Zambia tips and tricks - CP

As my in country experience draws to a close, I've compiled a list of things that I think might be helpful for future experiences.

  1. Bring warm clothes: It was much colder than I thought it would be. Especially on Peace Corps, it will be freezing at night so definitely bring a good coat. 
  2. Pack light and simple: Might seem unintuitive after the last advice but moving around is definitely easier if you pack more lightly.
  3. Don't bring too much professional or business casual clothes: Depending on your organization you won't have to dress nicely most of the time.
  4. You can put your SIM card in your smartphone but don't get data just yet: Spend some time offline and disconnected, it was very relaxing to be away from everything for even just a little bit.
  5. Be present and participate: Your host families will take you to things, there will be things to do in Lusaka that you should take advantage of and do while you still have time before your research kicks on.
  6. Build relationships: Talk to your taxi driver, the local talk time guy, everyone that you meet. These relationships will be the best parts of the trip.
Ultimately, you will get as much out of your experience as you put into it. You will get to decide what your experiences will be like so definitely try to be outside your comfort zone as much as possible. Hope everyone has a great experience!

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