We're Going to ZAMBIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I was sooooooooooooooo excited!!!  But the reality of what that means hit me and although I'm still excited, the excitement has been tempered a bit as I begin to plan for the impending move, answer questionnaires that will influence our living conditions for 4 years, and research everything from schools to right-hand drive vehicles to using 220v electronics.

The impending move is 6-7 months away, but from what I've read and heard about Lusaka, Zambia I feel very fortunate that our family will move there. 

Based on what I've learned about our future home so far, I'm looking forward to:

• Weather that is a bit more variable than the Dominican  Republic's since hot weather is not exactly my cup of tea.  The average highs in Lusaka from January - August range from 73 - 79 degrees and the average lows range from 48 to 53 degrees and the hottest month is October with average highs of 88 degrees.
• Being able to walk outside without being overly concerned about violent crime.  As in all places in the world, crime exists but to my knowledge the threat level is nowhere near that experienced here in Santo Domingo.
• Living in a different kind of city.  I currently live in a very big city and all the ugliness that comes with that, including heavy traffic, high crime rates, and about as much hustle and bustle as exists in the DC metro area.  One perk of living overseas for me has always been living in an environment with a slower pace.  Apparently Lusaka is a capital city without all the big city advantages and disadvantages.
• Shopping for produce at markets and not U.S.-style grocery stores and buying fresh organic veggies from Sugar Bush farm!!!!  One of the greatest disappointments about Santo Domingo was the fact that outdoor markets are barely in existence here.  The one market that some Dominicans go to has vendors with attitudes that don't want to bargain at all and prices that are higher than the supermarkets. 
• Wildlife!  [I hope] We'll see lions, hippos, gazelles, elephants, rhinos, and zebras that aren't in zoos while we're there.  
• Victoria Falls - one of the Seven Wonders of the World, of course.