Author Archives: Zags in Zambezi

Your daughter’s face is a small riot, her hands are a civil war, a refugee camp behind each ear, a body littered with ugly things. But God, doesn’t she wear the world well? -Warsan Shire, “Ugly” from teaching my mother … Continue reading →

As I walk up to the distorted metal gate, fine sand in my shoes, and the irregular cobblestone-like porch I step up to the creaky wooden door and open it. I walk in, there are the grey floors with the … Continue reading →

It’s nearly impossible to go through a day in Zambia without at some point being drawn into a dance circle. Usually it’s at least fifteen children eagerly clapping and pulling their favorite chindeles into the middle to perform a goofy … Continue reading →

On my first day in Zambezi, when I stepped off the tiny bush plane with three other students, we were greeted by a joyously singing mass of children. One of these children I was blessed to meet just a few … Continue reading →

The “Zambian Bug” is an illness that haunts Zags during their stay in Zambezi. History of past trips has shown that it will terrorize at least half our trip so I was well aware that my time would likely come; … Continue reading →

“Who can answer this question?” Steven’s hand shoots towards the tin roof like a chindele jumping from a cockroach scurrying across the convent’s dusty floor. He sits there, waiting for the verdict of the benevolent ruler of the classroom, Madame … Continue reading →

  It was a grand reunion Sunday morning as community members and Gonzaga students gathered in the courtyard for the first time since mid-afternoon on the previous day when students left with a host family from the local parish for … Continue reading →

  As we touched down in Zambezi, we looked out the small windows of the four-person plane, curious about this new world we were about to enter. As we looked around at each other, our faces were filled with joy … Continue reading →

Hello loved ones! Our last hours and days (however many have passed) included several adventures already. The first, and not the least of our achievements, includes all of us making it to Seattle. Emirates Airlines was delightful. There were foldout … Continue reading →

You found it!  The Gonzaga-in-Zambezi Blog – a reflective space for students and faculty of this Gonzaga study abroad program to share their learning throughout their travels from May 10 – June 10, 2016.  Nearly every day (as technology and … Continue reading →