Where The Heart Is : Tonga Land: The Land with Multiple Wives

FYI: The experience written about in this post occurred weeks ago in mid-July. I have only just now been able to upload photos to accompany the written portion.

10 days of travel:

As many of you know, I have been living in Chongwe, a town very close to Lusaka completing my pre-service training. Although, just recently the 30 of us Peace Corps volunteers have been split up and taken to our individual provinces for ten days. In other words, I have been in Southern province the past ten days. The first five nights were spent with a current health volunteer giving health talks, cooking on the brazier, exploring the area, learning the language and simply relaxing. After this, each of us were taken to our future village sites. I was given the opportunity to see where I will be living during my service!

Interesting experiences/notes

1 1) The village I will be living in is called Nabuzoka within an area called Kasiya. Kasiya is home to a college specifically for women seeking managerial and secretarial careers. It is an incredibly interesting contrast between life in the village to life within the college. In the college realm many students and professors come from Lusaka, speak English fluently and have electricity. Outside of this college ‘bubble’ it is village life like you may imagine. Everyone is cooking on braizers with no electricity and speaking the local language.

2 2) Near my village there is a dam and a hot springs. I found myself laughing as I approached the dam and could only see cows circling, enjoying the dam almost more than the people. Needless to say, I will not be swimming in that dam…

3 3) In the course of four days I have been here I have met MANY people. When I explained where I am from, what I am doing here and that my Zambian name is Mutinta, they laugh hysterically. I think they are surprised to hear me speak the local language. Many have said they are very impressed by my Tonga which motivates me to continue learning.

4 4) My host father has three wives. Quite the contrast from America familial dynamics, many people practice polygamy in Southern Province. Last night one of my future host mothers explained that their husband spends two nights with each woman and stays with that rotation. It seems like the wives are all best friends. I keep thinking how this would not be possible in America….ha!

5) When I am posted to my new site I plan to get a kitten. I am also debating on whether to have chickens or not.

6) Cows represent wealth. Many do not eat their cows (although they do milk them), rather they are a sign of how much money you have. We have been told as volunteers that if a man is wanting to be with you, you may simply tell them they do not have enough cows for you. I am still waiting to say this.