Almost four years ago I traveled to Ghana, West Africa, with Saint Francis High School in Sacramento, California. One of my favorite and most talked about memories from that amazing trip surrounded the simple gift of fresh mangoes. On one of our many bus rides, we were running far behind schedule (Ghanaian time is a lot like Zambian time) and when we finally reached our destination, our guide, Thomas Awaipo, realized we had never stopped for lunch. Although we told him again and again that all of us were fine and had power bars and other snacks to tide us over until dinner, he insisted on going to the market and grabbing us a snack. We emerged from our rooms to find two juicy, fresh picked mangoes, cut up and on plates for our consumption. I have never tasted such a fruit. The ripeness, the sweetness, and the pure nature of those mangoes follows me to this day. I have yet to find another mango as delicious as those in a small northern village in Ghana. For the past four years I chased this insatiable mango desire. I tried everything – mango salsa, mango chutney, mango salad, grilled mango, every recipe I could find – attempting to replicate the memory of that taste. Alas, no success. I’m still searching for that perfect mango flavor. My time in Ghana not only encompassed tasty fruit, but a people that struck me with their kindness. I saw a community walking over a mile to pull all the furniture out of their homes, so that the American girls did not have to sit on the ground. I witnessed a people who had nothing and yet were willing to give everything. I visited with Catholic Relief Service workers creating long-term projects for simple problems, all in the name of empowering the communities. I met a doctor, who—after working for years in the government hospital—became frustrated with the high cost of healthcare ($7 a year) and the inability of most Ghanaians to pay, so he left and opened up a free clinic, with an HIV/AIDS hospice attachment. I came home wanting to share their stories and my new perspective on the world, on giving, and on community.
When I came to Zambia, I thought ah ha! here is my chance to experience that sweet fruit yet again. Here, after four years of longing for the simple taste of fresh mangoes, I would finally get a second chance, a second taste. But, damn those pesky hemispheres and the switching of seasons. It’s winter here in Zambia, which means no mangoes. Foiled again. As I sat and pondered my deep desire for mangoes, I started to realize that perhaps it was not the fruit itself I longed for, but for something more basic, more human. I ached for the attitudes, perceptions, and lessons I learned from the people of Ghana. I yearned for the unfiltered, raw, pure nature of their lives, much like the raw and pure nature of the mango. Somewhere along the way in the past four years, amongst the hustle and bustle, the stress and the obligations, I stopped living out the messages from Ghana. As our time here in Zambezi is coming to a close, I turn my head and heart towards the question of “how do we take our time, our experiences, and our relationships from here, home?” I want to recapture the messages from West Africa, while incorporating my new knowledge from Zambezi, but how?
Many of my fellow Zamily in the previous blogs mention the generosity of the Zambian people, the outpouring of love, fellowship, and community. We’ve all struggled with how we can repay the generous gifts. How can we ever express the gratitude for a mattress given up for us on our homestays, for the invitation into a dancing circle of children and adults, for more food presented at our table than most families see in a week, for time and energy spent cooking and teaching us language lessons, for the long hours of conversation and relationship building, for the presentation of a goat (yes, a live goat), and for the many blessings bestowed upon us by the people of Zambezi? I think any attempt at repayment will fall far short of our desired intention. Rather, I believe the questions of “how do we take Zambia home” and “how can I (we) repay the generosity” are inextricably linked.
We can “repay” the Zambian people by taking their generosity, compassion, and acceptance back home. Now I don’t mean to say we should start greeting every guest who drives to our house with song and dance. Too much of that and the guest lists may start to dwindle. There are some limitations to taking Zambia home. Attempting to live like Zambians in the United States may prove far more difficult than we imagine and would be absurdly naïve! Perhaps the truest testament to their way of life and kindness is not to imitate those values in the same way in America but to utilize the lessons of compassion, giving, and community in our own setting. Living out a life of giving and acceptance merely takes little steps in the hopes of slowly but surely bringing Zambia, Ghana, and all the compassionate cultures of the world into our own homes, neighborhoods, cities, and country.
For some of us, living out Zambian values may look like volunteering once a month at a free health clinic as a doctor or a nurse. It may be joining Teach for America, the JVC, or the Peace Corps after graduation. It may be the donation of time and effort to nonprofits and charities. As a Political Science and History major, my gift from God and the gift I can hopefully share is my voice. For me, the best testament to my experiences in Ghana and Zambia is not the pictures I’ve taken, the videos I’ve shot, nor the items I’ve bought; it is in better living out the following quote from FDR: “The truest test of our nation is not whether we give to those who have too much, rather it is in whether we give enough to those who have too little.” I can lend my voice to the voiceless, and I can work to break down the margins that keep the marginalized at the edge of society. I can speak on behalf of the hungry, the broken, the imprisoned, the poor. I can practice the Zambian value of generosity by funneling my talents, passions, and education towards the people who need them most; I can give of myself to the poorest of the poor with full acceptance of them, their lives, and hardships.
Perhaps the best way to live like a Zambian – the best way to share our experiences here – is not through imitation but through living out our Jesuit, Catholic, and humanistic education more fully, wholly, and unconditionally. Perhaps the greatest lesson we can learn from the Zambians is not how to live like them but how to live as better Gonzaga students, better Christians, better Americans. Perhaps the baggage we bring back should not only include all the wonderful tangible reminders of our time here but should also include a better understanding of our Jesuit tradition, of how to live as men and women for others, and a more complete plan for how to go forth and set the world on fire. And maybe, just maybe, it should also include an African mango.
Prayers for those affected by the UC Santa Barbara shooting
All my loving
Shannon Clark, Class of 2015
P.S Mama, I hope this was worth the wait. What happened to the Red Sox?!!?!?! 10 losses in a row, 8 games back last time I checked. All bad news. Guess I have to head back to the continent for some good luck.
And Loki, I miss you like crazy. I hope the house is going smooth and that you are giving Chippy all the sarcasm he deserves. Happy early 7 months gorgeous. We’ll celebrate both important days this next week when I get back. I love you to Africa and back.
And fam bam, if you’re reading this, I promise I won’t talk about Africa as much this time, but you might still want to keep count. Love and miss all of you.
Shannnnoooonnnnnnnnnnnn,
You are making ME want mangos! I received an email from John (in leadership class) today and he was telling me how Zambezi feels lightened by the presence of Gonzaga students. You are all making a difference each day. Your comment about people removing furniture from their house so that Americans didn’t have to sit on the floor makes me wonder if it’s a race thing or their way of hospitality or maybe just treating others. I long for that strong community here at home.
I can recall the nights my ZamFam and I stayed up in the convent discussing the so what’s next question… To be quite honest, I’ve yet to answer it 2 years later. Shannon, I love that you’re inspired to make a difference and using your education to an advantage. Jesu-whattt!
Sending so much love your way. Helen, Savannah, Hannah, Connor, Christine, Charlie, Mark, Maggie tight tight squeeeezes and hug hug hug!
Hikaru
My dearest Shannon,
As always, it was worth the wait. See, you write well even without the Editor-in-Chief!!
Don’t quite know what to say about the Red Sox, or my Lady Cats whose softball team went out in the Super Regionals, except to say as they say at Fenway, “Everything is going to be all right.”
Love you to the moon and back!!
Mama
Baby girl, it is so good to know that you are doing well and that Zambia is treating you as well as it treated me a year ago. I can’t wait to hear about your teaching experiences! I also cannot WAIT for you to go see Victoria Falls. I hope it is as amazing and wonderous as it was for me.
I miss you like crazy. John officially moved in two days ago so there are now three of us in the house. Honestly, there could ten of us and it would still feel empty without you here. I miss you like crazy but everything is going well. Work is keeping me out of the house and classes are moving along faster that usual (as expected). Other than the rogue spiders I had to murder, the house is great. I’m still working on unpacking (sorry..) but our basement almost there! There are some christmas lights and a place for you to study, as well as clothes being in their proper place!
I do have a couple suprises for you when you get back! I obviously can’t tell you what they are (duh) but I can tell you that I have stuck to my new year’s resolution. 😉 (I promise I did not get more ink without you)
Life here has been pretty routine, especially without you here to push me to be more extroverted. I think about you all the time and I feel like 3/4 of all of my stories start with “This one time, Shannon and I…”, so I’m pretty sure that everyone hates my stories. The wierdest thing has been sleeping in a queen size bed all by myself. Like, no matter how much a stretch out, I can’t take up the entire bed. There is always and empty space. Sometimes I forget you are in Africa and just assume you are upstairs cooking or watching Bones or something.
Okay, this post is long enough now. I will see you in less than two weeks! I will write you a couple emails when I can, so be sure to check when you get to Livingstone!
The Winslows, Moose and Huck, and our Air Force boys send you love. (I’m sure everyone else here does too.)
I love you forever,
Puppycat
P.S. I have found that the one upside to you being gone is that I spend half as much on coffee, which is handy considering I don’t get my first paycheck until the day you get back. #brokeforever
Shannon,
Wow. I have chills after reading that. I can tell you are an incredibly well-spoken, intentional, caring individual. I’m warmed by the fact that all my friends in Zambezi have been able to get to know your thoughtful heart! Your writing was extremely eloquent and a blessing for all of us at home to read!
Your suggestions on how we can all live out the lessons taught in Zambia were admirable and encouraging. Its so easy to fall back in the comfort of our lives here at home, but that reminder that we can continue that unconditional love without having to fly 9,500 miles is so important.
Thank you Shannon! This was truly wonderful.
Kisu Mwane,
Katie McCann
PS- can someone figure out a way to bring me home a banana? That’s my version of Shannon’s mango 😉 x’s and o’s to you all.
Shannon! I’m so glad to hear how wonderful Zambia has been to you…& after reading that I’m seriously craving a mango. Don’t worry, we will still be keeping count of how much you reference Africa but we (okay…I) won’t hold it against you. The fam bam says hi & Nick is heading off to Spokane Monday for a service trip then looking at Gonzaga sometime that week….fingers crossed he loves it & goes there. The kitten is currently knocked out in my lap but can’t wait to meet you & Shelby when you come see me. I love you & can’t wait to hear about everything once you’re home!
Gahhhhh SHANNON.
This is beautiful. I have been waiting for your blog post, for your wisdom, your love, and your wit to be wrapped around Zambia and sent back to us. And, dear, you did not disappoint. I know the mango you talked about. I too, have tasted it. (Well, metaphorically) and it is as lovely and mind-filling as you have described. Its a darn good mango. And I know that I will spend my whole life searching for it, to try it again. Somebody once said to me (Maybe you Josh? I don’t know) that once you catch the Africa bug, you are filled with the love of that place, and the desire to continually come back to it, to be in places like it, and to live in the way that they live for the rest of your life. It comes with a beautiful wisdom, and the inability to ever be the same.
I miss your presence around campus. The other day I saw your wonderful girlfriend at the library, and we had a good long chat about Zambia, and you, and the fact that you better post soon. So glad you did! Don’t worry. I will make her apple pie and continue to miss you together.
Thank you for your courageous spirit and your truthful voice. You have been, are, and continue to be an incredible inspiration in my life, and in the lives of all you touch.
CONNER! If I have done my math right (which is not very accurate) then you should be reading this on the morning of your 21 BIRTHDAY! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I cannot believe that it was a full year ago that I made you toad in a hole in the shape of a 20 (with an egg in the zero!) , and you had beer and pizza in Solwezi. I hope you are kicking butt at being the TA and helping people while they get sick and vanquishing spiders and having a wonderful time revisiting this beautiful place. Miss you and cannot wait to make you (and Paxton) special birthday surprises when I see you again.
Blessings to all!
Lucy
Wonderfully written reflection Shannon. The spirit you are filled with Will surely chart y our course for a long time to come. It is so uplifting after a day of work/life/deadlines and “issues” to read the compassionate passages of all of you. So good to hear that the work you all are doing is making a difference to not only zambezi buy also yourself. Can you believe how fast the time has passed? CONNER, HOPE the timing is right, mom dad and chad wishing you a happy 21st birthday!!!!!! Don’t get to crazy ” bar hopping” tonight! I guess if you have one too many you can always ride Will Stew home! So looking forward to your return.
Love, your family.
Good morning, Zamily — and, first things first: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CONNER!!!! Wish I was there to join in the celebration — and everything else that will happen over the next few days. Well, almost everything — I am glad someone else will get to have my share of Will Stew.
Shannon (and Chris from a couple of days ago) — Great blog posts! Chris, I agree that the stars in Dipalata are something pretty special. And Shannon, your last paragraph is great. I think the challenge for all of you will be to decide how to best honor your time in Zambia…and this will take a while for many of you to figure out. But it will start with sharing your stories and correcting misconceptions so many people have about Africa and her peoples. I truly believe for most of you, your experience in Zambia will lead to increase awareness of unmet needs at home and in service to meet them.
So, I have been home about 3 hours now. I got to the blog as soon as I could, but see that I couldn’t beat Katie McCann to a reply! Seriously, I miss everyone and Zambezi already — maybe some day I will be able to stay for the whole deal. Yes, Josh, I’d like to do this again. So, the trip home was long…but uneventful. I survived the 10 hour layover in Lusaka with only one Mosi. The flight from Lusaka to Dubai was fairly empty, so I was able to stretch out a bit. The flight from Dubai to Seattle was full — and full of crying babies. Seriously…they must have been running a kids special on that flight. So, 3 bottle of white wine plus a Drambuie. Slept a bit. Luggage was very slow being unloaded in Seattle and mine was at the tail end — so I missed my 3 pm flight to Spokane. They were going to make me wait until 6, but I pulled the “I”ve been travelling for 48 hours” sob story and got on the 4 pm flight. By the way, I was not able to check my bag all the way through to Spokane from Lusaka.
I will be thinking of all of you over the next couple of weeks — and checking the blog. Stay well ( have come down with a nasty sore throat and head cold). Health group — I’d love to hear how things are going with the kits!
Best, Mama Susan
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday……dear Conner, Happy Birthday to you!!!! (I hope Josh or whomever reading this post actually sang this for us) 🙂 I hope your day is filled with sweet memories on your BIG 21st B-Day, son. We’ll celebrate when you’re back home! Love you soooooo much!!
I concur with what my husband Theo posted above- Wow. what a great reflection, Shannon! You are an extremely gifted writer and have tremendous insight, wit and compassion.
Be safe,
Momma House
Wow! What a beautiful reflection and post. I’m excited to hear every one of your stories, and what you all are still attempting to break down when you guys return. Conner! Happy 21st!! How incredible to spend two birthday in Zambia! I hope you have a fantastic day and I’ll be buying you a drink when you get back!! Miss and love you all! Yes every single one of you!! Let your mind wander, catch up on those journals and love on everyone! Xoxo
Hayley
Shannon,
Loved your words! First off, one can never start/end a story wrong if it involves magoes. Truth. Second, it’s wonderful that you’ve begun to find a way in which to keep the best of both these often paradoxical worlds alive. It sure doesn’t have to come down to one or the other even though it can feel like that sometimes. It’s not Zambia or America. It’s, as I like to think of it, Zamerica. Okay I just made that word up, but I’ve been processing that idea ever since coming back from Zambia. The more one interacts with cultures, the more one comes to realize how there are great things and bad things in every culture– just’s like mango tree filled with all kind of mangoes: bitter ones, dry ones, juicy ones, rotten ones… Got to intentionally pick the best ones.
Okay, that last part was weak. Hope you get the point though…
Love you all!
Constanza
I’ve been trying to post but every computer rejects me!! Happy birthday Connor!!!! I know you’re doing an awesome job as TA and making everyone’s trip fulfilling and full of growth. I was training you on all of our deep talk sunset walks. You deserve the best day ever!! Love you, sad I don’t have any goldfish for you this year!!
OH and Cecelia and mark, I’ve been missing you too. I can’t wait to hear how Zambezi has affected you. Cecelia, keep having those incredible conversations where you somehow manage to find out a persons deepest thoughts after just meeting them. Mark! Kick butt in the soccer game, and do a nice goal celebration dance for last years zam fam.
DODD!!! I am so excited you’re finally experiencing the greatness I blabbed about for months now. I know you’re going to be so great for the program and being there is going to make your an even more incredible teacher. Please show your zamily the birthday playlist if they need to be cheered up.
I really hope I didn’t miss this being read over so e nice oatmeal after those cold showers (I actually miss that…)
Love all of you!!!
Birthing playlist****!!