August 13th email

This is a copy of an email that was sent on August 13th

So i wanted to give you all an update now that i have been in country for over two weeks. But first i am going to warm you that i am typing
this on my number pad phone. Here are some highlights.I am living with a host family who are all very sweet. They do everything for me like heat up my bath water, cook, do my laundry etc.

Anyway the first night i was here i went to go use the pit latrine and
noticed some ants on the ground. There ants...what is the worst they
can do? It turns out these ants bite. They climbed up my legs up my
shirt and one even made it to my head. Since they bite you have to
individually pick each one off of you and them squish them. It was
quite a welcome to the host family. The next morning my mom swept them
up and burned them. The food here isnt awful. There is very little
variety and everything is drenched in oil and salt. Basically for
breakfast i have bread and peanut butter. They noticed i was only
eating two slices of bread and so they started giving me two of the
thickest pieces of bread. Each slice is equivalent to about three
normal slices. For lunch and dinner there is a combination of oil salt
tomato potato onion rice or nshima with some sort of protein at at
least one meal, egg fried or hard boiled then fried or meat or soya
pieces. I eat it but i am looking forward to cooking for myself. The
language i am learning is kaonde which means that i will be in the
north western province. The group that is going there is very nice. So
i am happy about that. We have four hour language lessons five days a
week which is pretty intense but i just try to keep up with it. Our
training is five and a half days a week so i stay busy. Sundays i dont
know what to do with myself with the whole day off. Other than that i
have internet on my phone so you can send me emails and i will see
them. My phone number here is +26O979688319 which you can call or
text. Skype isnt too expensive. some people have asking about things
to send. Here are a few things i have thought of: food( gum chocolate, dried fruit, sweet things, trail mix, granola bars snacks) pictures music books or magazines if anyone has an old cd walkman lying around it could come in handy but you cant write it on the customs form or else it might get stolen.
Letters are always great. padded envelopes are cheap and get here relatively quick too. I hope you are all doing well. Keep me updated on your life.

Stay well. Ellen