The Voice in My HeadI have always felt the calling of Mother Nature. It has never been particularly strong, but it has always been present. As I grew up, perhaps I had pushed it aside to follow in the dreams of my parents, who stressed a life of financial stability and personal growth. After the hardships they faced growing up, they wanted to ensure that I would not endure the same struggles and thrive in modern society. Only recently have I realized the loss of focus on my own goal. When I first declared electrical engineering, I was never truly set on becoming an engineer. Yes, I enjoyed the intellectual stimulation and the practical and theoretical mix of work, but something was missing. I knew what I wanted to do with my life and where I wanted to be, but I lacked a clear path towards my end goal. I wanted (and still want) to combat climate change, but telling people I was interested in the environment consistently led to discussions on the topic of renewable energy, and I slowly embodied everyone’s thoughts and this idea began to define who I was. In everyone’s mind, I was to use electrical engineering, create power systems, and somehow save the world by only implementing solar and wind. This was unrealistic and not who I wanted to be. But it was what everyone saw in me. At the same time, even going along with everyone’s perception of me, I realized that I lacked action behind my words. I was a fraud, and this needed to change. Declaring a double-major with environmental science proved as an outlet to help me come to terms with my identity (as I’ve mentioned in my introduction). I found myself diving headfirst into anything related to sustainability. I went on an immersion trip to Appalachia to learn more about coal mining and environmental injustice. I joined the Center for Sustainability and worked hard to make an impact on our campus through any means possible. I started a Solar Regatta team to teach people more about the intersect of renewable energy and engineering, interned at a solar company and at an engineering consulting firm to further the development of power systems, and recently began an internship at a utility company. Yet, throughout all this, I still felt like a fraud. I kept ignoring the voice in my head. The one that made me passionate about the environment in the first place. I had the urge to do something and to do it well. I was tired of having this dream of helping the world, but when it came down to it, I couldn’t follow through. I needed something new. Something to turn my cynicism into hope and to remind me what life truly means. Something that showed that people aren’t self-obsessed and stressed about the minute details of life, but to create a vision of the world that they want to live in. Luckily, Global Social Benefit Fellows (GSBF) was that something. (read more about that here) Mind GamesApplying for the fellowship was a last-minute decision. I had originally decided to intern once again at the same engineering consulting firm due to the lack of engineering-related projects provided through GSBF, but I realized almost too late the value of this program. This was an opportunity to broaden my horizons, explore social entrepreneurship (I had previously taken a class in high school about entrepreneurship and hated it, so I was a little scared to try again), and learn more about creating the impact that I was dying to achieve. Yet, even after being accepted, I continued to question my decision. When I told people that I was going to Zambia this summer, I received mixed reactions. Some of awe and support, others of fear and ignorance, and there were others who simply disapproved of my life’s path. One remark haunted my decision: “Are you even a real engineer?” Now, this may not seem too complicated. Many reading this might respond, “Of course you’re an engineer. You’ve taken the right classes, you’ve had a few internships, research opportunities, and participate in engineering clubs. Why wouldn’t you be one?” Well, think about it this way. Here I am, a student who is so passionate about wanting more out of his life that he abandons a highly technical internship to undergo a fellowship that has little to no connection to engineering whatsoever. I’m “throwing away” my future to take part in a summer trip where I will not gain the same skills as I would at a company. Taking this class has a time conflict with other electrical engineering classes that would make me more qualified to be a designer, so instead, I’m on the path towards sales engineer at best, which apparently, would make me not a “real engineer.” Wow. I truly struggled with this statement. Sure, I had come into college not really knowing or wanting to be an engineer, but after three years, it had grown on me. It was the first thing I told people when they asked me to introduce myself. It was my second skin. I had been a dorm counselor for a summer program (S.E.S.) educating high school students about what it was like to be an engineer. I gave tours every week to prospective students to show them what it was like to be an engineer. I had dived headfirst into engineering with the full intention of becoming an engineer, but suddenly, people were telling me that I wasn’t real. It was an identity crisis. If I wasn’t an engineer, then who was I? I found my answers throughout my journey in Zambia. I saw firsthand how beneficial an engineering product could have on the lives of so many people, but also the importance of even having the engineering mindset that I developed studying engineering. It helped me discern some of the problems within the agent trainings by being detail-oriented. It helped me optimize visuals and graphics within the sales manual, create schedules to ensure efficiency at work, and even with conflict resolution by rationally listening and explaining both sides of the story. I learned that being an engineer is more than just creating products. It is about fostering a problem-solving mindset to do good and help people. Engineering is like a social enterprise, regardless of the classification, what really matters is the intention. I had the intention to create change with my engineering degree, and I slowly came to terms with being an engineer, or at least not being the stereotypical engineer. And in this, I learned to appreciate that there are so many opportunities in life that we don’t need to just focus on only being good at one thing. We’re not trained for assembly lines, but to use our minds and think creatively. Sure, maybe we don’t know what our true interests are or where we may end up in 10 years, but we know what we like to do and what we want to do. If we understand that our passions can all be interconnected, then we have achieved what we set out to do. I know this is a simple lesson, but it has had profound impacts on my future. Before the fellowship, I had always considered following the engineering route and seen myself as just another engineer who dabbles in sustainability, but now, I’m excited to learn more about different opportunities within the realm of sustainability with my engineering mindset to enable success. Mental RenaissancECollege, especially Santa Clara University (though I cannot speak for other colleges since I have only ever attended SCU), spends a lot of time focusing on the individual. What is your mental health status, how stressed are you, and what can you do to move forward in your life? We are rarely ever asked the bigger questions about who we want to be in the world, so we forget to think about ourselves in the bigger picture. I’m not saying that we should neglect who we are, but I believe that finding ourselves requires more external action rather than internal self-reflection. Like Gandhi says (which doubles as my favorite quote): “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” The meaning behind this quote has truly helped me come to terms with my idnetity. Throughout my youth, I volunteered consistently, and that gave me a purpose. Talking with people and seeing the reactions on their face as I provided a simple meal or helped a child with homework made their and my day a hundred times better. But the ambiguity of my own future and the need to finalize it within four years of college put me at a standstill, where I focused more on my own development rather than on addressing the needs of others. Coming back from this fellowship provided this mental break that I needed. Throughout my journey, I met so many inspirational people—peers, mentors, and Zambians—who all reminded me to be my unapologetic self. That smiling at strangers was not creepy. That being optimistic didn’t make you a dreamer. That sometimes, a conversation with an open mind and an open heart is all that is required. I truly enjoyed being able to be present and interact with the people I was helping, and I can honestly say my heart is a little bit fuller. I remember lying down on a mattress in the back of a truck on our way to Shiwang’andu from Mpika. Drew and I had begun talking about how all the upcoming and popular movies were about superheroes. We discussed how our culture continually looks for a savior in times of need, with people projecting concerns onto others, hoping that one person can create the change, so the rest of us remain complacent. Drew noted that social enterprises don’t focus on the individual, but rather on encouraging everyone to step up and become their own superhero. Before, I had always envisioned business as an evil entity to exacerbate planned obsolescence and consumerism, the work we did showed that business can and should create social value (echoed in Laudato Si). After reading Poor Economics and Getting Beyond Better, I had already really liked the concept of social entrepreneurship, but Drew’s statement at that moment resonated with me. The entrepreneurial mindset was not taking advantage of others but engaging them in the world. Looking back at these past nine months, I feel both pride and sorrow. Pride at all the things that I have accomplished, learned, and experienced, but sorrow at no longer having this class and seeing all the amazing people who went on this journey with me. Although I never quite realized my transformation throughout the fellowship, as I write this, I finally understand how much I have grown and changed. And although my future remains uncertain and my path somewhat undecided, I cannot wait to find my place, knowing that we are not limited by our major or our skills, but by the passion and dedication we hope to bring. In true engineering fashion, here are some TENTATIVE markers of success for me within the next ten years:
ABout the authorJames Wang is a fourth-year double-majoring in Electrical Engineering and Environmental Science with minors in Mathematics and French & Francophone Studies. He is currently researching the ethical implications of geoengineering and working on his senior design project, an aquaponics system for food insecure communities. Upon graduation, he hopes to receive a Fulbright scholarship to research in France regarding a new energy storage system—a hybrid supercapacitor. In the future, he hopes to couple his passion for the environment with his interest in technology to pursue climate change intervention methods, potentially geoengineering. For more information, he welcomes anyone to contact him through email or Linkedin and exploring the rest of his blog!
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When someone asks me, “How was Zambia?”, it is so hard to explain the rich and diverse experiences I’ve had in the field. I would love to refer them to my blogs and have them read all my encounters to have a better sense of what happened, but instead, I reply simply, “I loved it. The people there are really friendly.” And then immediately afterwards, I tell them that it was cold, since it was sub-Saharan Africa and it’s in the Southern Hemisphere, but they call it the dry season, and down the rabbit-hole I go. I wish I could better articulate my experiences, but it is such a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions every time someone mentions Zambia that I’m not sure if they’ll truly understand what I’m talking about unless they’ve gone through a similar experience. Yet maybe I just need to take the time to sit down with them and share these incredible stories, but coming back to America, there never seems to be enough time. But that was just one of the things I learned in Zambia. In the next three sections, I will be sharing three stories that really humanized Zambia and cultivated humility for me. Growing up, I would hear stories about starving children in Africa, but I rarely stopped to consider the people in America and China who were also faced with poverty. I hate to admit it, but throughout my teens, I had even gained a savior’s complex, believing that I would be going to these countries and helping these helpless people. I was going to lift them up when colonists had pushed them down and trampled all over them. Yet, only recently did I realize that in doing so, I would be no worse than the colonizer. Like any other country, Zambia (and the other countries in Africa) is filled with people. People that have a history behind them, filled with culture and music and art and love. They are indeed some of the friendliest people I have ever met, but they are also incredibly warm-hearted, intelligent, and open-minded people as well. More than anything, they are truly inspiring. Food for the Stomach, not just for Thought After having skipped dinner the night before, since we had travelled a long way to Luangwa, a village in the Southeastern corner of Zambia, I was really hungry during the first agent training. When they finally brought out the snacks, I dove right in, clutching a scone in my right hand and a bottle of water in my left. Maybe it was my hunger or not knowing what type of food to expect, but that was one of the best scones I had ever had in my life. With outright delight, I ran up to the training manager and I asked him who had made these. He pointed to a woman outside who was preparing lunch that day (as well as for the subsequent meals). Without hesitation, I walked up to her and introduced myself, telling her how much I enjoyed her scones and that they were the best I had ever had. She smiled, a full-on grin that spread across her face, and laughed, incredulously asking, “Really?” as if she had never heard anyone (or any foreigner) tell her that before. I explained to her that as a foodie (lover of good food), that I had truly enjoyed her baked good and we began to talk more about baking and cooking. She was impressed by my knowledge of ifinkubala (caterpillars) and nyenye (cicada), traditional Zambian dishes, and I was fascinated when she began to tell me about the other dishes she cooks. Personally, I think she enjoyed the fact that someone else wanted to learn more about what she did every day. At the end of the conversation, she wrote down the recipe for the scones. Although I have yet to make them, I promised her that I would send her a picture when I do. I truly believe that food unites people and as I travelled throughout Zambia, I was very appreciative of all the food that I ate and all the people who made and sold them. Similar to the idea of “breaking bread”, all the meals I shared also served as the setting of conversation and I was able to gain insight into a new culture. Food served to open the gate. Language Bridger, not a Language BarrieR “Defwaya Amabotolo Yamenshi Yabili” means “I would like two bottles of water.” Due to the lack of water filtration systems, everyone drinks bottled water, and in the North (where the native language is Bembe), I would always order two bottles: one for me, and one for Drew. On this particular night, midway through watching the World Cup, I decided to head to bed early. As I approached the bartender, I noticed a larger group of people had gathered to watch. Like usual, I asked him for two bottles of water, paid, said thank you (Natotella sana) and throughout this brief “conversation”, the rest of the room who were watching the World Cup froze and looked at me. One of them asked me where I had learned to speak Bembe so well, and I laughed, thanked him, and told him that I learned by asking people. The whole room looked surprised and the bartender asked if I could speak any other languages, to which I replied Chinese and French. This somehow, led to a huge uproar, and what should have been a quick water bottle run turned into an exciting conversation. After first sharing a few words in our respective “native” tongues, I was able to better explain how I was a Chinese-American and what that meant to me, while they shared how unusual it was for foreigners to learn the language, especially through dialogue rather than the useless guide books sold in stores. They also honestly told me about the Chinese workers, but rather than paint them in a bad light, they were quite accepting of having these workers come to help create the stable infrastructure for the country. As we talked, I was surprised by their willingness to speak to me regarding my identity and carefully listened to me explain my heritage. It was also nice to not be immediately judged when I told them I was Chinese. I felt at home and at peace with my own identity, because by not being the stereotypical American, I brought a different perspective. Being a “hyphenated American”, as Teddy Roosevelt would call it, is in some ways better, for I can understand multiple cultures and speaking multiple languages helped me more easily learn Bembe. Furthermore, I realized that I relied too much on status quo societal acceptance (pervasive in society through social media), when in this small town in Northern Zambia, a group of strangers welcomed me with open arms, accepting me for my actions, rather than my appearance. They were genuine and open-minded—something, I learned, that does not necessarily come with age, but with maturity and experience of different cultures. Engineering to change lives, not JUST FOR financial securityIn high school, I’ve never thought that I wanted to be an engineer, but my parents highly recommended the major (although neither of them is one), knowing that I would be financially secure in the future. They also stressed the importance of problem-solving, having the engineering mindset, and having a strong technical foundation. For me, I just wanted to be able to create change through designs and products. I truly didn’t see myself as an engineer, and I questioned if I was making the right choice. Interestingly, throughout Zambia, when I told people I studied electrical engineering, their ears immediately pricked up. One of these people was a regional director at VITALITE, and he eagerly drove me one morning to his house. He wanted to show me his garden, but he was also hoping for me to meet his daughter. This sounds a little strange, but I quickly learned that almost every parent in Zambia (at least the ones I met) hoped their children would grow up to be engineers, especially electrical or civil (which surprisingly are the two smallest engineering departments at SCU). This was really weird. Why would people want to become engineers, rather than doctors or teachers? Well, the short answer is that engineering requires less education while still creating a positive impact on the world. People realize that being able to create and use technology is not only an investment financially, but also economically, environmentally, and socially. For them, engineering was more than just money. It was a way to improve their lives and give back to the community. I was invited to talk to his daughter to give her a better sense of what engineers do and what I was learning. Through this conversation, she was very receptive and since talking about engineering is something I truly enjoy, I passionately took this opportunity to reflect on my own education. However, I did ask her a lot of questions to learn more about her own interests. Similar to who I was in high school, she was uncertain about her path, but engineering or medicine were her two options. She wanted to go to college in China and she truly wanted to do something that would help her community. I was not only amazed by her resolution to pursue such a noble cause, but the determination she spoke with, understanding that she had a lot to offer for the future. She spoke with such pride in her country and that she hoped she could work with others to bring Zambia into the future. She was the future and she was ready to begin. For me, this was eye-opening. I knew the impact engineering could have on the world, but to hear her goals reminded me of why I first began studying engineering. It really helped me reaffirm my dedication to engineering. I had taken so many theoretical classes that I felt bogged down by not being able to simultaneously pursue what I set out to do. I felt like a fraud, but in truth, I had already developed the engineering mindset. Throughout my trip, as I worked with Excel and spoke with multiple people about my studies, I realized that I am an engineer and I was already doing amazing things. Hope for humanityFrom all these conversations and interactions, I found a resurgence of hope: the true kindness, the smiles and laughter, the willingness to speak and listen, and the passion for change. These were all traits that I appreciated as a child, but as I grew older, I forgot how much I appreciate having genuine connections. They are self-sufficient, truly ingenuitive, and incredibly thoughtful, among many others. This cathartic experience in a new culture really helped me find myself and also appreciate the true nature of humans—not as helpless individuals, but united, passionate fighters. Therefore, while many people say that we have nothing to learn from Africans, I heavily disagree for they have more to teach us about what it truly means to be human, then we even realize. As we live our days, bumbling around with our eyes glued to screens, our feet speedily hustling towards our next destination, and our minds focused on the busy day ahead, we forget what it means to live, and in this sense, we have a lot to learn, or perhaps, “un-learn”. SIDENOTE: I apologize for the lack of photos depicting these conversations. They were all spontaneous and I enjoyed being present in the moment rather than documenting them.
DISCLAIMER: This blog post delves deeply into my inner feelings and may be darker and more thought-provoking than my other posts. When people ask me to describe Zambia so far, the only words that leave my mouth are usually “friendly people”, “beautiful waterfalls”, “incredible food”, and “amazing experience.” But these few words barely encompass a country that is plagued with many other underlying issues that I even delude myself they don’t exist, especially poverty. I once read about Zeus and Hermes, Greek gods, who disguised themselves as beggars in Phrygia. Zeus doubted the goodness of humanity and was willing to give humans one more chance before he wiped them all out. After being rejected from the rest of the townspeople, they knocked on the door of the last small cottage belonging to an elderly couple, Baucis and Philomen. Though poor, they heartily welcomed the two beggars, providing them with warmth in front of the fire, a meal, and true kindness. At the end of the night, the gods revealed their true identities and as retribution to all the other townspeople who rejected them, flooded the rest of the town. Yes, I know it’s only a myth, but every time I pass someone on the street with their hand out and their eyes pleading, I can’t help but recall this story. Sure, not all beggars are disguised gods and I’m not worried about the retribution, but at times, I worry about the human condition. Are we too conditioned to the plights of the poor that we don’t feel a pang of guilt each time we walk past one on the street? Or that we need to refer to them as the “socioeconomically disadvantaged”, trying to distance us from even using the word “poor”? Do we even understand other human beings or are we too focused on our own self-identity that we fail to recognize who others are? Perhaps this is the question I’ve struggled with the most throughout my fellowship. Living in one of the wealthier parts of Lusaka, poverty feels so distant as we eat at fancy restaurants and taxi around, but we still see children on the streets who plead for money. As they cling to your arm hoping for spare change, what can you do? If you give them money, aren’t you perpetuating their situation and teaching them that begging earns them money? But if not, how will they survive? Will giving them enough money or aid actually help them escape poverty (i.e. a simplified explanation of the poverty trap)? Then there are the numerous vendors at all the bus stations. Each time a bus pulls up, they all rush over, their hands clutching plastic bags of tomatoes or bananas or bags of potato chips. There’s that woman standing in the back with her left hand clutching her right wrist, head downcast, knowing that very few people will buy her oranges and they’ll rot so she can’t feed her family. There’s the adorable boy with no shoes that tries to make eye contact with you and in his hand, he clutches a bucket of sodas, hoping that each sale will get him closer to an education. Of course, these stories are all just whims of my imagination (and I guess poverty porn) because I never had the chance to talk to them, but as I stare out the bus window, I can’t help but feel pity. Yes, pity. And in my heart, I want to buy from all of them, just to support their businesses. But would I be devaluing their dignity if I buy from pity? On the other hand, would paying 50 cents for a bag of oranges actually help them if they only receive 10 cents at most?
Maybe I’m overthinking this, but as I continue working with VITALITE, these stories are the ones that clearly stick in my mind. I know VITALITE is doing amazing work for Zambia by empowering business owners rather than giving them handouts. They originally started by selling solar home systems but are now entering other aspects of society that burden the poor. In the last year, they partnered with agricultural companies to create a savings account system for farmers to receive certified, quality agricultural inputs at affordable prices by making smaller deposits. VITALITE also sells solar irrigation pumps, clean cook-stoves, Ecosacs that maintain the temperature of food, and cell phones. Their business approach is hence two-fold: train shop owners to become entrepreneurs that impact their communities and provide access to products and services to those that would usually not be able to afford it. But in my head, there is the continual doubt that we’re not doing enough. As we attend the trainings and interview agents, there is clearly a disconnect between VITALITE’s goals and execution—precisely why we’re here. They believe that improving the training methods will lead to a shift in these shop-owners who will be inspired to further change, essentially aiming to shift the mindset of these people. Call me an anti-capitalist or what you will, but I don’t believe that private businesses, even social enterprises should bear this full burden. I’m not bashing social entrepreneurship; it is filling a neglected sector and creating incredible change, but perhaps business is not always the answer. And if aid is also not the answer, then what is? Government? Perhaps, but not the way it is now. Given the short-term goals of politicians who aim to get re-elected, many do not focus on implementing long-term changes, rather focused on their own “job security.” Although I might sound a little jaded or pessimistic, let me reassure you that this is quite the opposite. After living my life with climate change deniers and stressing the importance of little tasks like taking shorter showers and recycling to everyone I meet, I find myself quite hopeful. Here is an opportunity for all of us to create a world we want to live in. Sure, I want to create change at a faster and more impactful rate, but since I can’t, why not just do something despite not knowing any of the answers? Maybe I’ll find them along the way. Maybe I won’t. But it’s better to start doing than worrying. Upon our arrival in Shiwang’andu, I was amazed by how empty the streets were. Having been “created” 3 years ago, this was still a growing town that had a lot to offer. Known for their lake, hot springs, and crocodiles (andu), Shiwang’andu is an incredible place to simply relax, enjoy the pace, and my favorite part, looking up into the night sky. And on this particular night, as we stood outside the lodge, we were in the middle of a syzygy—when three celestial bodies align (probably not what you originally thought, huh?). We saw Venus to our east and Mars rising directly to our west; not to mention Jupiter directly above us. Although in the technical sense, these planets were not fully aligned, it felt as if they were. But what really stood out to me that first night were the stars. Everyone always talks about how amazing it is to stargaze and be able to see constellations, but very few people will have ever experienced something quite like this. Even though I’ve been camping all over the United States and been to places with minimal light pollution, this was so…different. Maybe it’s because I’m in the southern hemisphere or it was unexpected, but with no lights shining, the town was completely dark (save one or two lights in front of a store) and as we stepped out to get water bottles from a general store, I was blown away by how clear the sky was.
There it was, a clear 360-degree view of all night sky and though I still cannot comprehend the wave of awe and emotions, I remember that I just stopped walking and stood there, my neck craned back and my breathing slowed. There was the milky way, and Sagittarius shooting at Scorpio. Libra had Jupiter in its midst, while Leo pawed at Venus. Capricorn held onto Mars while Saturn stabilized Sagittarius. But even before I learned about these constellations, I just watched the night sky, imagining that each of these stars had travelled light years to reach my eyes. Each one existed somewhere far beyond me. Beyond the course of humanity. Yet, this was not a moment in which I felt small or overpowered by nature. Rather, I appreciated the fact that only in Zambia had I been able to experience this. Yes, they do burn their trash without proper incinerators and they do have no catalytic converters on their cars and they do use fossil fuels for a portion of their electricity, but nowhere else has the sky been so clear that I can witness this sight. Nowhere else (besides Kentucky for now), can I see a lunar rainbow because the moonlight is able to pierce the air and shine onto a waterfall’s mist. While we may give crap to developing countries for their actions towards the environment, it’s interesting to note that at least they have not reached America’s level of pollution that the sky can still be seen. I hope it remains this way. Starting at 4:30 AM and another 9.5 hour bus ride (I swear I never want to get on another bus in my life), we ended up in Mpika in the North part of Zambia. Unlike Luangwa, the weather here is quite chilly and the sky was rather overcast. Drew and I had just improved upon the training manual and we were ready to give this new and improved one a go. Unfortunately, either due to bad food or the bumpy road, Drew received a severe case of stomach issues and had to rest for our first day and a half (don’t worry, he’s much better now). In the end, I observed the training on the first day and then we both interviewed the 20 agents the following day (it took a long time). Before you continue reading, I apologize for the lack of photos in this post, but this is an important topic. But as the title mentions, today I’ve decided to focus on farming, especially since Mpika is a large on agriculture and over half of the new agents we were training were farmers. I will refer to him as Gordon, in order to preserve his anonymity. It all started with a bottle of Embe. We were at the counter about to buy something to drink and I asked Gordon what he liked to drink. He told me mango juice (Embe to be precise), so I bought us both a bottle and we sat down to eat lunch and converse. I asked him what Embe meant and he told me it was the word for mango in the native tongue of Tanzania. Now, this led him to open up much more about his own goals, which was to start an all-natural fruit juice company in Zambia. “Most of the juice is imported,” Gordon said, “But with the right inputs and technology, we could have our own juice right here.” I was very interested in what he had to hear, so Gordon told me all the details about agriculture and his life. Currently a researcher at a local university, he graduated from Copperbelt University in a prestigious agricultural program, set up by a very knowledgeable Zambian. Although he works as a researcher, he considers himself a farmer. Even though he owns 1/4 of a hectare, which is about half the size of a football field, he hopes to one day be able to increase his business, and here’s his insight into the farming in Zambia.
I thought it was very interesting that he never mentioned outside aid, rather the need for Zambians to help each other internally. He believed all the resources existed, but Zambia needed better distribution of inputs focused more on agriculture. Having companies providing these inputs to these rural areas truly makes a difference in their lives by increasing annual yields which lead to an increase in sales, so farmers can invest more and more until they have larger plots of land from which to start pursuing other goals, such as a juice company. At least this is the goal. One quote stuck out in mind when I asked him what the situation for most farmers now. Gordon said that people were too comfortable on their small plots of land, so they could not improve their livelihoods: “Comfortability Prevents Progress”Later, I met another agent who grew tilapia and three-striped bream in his fish pond. When I asked him why he decided to join the training, he told me that climate change and overuse of water was drying up all the wells, so he no longer had enough water for the pond.
SIDENOTE: I’m really excited to work on my senior design project which is an aquaponics system that reduces water use for fish farming and agriculture by 95%. Although we hope to implement it in Uganda, I would love to scale the product for use in Zambia one day as well! Both Gordon and the fish-farmer hoped to be VITALITE agents so that they could make additional money to expand their farming industry by being able to afford products. But at the same time, they wanted to help their communities be able to afford these inputs by advertising about VITALITE products. For those of you still confused about the title. Let me give you some insight into American history. Back in the day, Ben Franklin anonymously called himself Poor Richard and created a field guide for farmers to help them succeed and increase yields. Similarly, VITALITE aims to provide the inputs necessary for Zambian farmers to succeed. Different century, same problems. Fortunately, the closest I’ve gotten to a croc is the cooked crocodile burger in front of me, but this was a very interesting story. On a safari game drive, our driver shared a story from his youth. He was wading across the river with his friends (holding hands to act as an impenetrable wall because crocodiles try to spot the weak link) and they made it safely to the other side. But one of his friends wanted to go back in and went by himself. All of a sudden, his friend yelled out and said something had bitten his leg. The driver originally thought it was a joke, but seeing the tears, he knew it was real. He and his friends jumped into action. Some of them helped his friend by grabbing him and creating a larger wall, while he jumped behind the croc and lifted its tail, effectively saving his friend Since crocodiles rely so much on the tail for balance and for swimming (since crocodiles drown their prey and only attack in water), lifting the tail is a power move. Plus, the crocodile only has one mouth and will not release its prey just to go after another one. Main lesson I learned: African children are incredibly brave. Had this happened in America, I probably would have screamed and ran away. But, now that I’ve got you here (and I do apologize for the clickbait), let me tell you all about Victoria Falls, so that one day when you go, you’ll know exactly what to do (skip the reading for tips at the bottom). After an EXTREMELY hot and bumpy (trust me, Zambian speed bumps and roads are nothing like you’ve seen before) 9-hour ride, Drew and I arrived in Livingstone, the town right next to Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world and one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. Immediately upon arrival, taxi drivers and vendors approached us, asking if we needed a ride. Although we politely said no, one or two would walk beside us to continue peddling by introducing himself, asking for our names, and asking lots of questions (this is very common for many Zambians as to make us feel more welcome). After shaking them by continuing to walk and curt responses, we travelled to Jollyboys Backpackers, a backpacker’s lodge and a hostel of sorts. Once I shared the location with Spencer and my mom, they both told me that I should go and make friends (makes it sound like I need to be pushed to make friends?) Well, the first night we kept to ourselves headed to Victoria Falls at night. We had come at an opportune time because a few days before and after the full moon, a lunar rainbow or “moonbow” can be seen through the mist. Similar to a rainbow, a moonbow is formed by the light from the full moon as it refracts across the water particles in the mist. Unfortunately, both our phones were unable to capture this natural phenomenon, so here’s a professional picture for you: We went to bed rather early, as we always do (for some reason, being in Zambia has changed our sleep schedule to sleeping at 9:00-10:00 PM and waking up at 7:00 AM). Waking up in the morning, we quickly made it to the 8:00 bus that would take us to the rest of our day’s activities. On this bus, we met two Americans students who worked in the health sector and two Germans who worked in agriculture. In a somewhat unlikely friendship, we banded together, and though they went white-water rafting, we reconvened at the sunset cruise. Instead, Drew and I started with a 7-mile morning canoe trip down the Zambezi River, Africa’s 4th largest river (after the Nile, the Congo, and the Niger), spotting a few hippos and birds. Then, we had a quick lunch followed by a game drive through the Mosi-oa-Tunya park. It had no big cats or predators, but we did get to see elephants, giraffes, zebras, kuru, and a few crocodiles Now, sunset cruises truly solidify friendships. As we ate good food and sat on the top deck, we talked about our days, found out more about each other, and ended up spending the rest of the night together, just learning more about what everyone was doing in Zambia and how they had gotten there Anyways, the last day involved some wild activities. Since Livingstone is known as the adventure capital of the world, we decided to embark on adrenaline-inducing activities, with Drew going bungee jumping and me skydiving. We also took this opportunity to visit Victoria Falls during the day, making another friend there. All of us didn’t want to buy ponchos, so we ended up soaking wet by the mist (word of advice: either go in the dry season or dress accordingly for the weather). At night, we went to Café Zambezi and watched the soccer match between Belgium and Japan, ending the trip with a good meal and an incredible comeback. LIVINGSTONE TRAVEL TIPS
FUn facts:
Though I still don’t have an answer, I finally understand why people ask this question. Our first time out in the field involved travelling through the “bush”. With miles and miles of shrubs, small trees, and dirt, many people lived in small accommodations on the side of the road, selling fruits and vegetables, usually potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and musala (a leafy staple). A main road winds next to the Luangwa River, which separates Mozambique from Zambia. Many farm animals like to cross this road…and you can probably infer what happens next. A moment of silence for that chicken…and that goat…and all those bugs that met their fate on the windshield. Thus, begins the tale of our first field work trip: over the past week, we visited a small village in the southeastern corner of Zambia called Luangwa, at the borders of Mozambique and Zimbabwe, near the Lower Zambezi National Park. We left on Sunday and drove for about 4.5 hours, arriving at dusk. Since our original lodge no longer had space, we made our way to Justfeeli Lodge, which has me humming the chorus of Maroon 5’s “Just a Feeling” song every time it’s spoken (if you don’t know this song, please go listen to it. It’s one of their older songs, but soooooo good). Lodging accommodations were exceptional with the staff there very friendly (as almost all Zambians are) and they would watch the World Cup with us each night. On the first day, we left early to go to the river’s edge to see where the Luangwa and the Zambezi river met. We were able to see the early morning catch of bream and see the first baobab tree that David Livingstone (famous explorer renown for “discovering” Zambia and loved by Zambians) saw when he crossed over and set foot in Livingstone. Then, we headed to the training location and many of the agents got lost to our training location, so while waiting, we met a group of women pumping water from a well (my engineering mind went crazy analyzing how durable and structurally sound the pump was, especially since I’d never seen a pump before), and I tried my hand at pumping water into a well. Later, I found out that the women pumped twice as fast as I did, but they were still courteous enough to let me pump for them and didn’t complain (or maybe they did…I didn’t understand the words they spoke in Nyanja). But when I had to leave, one woman, balancing water on her head, placed her hand over her heart and that was the sincerest thank you I had ever had. The training began with 7 new people wanting to become agents. We gathered in a somewhat run-down building and the training commenced. Drew and I frantically took notes, observing the training and detailing aspects we could improve upon. I won’t bore you with the details of the training, but this went on for two days and we learned a lot, talking with these new agents. On the third day, we met up with 5 existing agents and 2 sales and service representatives (more experienced agents who help existing agents with problems). We met in a thatched house that was built by Zimbabweans and let me tell you, thatching should be the new roofing style of all houses (or at least researched by the Civil Engineering Department). Not only was it structurally sound and quite pretty to look at, but it kept the heat out, especially since Luangwa is known to have some of the hottest temperatures in all of Zambia. But I digress. With these existing agents, it was interesting to hear all about the challenges that they faced in the field and seeing how the refresher training better enabled them to discover solutions and work with their fellow agents.
Anyways, just remember folks, don’t drive down the freeway at 65 MPH when there are animals crossing! It has only been 4 days since I landed in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, but it feels like I’ve been here for years. Due to surviving the 24-hour flight to Lusaka (16 hours to Dubai, then 8 hours to Zambia) and the initial adjustment period of learning the layout of the city, buying groceries, dealing with stomach troubles, and figuring out internet services (not to mention jet lag), I had never felt as exhausted as I did when I entered Lusaka. Everything hit so quickly that I barely had any time to react. For the first few nights, I went to bed before 9:00 PM and woke up at 7:00 AM, and still felt exhausted throughout the day. Maybe it was the lack of sleep from finals catching up to me or the culture shock, but in all honesty, it was a rough transition. Fortunately, this adjustment period has come to an end, and it is truly exciting to be back on my feet and getting a sense of familiarity, many thanks to the friendly people of Zambia and two other college students from New York who are living in the same house and working at VITALITE too. While I expected to have some difficulty due to the language barrier and isolation due to being foreigners, I am pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of everyone that we have met. Many Zambian coworkers have given us suggestions for places to eat, clubs to visit, vacation destinations, and cultural references such as handshakes (there’s a secret way of shaking hands apparently!) and native words. I’ve really enjoyed having conversations with everyone and anyone, including a lady at the gelato stand. Z: “Where are you from?” Me: “America” Z: “Ah, no wonder you’re English is so good.” Me: “Thank you! But my family is actually from China, I was just born in America.” Z: “Can you speak Mandarin?” Me: “Yeah, I can. Can you?” Z: “I’m learning at the local university. Ni hao ma?” And this starts up a conversation where we shared a few words in the other’s native tongue, shared new words to learn, and bonded over the gelato flavors. Although it was a simple and short conversation, it was so genuine and enjoyable and not unusual at all. Through these conversations, people everywhere love to laugh and joke and maybe it’s coincidental or the fatigue or the slower pace of life, but I have truly appreciated this aspect. Therefore, despite the rough start, things are moving forward and I’m so excited to head out into the rural areas of Zambia to continue research. Tomorrow, I leave for Luangwa, a small fishing village, but tonight, I danced and laughed my heart out at the annual VITALITE party. P.S. For those of you who know my partner in the field, Drew Descourouez, and his incredible thoughts, well, let’s just say that every day is a new philosophical discussion that has me contemplating every aspect of my life, so perhaps that has increased my appreciation of Zambia.
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