There are so many formalities to address and compulsory half-hearted attempts at pretty bow tie closures to that African time of my life that it’s best I start with a recounting of the past 5 months. I’m not in Africa.  I’m in a backyard with roses and hydrangeas and lilies and a dog so eclectically and precisely bred that I [...]

It’s very difficult to measure success when aims are loftily vague as “peace” and “development” are.  Days come around where I wonder why I’m here as they always have in every place I’ve ever been.  It’s just here you aren’t the only one wondering, because most people you interact with daily think the same, as [...]

I wanted to write something about HIV/AIDS, I’m far from an expert and more of a hack but circumstances dictate that I take a few swings at it. It’s intense and it’s emotional.  It didn’t really come into my day-to-day life very much in the states, but I tried to bone up on some literature and [...]

It’s November, rainy season but just barely.  We’re in town for an HIV/AIDS workshop having  just finished a busy October of house renovations, painting a world map on the school and getting ready for planting season.  October was dominated by the idea of rain, and the renewal of life which is the only fixed thing [...]

We’re back to the village after spending most of August in Lusaka-the capital for trainings and a vacation to South Luangwa National Park.  When you get out of the village you kind of go through culture shock all over again when you return.  Then you pick yourself up after a day of wondering what you [...]

I’m out of our village and into modern times. Maybe this whole Peace Corps thing is changing, last night I ate mint chocolate cake and a sandwich with sauces , veggies and beans all healthy and hard to pronounce. I’m writing you from a computer over the internet and it’s changing the world. Outside the [...]

Don’t worry or rejoice it’s not as interesting or real as it sounds. There isn’t even a photo of a cute and sympathetic face to accompany these words. The Zambian I want to adopt hints every day for me to take him back to America, …home of Obama, …superpower country, … the place where the [...]

So Carly and I have been going around to all the churches in our village and it’s been a lot of fun.  They want us to choose one when our tour is through but maybe, well we can see.  The following, adapted from my journal was an attempt to document the powerful impression from one [...]

Things are moving along here. In town for meetings with other Peace Corps folks and then back to the village for 2 more months before our community entry planning stage is done. Been keeping busy, just because it takes so long to do basic tasks. We’re happy, healthy, and well fed, and there is plenty [...]

So we’re scheduled to swear in as volunteers and begin our 2 months of service on Thursday provided we pass our language exams on Thursday. Then we have a celebration with all of the trainees, staff, and host families we’ve stayed with during training and then we head off to our village. Time has gone [...]

So here is an update on our lives. We will be posted in Northwest Province April 25th, about 30 km on bush path from the town of Solwezi, 12 hours bus ride from Lusaka. We have a mud brick hut with a porch and a thatched roof. There is a school and clinic nearby, thus [...]

Now that you’re here if you want to keep up with this blog you can enter your email into the prompt on the left to keep updated on when we update the blog. It’s the day before Valentine’s day and we’re in Louisville, KY staying with my folks.  We leave February 15th for Philadelphia to [...]

Welcome to the blog of Mike and Carly Conroy.  I make no promises as to the scope and direction of this blog, but I hope you enjoy it. Over time it should improve but for now be content… witnessing the awkward plodding of a pseudo-luddite through silicon valley.  Two goals for this blog are to [...]