An interesting concept that I'm learning right now is living without. The Zambians have a way of using things up and wearing things out, and fast! I have always been a bit of a packrat and a great rationer. The problem with that is I end up with piles of old stuff I was saving for "just the right time/use." I, of course, tend toward the exact same habit here.
Most of the Zambians in the village are horrible at rationing and budgeting and so they often find themselves in the exact opposite position. The thing that most surprises me about this is how little it seems to bother them doing without. The mattress got destroyed, no problem sleep on the floor. The bicycle broke, walk instead. The clothes ripped, wear them with holes. The soap is used up, wash with water. The vegetables are gone, eat shima with no relish. And so on and so forth.
It's a concept I don't readily understand but I'm trying to take a page from the do-without book and find a happy medium. There is no point in having things if you don't use them but it is nice to set aside certain things and enjoy them in small quantities instead of using it all up right away in a frantic binge.
I keep a few bottles of nailpolish here at the house and frequently paint the kid's and bamaayo's finger and toenails. They love it, and I love the smile it puts on their face. Turns out a bunch of the school kids have gotten wind of this recently and they've been coming in droves asking for "ukupainta"- (to) paint. Sometimes I'm in the middle of cooking and don't want to get up to dig them out but other times I give them the polish bottles and when they are finished I come out to find my porch and them covered in it. At first I was a little upset that the polish was being used up so fast, soon it will be gone. And I really liked being able to make the day of the neighbors and people who help me out and wanted to save this treat for them. But the more I thought about it the more I thought,"when it's gone it's gone and they will be fine with that."
After two years in country one might think I would've become a master at this but quite the opposite. I get fuel anxiety when I'm low on charcoal or spirits and promptly buy a bag before the previous is finished. In fact my neighbors now keep an eye on my charcoal levels and usually come to sell me a new bag when they notice I'm down past the half-way mark. But as I wrap up service I have 5 more months to try to learn how to do without.
Its a bit of a funny shift that happens when you are a PCV. For me I came to country expecting to rough it, so pooping in a hole and bucket bathing was at first an adventure, then it became the norm, and now I find myself missing luxuries like a toilet and shower. Yes I'm completely used to doing without these things and you would think in a way I would just forget they exist but on the brink of my return I find myself longing more and more for these luxuries.
In the end whether I truly learn to live without or not I've certainly stretched my comfort zone and have become very creative in my approach to what can suffice in place of many things. I've also learned that the bush really does provide so many amazing resources from the makings of a fire to food and everything in between!
