paper, pink w/ shoes on it

Ok, I'll help you out, I don't remember what these were so that narrows down your choices! :)

To: Mommy Crazy
From: The Youngest (gonna be taller than you some day)
To Mommy, from Katrina

To: The newly skinny Daddy
From: The youngest skinny
To Daddy, From Katrina

To: Tim
From: Two Righties
To Daddy, from Auntie Jamie and Uncle Jim

(Original Post)

Lonely

End of Year Survey

Mel said in her journal that everyone should do the end of the year survey thingy, so I figured, ehh why not. I took it from Lupe's journal though since it was easier to get.

The Year in Review...

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before?
Went to Philadelphia, cool city - would've liked to stay longer than 8 hours, and will not take Greyhound again.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't do resolutions, why should I only try to be better on one day of the year, I always have goals

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not close to me, people I knew, yes, but that's different.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Same answer as last... sometimes I think I've been to too many funerals for my age

5. What countries did you visit?
Oh just this one last year, hehe that will certainly not be the case by the end of 04.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
Meaning

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
There are many big things, but I'm awful with dates, so no actual dates I remember.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
The whole year? wow, that's tough, probably finishing my capstone, getting into the Peace Corps, giving up on stupid llamas

9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting him do that to me - nough said

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Well, let's see, I had plenty of complications from having my wisdom teeth out, does that count?

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My uber-cute shoes, even if I did buy them right at the end of the year, they rock..now if I could just keep them tied - or my adorable Betty Boop undergarments with the cute stockings with the seams up the back.
The best thing I spent money on though, the Gates of Hell project.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Emily for sure, there are others, occasionally, but she wins for being consistent (something guys should learn about)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Do not even get me started again, this list is way longer than it ought to be.

14. Where did most of your money go?
good question, probably clothes and food

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Philadelphia, working at the Phy plant again, seeing Metallica, talking to Walt 'Baby' Love
GETTING INVITED TO THE PEACE CORPS!!!!

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
Well I'll agree with Lupe on the anything 50 Cent, although it does not make me very happy. I think also Get Low will, that song is still stuck in my head.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? that's a tough one, cuz I am not happy now, but I guess happier than last year since last year at this time really really sucked
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner
iii. richer or poorer? richer, I guess.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
nothing, not more nothing, there is nothing I wish I'd done more of

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Less freaking

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
We spent it at Grandma and Grandpa's, just as usual :)

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
No, I spent 2003 trying to get over that from 2002

23. How many one-night stands?
Ha! That depends on what you consider a one-night stand, 1 for sure, however you count it, too many.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
TV? what's TV? The 2 shows I actually watched were The Bachelor (not always by choice) and SportsCenter

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate people, oh wait, yes I do, yeah, you can't hate people you don't know so I guess I do have 1.

26. What was the best book you read?
The Da Vinci Code, although I liked Angels and Demons better, but that wasn't in 2003.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Jewel, Alanis and Christina, weird hey, I never thought I'd like any of their stuff, much less own it.

28. What did you want and get?
If I want it bad enough, I get it so this list cld be pretty long. Big ones:
A poster of The Gates of Hell (can't buy it? make it!)
My uber-cute new shoes
Revolver (for x-mas, thanks Mommy)
4 other Beatles' cds, and many other cds
hee hee, oh let's see, there was the Civil war class thing, the Dr house thing and the Dunbar thing and..yeah, you get the picture
To work at the phy plant again

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I don't think I saw anything that was really that good this year, it seemed like a sucky year for movies - although Radio was pretty good. Oh wait! Pirates! How could I forget Pirates! And I just remembered, Life of David Gale was 2003 too, I liked that a lot.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 22 (wait, I am) and we went to Chili's - and Jonathan actually came! And we played telephone and he started it with "Jesse Gant has a huge penis" and poor Adam had to tell Jesse and Jesse had to tell Emily (who he supposedly had a crush on), it was a riot! But then we went home and Jonathan came to tuck me in, and I made him very very mad :(

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Grrrr..... not having lies and lines and all that bullshit fed to me.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
mine!

34. What kept you sane?
what? or who? what is always my stereo and my music. who would be Em and Kathleen and Lupe and Caitlin

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Gotta love Em!

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
none, I pay attention, but I don't get worked up over it.

37. Who did you miss?
Cailtin, Grandpa, myself

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Pat and Dave (I'm awful at picking just one)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003:
Right now, I don't think I learned much life-lesson wise, I don't like that

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"As we go on, we remember all the times we had together, and as our lives change, come whatever we will still be friends forever" - I know it's old, and overplayed and a big cliché, but it seems to really hit home at the end of 03 - probably because I'm leaving.
As for actually summing up the year, Jurassic 5 Thin Line, "Should women and men be friends first?
And then slip? My pen drips as I scribble my thoughts on thin strips of devotion", ah here, just check it all: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jurassic5/thinline.html

(Original Post)

Melancholy