The night before we headed to Zambezi was the last time I wrote the blog. At that time I wasn’t feeling ready to come. Now it is the night before we leave Zambezi and I’m not ready to go.
I remember getting off the bush plane and listening to the Chilenga choir welcoming us, wondering what I got myself into. I fought back tears as it hit me that I am going to be here for over three weeks. All the firsts were full of stress and missing home. The first time at the convent, going to the market, and teaching English classes and 68 sixth graders.
Now, I’m wishing to experience it all again. Thinking back on my time, I’m wrestling with the fact that tomorrow morning I will get on the plane and leave the place that has become home and the people that became family over the last three and a half weeks. With that comes saying goodbye to all the people I’ve met, places I’ve gone, and things I will never get to do again. After tomorrow morning, there will be no more daily market trips, walks to the river, afternoon English classes, or meals with the ZamFam and mamas.
On one market run I was talking to Joe about how sad I am that we have to leave this place and the lifestyle here. I talked about how I will miss being able to sit down and talk to any random person, ask about peoples’ families and lives from the get-go, and all the things that make Zambezi special. He told me “be the change you want to see.” That got me thinking about the ways that I can bring Zambezi home.
No matter how faithful we have been on the blog, no one will truly know what ZamFam 26 went through besides us. There have been countless laughs, tears, and everything in between. Despite that, we can bring parts of this special place to you through our stories, memories, and actions.
I will never get to do life like I have here, but in little ways I can live it at home through my actions. I want to take the time to get to know the people I cross paths with like I have with the vendors in the market. I want to accompany people while we do life together like I did with Mama Katendi and Mama Christine as we made meals. I want to be interruptible like Mary and Wendy in the market when they left their work to help us with a scavenger hunt from Jeff.
Zambezi will come home through my memories. I’ll think of my English class when I hear slang, car rides to Chilenga when I hear Electric Love, and walks to the market when I eat a chocolate bar. I’m sure there are memories and lessons that we won’t realize will impact us until we are home.
This trip has been full of every emotion and feeling. We have loved and hated Zambia. We have wrestled with the complexities of this trip. Even leaving comes with complex emotions, excitement to see our loved ones and sadness to leave here.
Today I said bye to my community English class, the people at Chilenga, took my last market trip, and had the last meal all together in the convent. The girl who wrote the blog three weeks ago was already longing for this day. Now as I sit in the convent’s main room writing this, surrounded by my ZamFam, I think this day came too soon. I can’t believe I will likely never experience Zambezi as a whole again, but each one of us will bring a piece of Zambezi home.
Isa Arredondo
ZamFam 2026
To my family: I love you all and I’m excited to catch up with you when I’m home. See you soon!
Antonio: Happy birthday! I’m sad I’m missing it but excited to celebrate you when I’m home.
Joe: I love you so much and I’m excited to see you! I can’t wait to catch up with you. Please don’t forget to pick me up.
TILA: Rose is the relationships with Zambians and Zags I have made. Thorn is saying goodbye to Zambezi. Bud is seeing my family and friends at home.
To Kiki from Lauryn: CONGRATS on your graduation! I can’t wait to celebrate you when I get home. Love you so much!
To Samie from Katie D: HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAMIE! You are officially Unc now! I hope that you have the best birthday ever! I love you so much and can’t wait to catch up!
Safe travels home Zags! Enjoy the last night/ day/ minutes. Usually the goodbyes are more difficult than the hellos and that means you did it well. I imagine you have wonderful memories from this once in a lifetime learning opportunity with just 17 other Zags (plus 2 profs and a TA) that will always connect you. Thanks for being part of an extraordinary group. Well done ZamZags ‘26 – be proud!
Sam- See you soon in Seatac. I hope you have a few art projects/books for the trip home. We love you more! Grandpa is hoping to hear from you when you land in DC.
My daughter has always teased me for talking to complete strangers. We almost always find a common ground and it makes me feel good to make a random human connection. I think this trip has taught you all the art of small talk, which is something we all need in order to push ourselves outside of our walls of safety. Call it what you will, you have all learned something beautiful about yourselves and others.
Katie G: It was terrifying getting the call that you were hurt this morning, but I’m glad you are getting good care from your ZagFam. We are going to work on your ankle strength when you get home! Listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s new album right now. You’ll love it! Safe journeys home to all of you!
Isa, you are absolutely right that no one will ever fully understand your experience besides ZamFam ‘26. It can be frustrating, but it is also an extremely special bond that you all share, so make sure to lean on each other and share your feelings and learnings as you unpack your experience at home. Practice your “Zambia spiel” that you will inevitably be asked for, or find ways to sneak into any conversation. Give yourself grace as you figure out how Zambia will show up in your life at home. I can confidently say that I still think about it every single day and am constantly figuring out ways it changed me. I think it’s a lifelong journey. I had the exact same experience with Wendy and Mary during last year’s scavenger hunt! What special women they are, and how cool that so many Zags have learned how to be interruptible through their example.
MP: I am SO excited to see you! I hope you have a good 15 hours in DC, even though you don’t get to see the monuments. I’m sure they’ll yell hello as you fly by. Cava in the airport??
Taylor: I can’t believe you are coming home from Zambia for the 2nd time! Praying that you don’t develop a severe allergic reaction, but if you do, I hope ZamFam ‘26 tells you you look totally fine so no one freaks out.
Love,
Caroline
ZamFam ‘25
Isa, You summed your feelings up so well. I am sad for all of you that your time in Zambezi is over, but excited for everyone to be home and to share as much of you experience as you can. Thanks again for sharing with us through this blog. I have thoroughly enjoying it all. Wishing you all an uneventful journey home.
Isa, so many feelings to feel! I’m so glad you are sad to leave. That means this experience will stay with you and continue to teach you. It means you made the right choose to go. We may not be able to completely understand what Zambezi meant to you, but we certainly can’t wait to try.
Love you so very much.
Hi Ems – we are enroute to Fairplay for the night w/o great cell service. We will be back tmrw later afternoon which will be around midnight your time. Love you so much and can’t wait to talk to and see you soon- love mums and merk merk (and the lowrider gang)
Isa, you are so right, please bring back to all of us those positive things you’ve learned. I suppose we all can’t help but change the world through our lived experience. I’m a bit like Hilary, Graley always makes fun of me, “Pops made a new friend!” with a bit of eye rolling, yet honestly that’s something I picked up like all of you in my remote travels where people interact at a different level and appreciate each other. I am excited for all of you to spread those positive bit s of Zambia throughout your lives.
Sorry Gray for throwing you a bit under the bus there, but it made me laugh out loud!
I am sooo rooting for you and your crew in these last days. Goodbyes are always the hardest, but when done right, they are rich.
Blessing Gray
Pops
Isa’s nana Karen. Isabel, it may be a bit disappointing when you get back to see that we may have not made lifetime changes in areas that you have, but again it may feel comforting that we are pretty much the same as you left us! We are looking forward to hear your experience, and appreciate and learn from the insights that have changed in your life. We can all grow through it. You are on my calendar for some good warm out of the oven homemade bread, Slathered with butter and fresh strawberry jam covered with good conversation. Somethings don’t change.
Love, nana
Isa,
Miss you today!! Feeling a year older, life is crazy. I can’t wait to hear about all your experiences. It’s sounding similar to my trip to the DR: not sure at first, but loving it. It’s going to be so cool to fully hear all about it!
I’m on the edge of my seat about my present,
Antonio
Wow hard to believe it’s coming to an end. It must be so hard to leave!!! I love the idea of bringing it home though. So much has been learned and experienced even by me reading the blog.
Love you and miss you so much Olivia!!!!! So very proud of you ❤️❤️❤️
Isa-it doesn’t seem real that the journey there is ending. Thanks for bringing it ‘full circle’ from how you felt in the beginning and how you feel now that it’s time to say goodbye. Goodbyes are difficult. All of you (and the Zambians you have been in community with) have given us back home so much to reflect upon and think about. I appreciate the new perspectives that have been shared. Like you said, we can’t possibly know what ZamFam26 went through but we are excited to hear about your experiences when you return home.
Sean–Oreo’s one “wrinkle” held on to your memory for about 2 weeks (impressive for him!) but he is now back to living (I use that word lightly since most of his ‘life’ is spent sleeping) primarily downstairs on the couch in the sunbeams. Although he probably doesn’t know it, he is awaiting your return so he can plop and roll over for a belly rub–he really is like a dog, isn’t he? See you soon! Safe travels!
Isa, I can feel your emotion in your words. I bet 3 1/2 weeks felt like forever at the beginning, and in the midst it may have felt that way. You have all done so much living in the past month, that has such an impact on how the passage of time feels. It sounds like you have all gained so many valuable insights and have broadened your perspective. I hope that you each find your own ways to bring Zambezi home.
Kathryn, we are missing your quick humor and amazing dad jokes. We are heading into the weekend and I am so ready! It’s been a busy week. Love, mom
Bro my last comment and the firewall decides to act up.
Isa – I appreciate your mixed emotions in leaving a place you have come to love, and one where you have had so many wonderful adventures. As others have said feeling unsure at the start and then not wanting to leave when it’s time is a sign of a truly impactful experience. Aren’t you all so fortunate! I am sure the Zambezi community will be sad to see you all leave too. It will be fun to see all the ways that Zambezi comes home with you, and how this place shows up in your future lives.
Mary Pearl – we are counting the days and so excited to see you! We are excited to hear as much as you have energy to tell us and also know that we won’t ever get it completely, only your ZamFam can really know all that you have experienced together. Good luck with the hugs and good-byes. You have many hugs and welcome homes waiting on this side of the world.
Sending you love and wishing you safe travels!! xo Mom
Hiiii Isa!! I was going to say I can only imagine how you all are feeling, except I don’t have to imagine it because I lived it. Nonetheless, though every Gonzaga-in-Zambezi alum can relate to most of the experience, there will be moments sacred to the 2026 group. Hold those near and dear and rely on one another. Accompany one another.
I’m so so proud of you guys for going and experiencing Zambezi to the fullest — taking in every good and bad moment, but having a smile on your faces through it all. Take the pressure off of unpacking this trip and take it bit by bit. Your recap of Zambezi will never be fully understood and that’s okay, because YOU know what it meant. Bring Zambezi home, I can’t wait to hear all about it. You guys did it!! Remember when you were freaking out about packing and outfits and what life would be like? You mastered it. Like the other Caroline said, know that getting on that bush plane doesn’t stop you from thinking about Zambezi every single day. Zambezi is the most special place because the love from the community spans 10,000 miles easily.
I finished my last day of work training today, yippee!!!! I get a caseload of kiddos starting 8am on Monday, but there will be no need to update that on the blog. Text will do just fine. Have a safe journey back home! Sit in your feelings, all of them. It’s all part of the process.
One last time
Love,
Weenie
5:09pm in California, 2:09am in Zambia
This is a great blog and a great conundrum you’ll face back in the USA in a few days. Are you really changed or will you fall back into old ways of seeing things? Can you be gracious around those of us who didn’t get to live your experience and can’t possibly know what it’s done for you? We don’t care — we’re just anxious to feel your hugs and see your bright eyes and sparkling smiles (ok, maybe after you recover from h
jet lag). Love you Sarah and see you soon! Drink up your final Zambian vibes.
Isa, you’re right, no one will know what you all went through except ZamFam26. I’m confident everyone back home can’t wait for all of you to return so we can hear about what you all experienced.
Lily, enjoy and cherish the time you have left. We all miss you and looking forward to seeing you next week. Love ya! By the way, the Cubs are in 3rd place and the Sox are still in 1st
Isa,
What a lovely post! Finding it hard to say goodbye means that you allowed yourself to be honest and open to others, which is not always easy to do. I am impressed with your bravery, Isa.
Joe,
It looks like your Zam Fam is full of wonderful people. Being there for a friend is something that you are exceptionally good at and I hope you are finding your people who do the same for you (it’s equally important you know…). I am sure that this trip is making you even MORE of a lovely human and I am just so lucky that I get to be your mom. Logistics info: I will meet you at baggage claim at Seatac, although I may not recognize you with that big ass beard! Love ya! -Mom
Great post..and so much to take in! There’s no coincidences in the people you are with, have met, and the parts of them and this journey that will be with you forever. I can’t wait to hear the stories over the coming days, weeks, months and years.
Liv-You are loved beyond words and missed equally as much! Kale and his dad are in Kentucky and Candace texted me today. Everyone is excited, and this is really the start of something big..although I know it may also be mixed. But you have so much to draw from your experience in Zambezi. I literally am counting the hours and days to hear your voice!! I love you and miss you so much!!
Isa,
I loved your post on how quickly Zambezi went from feeling unfamiliar to feeling like home. Your commitment to bringing back the kindness, hospitality, and genuine connection you experienced there is inspiring.
Thank you to Zag Fam 26 for sharing your journey so honestly. I have no doubt that a piece of Zambezi will continue to live through the way you accompany others. Safe travels.
Kathryn,
So are we thinking Chipotle, sushi, or Chicago Fire for your first night back?
I talked with Jack today, he was good. He is starting to apply for other jobs for the summer. Charlie and his friends kicked off the Denver tourney this afternoon. They all had a solid start and were having fun. Grandma is good. She said the Cape feels like summer. Lots of traffic and tourists in town. She said we would love it. The dogs have loved riding in the way back of your car coming out to the store. They will be EXCITED to see you!
Can’t wait to catch up when your back. Safe travels!
Isa,
I’m so glad that you’ve had such a good experience. Can’t wait to hear about all the details in a few days. I’ll see you at the airport Tuesday. I love you!
Enjoy these special final moments – we are all so proud of you and can’t wait to hear all that you have learned on the trip. Meg, in Corvallis – Sean had his school ceremony today and the main graduation tomorrow. Beautiful weather and great to meet Elisabeth Grace’s family. So excited to see you soon! All my love.
Aw Isa, this is beautiful. What perfect time to have blog posts, and the idea of you adapting your lifestyle at home in different ways is so sweet. I’m so happy for you and can’t wait to hear about your trip! I miss you.
MP, D.C. went well!! I just love democracy. Due to my foot and lack of time, we took the trolley and that was a first. It was funny hehe.
Sarah, at one point I was in a bad mood and it was sweltering, and then there were a million middle schoolers all rowdy on the sidewalk. And I thought to myself, ugh middle schoolers. And then BAM. A hallucination of children in khaki pants, polos, and a double file filled my brain, and my frontal lobe developed. In that moment, I totally respected our upbringing of traveling and understood the grilling of it into our lives. Insane. I’m excited to see you when you come home!
Graley I think you would’ve loved the sounds of DC! I hope your week was awesome!
I’m so proud of all of you!
Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us! I love to travel. You never know what sort of wonderful experience you’ll have, but in the end, you know you will treasure it for always. It sounds as if you all will treasure your time together as ZamFam 26.
Safe travels home to all of you!
It’s been so fun to watch you all journey together on this adventure. And I know we are only getting a little window into all the amazing things you are experiencing. You will all share this experience for life. And I can’t wait to pick up my daughter Hayden at the airport and start hearing all the amazing stories. I know you all will come back changed people and I’m totally here for that!!!
Very well written, Isa! You’ve come a long way from when Antonio would have to proofread everything you wrote.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed your time and I’m looking forward to welcoming you back home and hearing all about it.
Love you.
Diego
Isa-that was a lovely post. I’m still thinking about how you can keep learning about a place after you’ve left. I look forward to understanding more about how Zambezi will show up in your lives back home. Sarah- I’ve been missing you a lot. So much that today, at the DU Honors graduation, I went up to Frankie Stroud (ok, she does know me) and then to her parents… and we talked about you and Maudie, and how amazing it is that Frankie is graduating. And then Luke Ramsey’s girlfriend said hi. Look at me talking to strangers. I can’t wait to hear your Zambia spiel. I can’t wait to hear about all the people and the classes and the music. Sheila wants to know if you saw any snakes. love you to the moon and back. GSDILY. Momma. I need a hug.
Isa,
I am proud of you. I cant wait to hear all your stories. I am sad we will be gone when you get home.
Love you
Isa! I’m so glad that you’ve enjoyed experiencing Zambezi and probably have so many new memories and stories to tell. I remember talking to you those last couple of days before you left and how you were excited but slightly unsure of what to expect. I am so happy that it turned out to be such a positive experience that will probably impact your life forever. Safe travels and I can’t wait to hang out and hear all about your trip 🙂
Thank you Isa and ZamFam 2026 for taking us all on this journey with you. I have loved every story, reflection, and photo! Now get on home because we miss you!!!
Isa, your rose bud thorn captures all the emotions very succinctly! These blogs have been roses every day!
Graley, I saw Carrie today and she told me how nervous Megan is about being in Costa Rica with no phone or family. It took me rushing back to all the mental preparation for this Zambia trip which seems like a very long time ago now. I’m so excited to see you and so grateful for this experience you’ve had and glad you still have a couple more days.
I can’t believe that it’s been a month and you’ll be heading home (probably already in the air by the time I comment this). I remember last year feeling like the trip had been a lifetime, yet I’d also only been there for like two days. One of those things that’s hard to describe to anyone else. And there will continue to be those — because, yes, really only your ZamFam ’26 can relate to the particular experience you had, and even then it might feel a bit isolating to be reentering the world with your own unique experience and reflections on the time you spent in Zambezi. As Caroline suggested, practice the spiel — different versions of it depending on the length of the conversation and who you’re talking to. And try and take as much as you can from what you’ve been reflecting on — like being interruptible the same way Mary and Wendy were. This experience will be one to sit with and reflect on for many more months and years to come — the work is far from over. But I hope you can also take pride in deeply engaging in this experience, forming powerful relationships, and practicing accompaniment in such a profound way. All of you, ZamFam ’26 have shared so meaningfully about your time — it’s been truly a blessing to follow along and relive some of those special moments, even just through words on a page. Have a safe flight home, get lots of rest, and be expect the unexpected when it comes to reentry. And although it seems like you all have been and will continue to rely on each other (keep it up!), don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever want to chat. Kisu mwane.
Isa, I know I am late commenting on this, and you may not see this, but I am so incredibly proud of you. This trip was such a jump out of your comfort zone, and it seems like you truly found accompaniment and loved your time in Zambezi. I can’t wait to hear all of the little stories of all of the moments that have impacted you, and I am so excited to get to talk to you again so soon!!! Love you lots 🙂