As our time in Livingstone comes to an end, I can’t help but reminisce on everything we were able to do. Being able to see Victoria Falls and going on safari has given all of us an overwhelming sense of gratitude and appreciation for the world around us.
Today was the last day we spent in Livingstone. A few of us decided to go back to the falls (including myself) to bungee jump, swing, or zip line, while others stayed at Fawlty Towers hostel to enjoy a massage or read by the pool.
As I and a few others made our way to Victoria Bridge, we were immediately in awe of the view before us. It was in that moment that I realized how transformative viewing the world through a camera lens can be. Before this, I had really only viewed the beauty of the falls from a distance or through a camera.
Becca and I quickly decided we were gonna do the tandem swing together. As we were standing on the edge of the bridge ready to jump off, I realized just how quickly one’s perspective can change. All of a sudden, we were facing the beautiful horizon as the water rushed beneath us and the rainbow shined through the mist from the falls. This sight felt strangely unfamiliar, not like anything that could be captured by a photo or video.
While photos or videos can capture a moment’s visual essence, they lack the emotion and feeling that often comes with it. These real life encounters can make familiar scenes feel entirely new, reminding us how perception deepens when we step outside of the frame.
As we continue our journey to Zambezi, we not only embrace the evolution of our own perspectives but also inspire one another to question ideas and see the world through broader, more open lenses.
Cate Mastroni Psychology Major, Gonzaga Class of ’27
Human connection is the root of this trip, and truly why many of us picked it, including me. To meet new gonzaga friends. To strengthen previous relationships. To accompany the zambians we meet.
On day 4, we went to Victoria Falls and high tea at the Royal Livingstone Resort. I didn’t know really what to expect from the waterfall, but it truly exceeded every expectation. I saw human connection firsthand as people screamed of joy as we passed over the bridge and water washed all over and around us. Alea and I connected as we quickly got separated to the back due to our lack of water shoes. It was a reminder that sometimes human connection can also be wordless, simply the proximity of people to one another.
The next day, day 5, when we arrived at Kalahari Tours, we were warmly greeted by one of our tour guides, Opi. His warm smile and instant jokes to Jeff after not seeing him for the past 6 years was a testament to the importance and depth that human connection can have.
Once on the river tour, slowly making our way down, eager to see animals, I was reminded of just how simple connection can be. It doesn’t need to be something big or extravagant — an example I witnessed was when Kamy sat at the bow of the boat to see the animals better and Sarah simply walked up and joined her. I think for me it was a great reminder of how connections don’t have to be some grand gesture, and oftentimes connections are formed in moments we don’t even notice or remember.
As we continued the tour on land, the excitement had built up and was palpable! We saw antelopes, elephants, crocodiles, hippos, and giraffes!!! SO COOL! I saw the same human connection in the “wows” and shrieks when a person’s favorite animal was seen. I think that, on a deeper level, I felt a connection to these animals, knowing that the God (or the higher power you believe in) that made me perfect made these beautiful animals.
In the safari land cruiser, as we drove around talking about our “hot takes” and pet peeves, cute stories and how we were feeling about everything, I realized that this was all in an effort to achieve the human connection we crave so badly. I also witnessed connection in the way James casually talked to our driver, Teezah, getting his life story and learning about his experience working with Kalahari Tours. I have always hoped to be someone that harnesses the natural ability of conversation and connection with others. I take inspiration from James’ simple questions like “How long have you been…” or “What languages do you speak” — easy questions that I can integrate into conversations with the people I am bound to meet in Zambezi, and the world beyond.
Our 2025 Zambezi family, alongside Opi (standing guide) and Teezah (center, kneeling), our careful and caring guides, in front of a 500-year-old Baobab tree.
To my family, thank you for teaching me the importance of human connection and allowing me to connect with Zambians on this trip.
As I reflect on these past few days since we arrived in Zambia, I immediately think of all the new things I have learned. From the adjustment of Zambia driving on the other side of the road, to staying in rooms with 2-8 people at the hostels, we are all learning how to adjust to new environments and changes. Although I have some experience with trips similar to this ,since I’ve been to Honduras 3 times and conditions are similar, adjusting and/or readjusting can be a challenge.
For those who don’t know me, my name is Carly and I’m going to be a junior this upcoming school year. I’m a Community, Culture, and Language major and hope to teach 1st or 2nd grade after graduation.
On the 3 Honduras mission trips I mentioned above, I was lucky enough to travel with my immediate family as well as my Grammy. On these trips, my Grammy has taught me something that has changed my outlook on trips such as this one. Ever since her first trip to Honduras, she has always said “We need to be Gumby.” For those who don’t know who Gumby is, he is a green character/action figure that was advertised as “very stretchable and bendable.”
You may be wondering how this relates to being somewhere such as Zambia and why I’m bringing up a random character. Throughout past trips I have been on, after we quickly change plans, adjust timing, have issues, etc. we always refer to them as Gumby moments and say that we deserve the Gumby award. Throughout the first few days of this trip, there have already been countless Gumby moments and many times I believe we all deserve the Gumby award. As you can see in the picture above, “being Gumby” can also look like moving seats on a bus in order to support other students.
(And yes, that is Jeff turned away and being a party pooper hahaha)
Yes, that is Jeff turned away being a party pooper!
Today specifically I believe was a Gumby award worthy day. We spent about 10 hours in a small bus with no air conditioning and minimal stops. On top of that we had the funny funny challenge of trying to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on the moving bus. Caroline, Sean, Piper, and Natalie stepped right into action and made a “sandwich assembly line” in which there were a few spills, some sticky hands, but some amazing sandwiches.
Additionally, the ride took longer than we expected. We expected it to be 7-8 hours total but it ended up being 10. Even though we all were trying our best to stay positive on a bus we wouldn’t typically have volunteered to go on, we all remained friendly and social from the start to the finish.
With all this being said and many other times both past and future that we will all be “Gumby,” an important takeaway for me personally as well as other students is that it’s okay to be uncomfortable with the unknown and that becoming comfortable in the uncomfortable will take some time and adjustment. Additionally, as we familiarize ourselves with the customs, food, and culture of Zambia, I know that we will all become more comfortable not only as Zags but as friends.
As we continue to learn and grow in this amazing experience, I can’t wait to push myself out of my comfort zone and practice patience. With many exciting events lying ahead and our safari in the next few days, I’m excited to make amazing memories with everyone.
For the reason listed above as well as many more that will occur throughout a trip like this one, I believe that we all deserve a Gumby award!
With love from myself and the trip stuffies,
Carly Fassio Gonzaga School of Ed., Class of ’27
PS, we leave for safari tomorrow morning, so don’t expect another post until Friday!
I feel honored to have the chance to write this blog on my second adventure in Zambia. Just about a month ago, I had the opportunity to give an enthusiastic ‘YES’ to Gonzaga in Zambezi again as a TA. Shout out to my ZamFam 2024.
Quick breakfast before our flight to Lusaka!
When I left Zambezi last year, my mind and spirit truly had flourished. I felt like a new being had just come out of its shell. A human with more capacity to love, to ask difficult questions, and to lean in to all that Zambia has to offer.
Being a TA this year has offered blessing after blessing. For those of you who may not know me, my name is Lucia and I just graduated Gonzaga last Sunday!! I graduated with majors in Public Relations and Religious Studies and a minor in Leadership Studies. I am ecstatic to accompany the students on this 2025 adventure. In this TA position, I just can’t wait to see the students flourish in their own unique ways.
After 3 long travel days we have made our way to Lusaka! We spent our first couple of hours getting to know each other at the airport, chatting about how some of us like, Cate and Becca, took the LightRail down from Becca’s house. Taylor drove over from Spokane the morning of our flight, and Caroline O. took an early flight from the Bay Area. At the airport, we giggled at the already active What’s App ZamFam 2025 group chat where Sean and Piper sent a video of taking their first malaria pill or giggling at how Jeff sent a picture of him, James, and Kamy. We also chatted about how excited we are for Caroline M. to bring her drone to Zambezi!
But no matter how we ended up at SeaTac or how active everyone has already been in the group chat or in class, I can feel a deep commitment to the journey from this group. Although, a very curious bunch, maybe asking too many questions at times… I applaud their willingness to get to know one another and already lean on each other. I know we are ready to dive into complex and life giving experiences that Zambia has to offer.
After the long 14 hour flight where I got to sit next to Ellie, James, and Kamy, we made it to Dubai. I chatted with Kamy about how she went to the same high school as one of my best friends Merle and talked to Ellie about why she decided to watch Sound of Music on the plane. We then made it to Dubai with 20 other Zags!! This year there is a Gonzaga trip through the Biology department going to Zambia as well. We have split ways, but we had the chance to hang out with them on our Dubai tour!
After the tour, I walked back to my room I shared with Sloane and we chatted about our Gonzaga experiences, her love for the Gonzaga club volleyball team, and how I was feeling about going to Zambia a second time now as a TA.
Already during our time at the airport in Dubai we had Alea braiding Sarah’s hair, Kathleen chatting to Jeff about a book they both read, Carly chatting to me about her time in Kenya last year, and Katy reviewing some McDonald’s donuts. I then walked into the flight with Mia, both nervous but more excited about the flight.
Natalie caught this great final shot of Dubai as we took off for our journey in Zambia.
Finally, we landed in Lusaka!! We went to a delicious meal at a restaurant called Chicagos, explored the mall, and gathered some shampoo and conditioner for the group from the grocery store. Natalie and I got especially into the game of wavelength at dinner and laughed at silly answers and questions together.
After long long days of travel, we made it to our hostel in Lusaka. Now, we are all prepping for the long day of more travel in the bus tomorrow down to Livingstone!!
More and more I am realizing on the trip to Zambia once again that the journey is human life and life needs company. I can not wait to explore this journey with the group and accompany each other ever step of the way.
To Alex, Mom, Dad, and George thank you for supporting me in my journey to get here (again!). 1018 girls, Soph, Gi, Cat, Cam, I love all of you and am thinking of you all more than you know.
ZamFam 2024 🫶🏻 Connection.
And my entire community I just can not wait to share this experience with you all when we reunite!!
Hello, loved ones. We have arrived in Dubai. We took a Big Bus Tour around the city and saw all of the sights, and the one and only largest sky scraper in the world. Your Zags are safe and sound as we spend the night in Dubai. We’ll be waking bright and early to fly to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Stay tuned for more adventures.
For 19 years, Gonzaga faculty and students have developed, cultivated, and deepened relationships in the rural town of Zambezi, Zambia. This Friday, May 16, eighteen new Zags will contribute to this extraordinary story of accompaniment. In a special treat this year, I’ll be joined by Dr. James Hunter, an accomplished linguist and truly gifted educator who will help guide through our explorations of language and culture. And, in a late development, Lucia Doty will return to serve as a TA, assisting our students as someone familiar with the challenges and growth opportunities this experience will present.
Longtime partners from local schools, and from ZamCity sports academy. Our stalwart local guide, Dominic Mizhi Sandu (smiling in the blue shirt), has been a source of wisdom and care for Zags for almost two decades.
For those of you new to this unique study abroad, some context on our intentions is helpful. Unlike study abroad experiences rooted in a foreign university, our month-long classroom is the community of Zambezi. This remote town is nestled on the Zambezi river, the fourth-longest river in Africa, in the North-Western Province of Zambia, roughly 500 kilometers west of the provincial capital of Solwezi. This proud community has a rich cultural tradition influenced by the Luvale and Lunda peoples. Through community projects, developed in partnership with local leaders, Zags will convene lessons in computing for business leadership, health education, adult English literacy, and many will partner in local classrooms. However, our intentions are not to “help” Zambians but rather to come alongside them in a decades-long relationship to assist them in standing on their own two feet.
This practice is rooted in the Jesuit posture of accompaniment – an intentional effort to operate at eye-level with Zambians, acknowledging the mutuality of our learning together, not in directing others through complex hardships but in walking alongside them, navigating challenges together with empathy and understanding. This program recognizes that transformation occurs in the relationship of mutual reciprocity, when we learn to come alongside in relationship to unlock the power of accompaniment for change.
While Gonzaga has partnered in tangible projects (library at Chilena, Zambezi Writers’ Corner magazine, Zam City FC, Dipalata Community Hall, Zambia Gold Honey) most Zags will share with you the friendships developed during their time in Zambezi. It is in these relationships that true learning occurs for Zags and Zambians. We hope you will accompany us during this next month (May 16 – June 16) as we navigate the complexity of intercultural partnerships and reflect daily on our learning. Gonzaga students and faculty will be posting on this blog as we make sense of our experiences and share this learning with you. We hope you will comment on our postings, in a virtual conversation of your own learning and questions (and to stay connected to us).
Kisu, mwane (for all of you fluent in Luvale) and Mwani (for the Lundas among you!)
Jeff Dodd Associate Professor Gonzaga University English Department
I’ve always struggled saying goodbye, and as I have got older, sometimes I find myself worrying about saying goodbye to people before I took the chance to say hello. I have noticed that this fear leads me to hold people an arms length away, as leaving a gap makes goodbyes easier. However, distancing myself from others in avoidance of difficult emotions is not sustainable nor does it cultivate a joyful life. In Zambia these past three weeks, the word “connection” has been the staple of our group. Something I have always believed is that it is easier to connect to strangers, because at the end of the day you don’t need to see them again and words shared amongst strangers remain as simple moments or memories. I was excited to get to know the other students traveling to Zambia with me, however I still felt myself hitting a wall at points. My brain seemed incapable of closing the gap. However, during this last week, I felt my mind starting to switch gears as I watched fellow students connect to one another, and navigate the complexities of difficult emotions hand in hand. We did a reading the other night which stated that difficult emotions, including goodbyes, while individual matters, do not need to be private matters and it is possible to sit beside someone in their solitude without changing them or imposing your own fears, bias, and beliefs onto them. As I read through the reading, I realized these were the words I had been waiting to hear. I began wanting to sit beside someone in their self introspection, and more importantly I was opening up to the possibility of people I care about sitting beside me; finally finding a way to close the gap. As I looked around the room, I was in awe of the connections my peers had made, each of their own characteristics and personalities contributing to the group that I have called family for the past month. It is difficult to describe in words what I have witnessed, but let me just tell you the way this group operates with one another is extraordinarily beautiful. Given that this is the last blog I wanted to share more about the Zags who have made me want to close the gap between myself and others for the first time in a long while.
Lucia
Lucia’s name means “light,” and that is exactly what and who Lucia is. She is vibrant, kind, and genuine. Lucia’s excitement for life is contagious and her pure joy at the smallest moments brings smiles to faces. Lucia is also fiery, she calls life as she sees it, however she maintains an intense and inspiring optimistic outlook. Lucia has also taught me a great deal about spirituality and has taken time to help me understand a different religion than my own. When I look at Lucia it is clear to me that she exemplifies the beauty of spirituality.
Emily
Emily has always been able to make me laugh. I love sitting next to her during meals and listening to her one liners that only the people next to her might be able to hear. Emily exudes strength and independence, something I know she takes pride in, but she is also incredibly well articulated, observant, and grounded as she connects to others. During our reflections, I always listened extra carefully when Emily would share, as her insight always made some confusion feel a bit clearer before bed.
Charlie
As I have gotten to know Charlie, it is clear to me that he is always thinking. He observes the world, people, smells, sounds, and details that I think others might miss. Whenever Charlie speaks, it is with intention as he adds incredible value and insight to even the smallest of conversations. As we navigated the human complexities of being visitors in a place far away from our own, I always looked over at Charlie when I felt nervous, and I was met with a calm and grounded presence.
Julia
Julia is like a chocolate chip cookie, crispy on the outside and warm and tender on the inside. At first glance, she is one of the most honest and loyal people I have met. She is an absolute badass who I know has my back without question. Julia is always incredibly loving and genuine. Her love for her people radiates outward and her ability to care for others the way they individually need to be cared for is inspiring.
Katie
Katie is like a warm hug come to life. She moves through life by singing and dancing, lifting people up as she goes. Something I noticed about Katie on the first day, is the way in which she listens to and supports the people around her. When someone speaks to Katie about both the hardships and beauty of life, her eyes carry an intense gaze that I have never seen in another person before. It is clear that she is listening to every word and understanding every emotion. She will truly be an exceptional nurse and has taught me so much about friendship.
Brynn
As I write this, Brynn is reading her fourth book in three weeks. Brynn is a grounding presence in the group. She is calm and collected and when I think of Brynn I think of someone who walks through life with grace. Brynn, while sometimes soft spoken, has an amazing sense of humor and is an incredible team player. Without anyone asking, Brynn steps into many roles and helps people with all of their daily tasks. She is someone you can rely on during significant life events because she is always willing to support during the small moments too.
Ellie
I had the pleasure of being Ellie’s roommate the first night we spent in Dubai and the three weeks in Zambezi. What I love about Ellie is how she wears her heart on her sleeve. When Ellie is excited about something new or is happy about life, it is clear throughout her entire expression. Ellie is one of the kindest people I have ever met and she is also incredibly genuine. Her ability to express her emotions and also support others in theirs will make her a wonderful teacher.
Sarah
Sarah has been like a older sister to me throughout our time here. She is sarcastic and funny, intelligent, and always gives good rational advice. She makes seemingly big problems feel small after talking them through. Sarah has had some difficult moments here, especially after the loss of her grandfather, nonetheless she has showed up every day willing to take on each new possibility with curiosity and excitement, something I know he would be proud. I have loved watching Sarah dance while in Zambia, she is so clearly full of pure joy as she dances and it is beautiful to watch.
Jackson
Jackson was the first person I worked with in the group. The first time we met to work on a project, we ended up sitting and talking for 2 hours. Jackson has a special presence that brings people together. He is selfless, generous, and wicked smart. Watching him in the hospital I saw him light up with curiosity and passion. He has a unique ability to articulate even the most frustrating moments and emotions. My favorite thing about Jackson is that he always leaves me grinning ear to ear after any conversation and is the living definition of what it means to be a friend to all.
Will
Will has the best jokes and brings the “dad” sense of humor to new heights. Will is full of questions about life and wants to learn every opportunity he gets. I have loved watching Will’s inquisitive nature as he meets new people and asks them about history, politics, life stories, family, friends, and much more. By asking the right questions, he is skilled at getting others to open up and encourages their vulnerability. Will is also a great dancer and I have loved watching his new nickname “The Dancing Man” come to life.
Ana
I have had such a privilege getting to know Ana on this journey together. Ana and I have similar senses of humor and are always laughing together. Ana is very intelligent and has answered many of my nursing questions during our visits to the hospital. The thing I love most about Ana is her confidence in herself. She is going to be the best nurse practitioner and I look up to her for her knowledge, patience, and intelectual abilities. Ana is simply a wonderful friend and the lessons she has taught me and the joy she has brought me are unmatched.
Josh
Josh is the most present person I have met. Even his jokes are delivered with the perfect timing and tone. He is an exemplary leader and has looked out for all of us throughout this journey. Josh is a complete teddy bear who is full of love which radiates outward when he speaks of his family, friends, and his home away from home, Zambia. Watching Josh step off the plane in Zambezi I was emotional observing how much he meant to the community here, a true testament to his character. I am profoundly grateful for everything Josh has done throughout this trip to ensure our own personal growth and collective connections.
Jeff
Jeff is someone I respect immensely. He is a realist at heart which is apparent in his somewhat tough exterior and sarcastic jokes. At the beginning, Jeff shared with me that when he was younger in some way or another he had a difficult time opening up and showing vulnerability to others, something I struggle with myself. During our time spent together, Jeff has opened up and shared moments in his life that are emotional to him and also incredibly meaningful for me to have heard. If I were to use two words to describe Jeff it would be intentional kindness. There is a difference between being nice and being kind, as kindness runs deeper and chances the tone of a group and community. Something Jeff does not know is that watching him show vulnerability is really inspiring to me and his kindness and connectivity to others is something I aspire for one day.
I want to take a moment to send prayers to Jackson’s grandma and family as they take on a tough new chapter in their lives. Please keep Colleen, Kathryn, Doug, Jackson and the rest of the Schmidt/Ryan family in your thoughts and hold them close to your heart.
All of these people have truly impacted my life. Our time spent here in Zambia bonds us all and my gratitude for each and every one of them runs deep. My heart breaks saying goodbye to Zambezi and all of the people who, in only three weeks, I have come to consider my chosen friends and family. This trip has opened my eyes to a different part of the world, one that is rich in community, love, partnership, and knows the value of human connections. Thank you all back home for your unconditional support, your daily comments which we shared every day during breakfast brought us all so much joy and filled us with happiness as we set out each day.
To my family, I cannot wait to see you in the next couple days. My time here has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life and I am indebted to your generosity, love, and care for allowing me an experience of a life time.
The rhythms of our Zambia trip hold most years, and the final week in Zambezi is a stew of emotions. We all struggle to remain present even as reunions with loved ones draw near. We are saying goodbye to the community that has extended itself in hospitality, even as we try to hold their loving embrace a bit longer. As faculty who’ve experienced this many times ourselves, we too struggle with these tensions.
Jeff is fond of calling Zags into this tension in one specific way: when he hears them start to say “we only have n days left,” he offers a reframing: “we still have n whole days left; imagine what you can do in that time.” Today was a case in point.
Josh often says that the days here in Zambezi are “full but not busy.” This speaks to the different pace of life here compared to our lives at home. We have opportunities and responsibilities each day, but the Zambian concept of time and the cultural ways of relational connection make each day feel more like invitations than obligations. When my head hits the pillow at the end of the day, I often reflect on our many interactions and experiences that never felt “busy.” Many times, those days reflect the work of our hands, minds, and hearts.
Full Hands: Home health visits with Winefrieda
For the last several trips I, Jeff, have made to Zambezi, I have taken lead in organizing the health and wellness team. During this time, I have tried to cultivate a network of relationships in area clinics, and—importantly—in the Zambezi District Hospital. I have grown “comfortable” in this under resourced hospital and with its truly impressive and creative staff of healthcare professionals. I have also visited the two mission hospitals at Chitokoloki and Dipalata, as well as several outlying clinics. I have even taken students to visit traditional healers (sorry ZamFam 2024, time is not with us) and to be treated at modern clinics in Lusaka. But there is one aspect of Zambian healthcare I had long wanted to understand: the work of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs).
Last year, a student named Hattie accompanied an old friend of the program, Winefrieda Mwewa, as she visited HIV patients in a home monitoring program. After a career in social services, she is a full-time CHV, visiting dozens of mostly women living with HIV in the area. This year, Brynn (aka “Mangana”. If you know, you know.) and Katie followed up on the opportunity. I decided to join them and fill in this gap in my understanding.
We visited several women, in hopes of learning about the ways they are being cared for amid the challenges such a diagnosis presents. As we talked with these women, several themes emerged. For most, their HIV+ status remains largely hidden, in some cases from all but a single family member. I have always been struck that Zambia is one of the youngest countries on earth because HIV/AIDS claimed entire generations of families. And yet, the very disease responsible for such massive death is still taboo. Additionally, most of these women live without a husband or domestic partner, having been abandoned or suffering the death of a husband from the disease. Further, all of them expressed challenges meeting their basic nutritional needs, eating only one or two meals per day. Because of this, each was vulnerable to the side effects of their medication when taken without food: extreme dizziness and fatigue. Some took the medication despite the side effects, while others took it inconsistently. One, a breastfeeding mother of a five-month old child, took the medication irregularly because the side effects were so difficult to bear. Of course, the risk is clear. Without the ART suppressive effects, her viral load will increase and she’ll be more likely to pass on the virus to her infant.
Late in the morning, Winefrieda introduced us to a fellow CHV, Grace, in a community west of Zambezi. Grace then guided us to a woman named Charity. At 17, she tested positive for HIV in 2004 after spending six months in the hospital with TB. Winefrieda explained that TB and HIV are cousins because a suppressed immune system makes patients susceptible to diseases like TB. About the same time as her TB was being treated and she began receiving HIV treatments, Charity developed a skin rash that has persisted for close to two decades and progressed to feature large nodules all over her head. She removed her cloth cap to show us that some were now open wounds from being picked at and were at severe risk of infection. Brynn recognized her from the hospital, where she’d seen Dr. Mpande consult with Charity earlier in our trip. Charity had previously been referred to Chitokoloki for care but still hasn’t gone due to lack of funds for transportation. As we left Charity, we discussed with Winefrieda and Grace what it would take to get Charity to Chitokoloki, and listened as they worked out a plan.
At each of our visits, Winefrieda and Grace were welcomed with joy and warmth. The work they and their CHV colleagues do may not save every life or ease the burdens of living with a disease that nearly devastated this part of the world, but they are able to bring them small necessities such as sugar and soap, while also connecting them with healthcare resources to enhance the likelihood of their survival. That work is a reminder to us Zags that patient, present acts of compassion can be a lifeline for those facing serious challenges. Full hands.
Full minds: Final class presentations and ongoing library work.
Earlier today, final presentations were offered by students in our computer, business and leadership, and health education courses. The culmination of our three-week courses provided opportunities for our Zambian students to show their learning to the community. These presentations are marked by encouragement from others (cheers erupted from the computer lab as each student presented their work!) and a sense of accomplishment. New skills are displayed in computers, knowledge shared in the health course, and business proposals offered in the leadership class. Josh had the opportunity to sit on a panel of community and business leaders evaluating proposals for micro-loans offered by Gonzaga to launch new community businesses. Captured in these twenty proposals were the imagination and hopes of incredible leaders who strive to make a difference in their community. Through the direct questions of our panelists, I was reminded of the care and capacity here. The feedback provided opportunities to increase the viability of their projects. Students were asked to dream bigger and hone in on their distinctive contribution to the Zambezi business community. A community of learners and leaders rather than a business competition to be won.
We sometimes downplay our classes because they are taught by Zags who themselves are still learning, and are sometimes far outpaced in knowledge by the adult Zambians in the room. Indeed, they function as much as spaces for developing relationships as they do one-way transfers of knowledge. However, watching students beam as they present what they’ve learned and accomplished, or hearing them describe how they used our classes to springboard a new career or endeavor is a reminder that growth can be nurtured when minds are open to possibility.
Dominic Sandu has used the opportunity of returning to Zambezi to reignite the partnership with the Chilena Library. Nearly ten years ago, our program assisted the community in building a library in a rural school just on the outskirts of Zambezi. A shipping container full of books provided the largest library in the region, a collective effort that solidified our belief that we can do it together. However maintaining and leading a library is certainly as hard as building one. With new leadership at the schools and renewed passion for literacy from Dominic, this week has been an opportunity for him to dig into the work of partnering with local collaborators to share the wealth of knowledge in the Chilena library with people around the Zambezi district. He’s invoked the power of curiosity and knowledge with community members, the school district’s resource coordinator, teachers at other schools, and at the district education board supervisor’s office. Dominic’s dedication to the intellectual growth and capacity of this community reminds us all that knowledge can change lives. Full Minds.
Full hearts: Accompaniment dinner.
Josh’s favorite night of our time in Zambezi is the Accompaniment Dinner, where Zags honor the friendships and partnerships developed during our time here. It’s a festive night with amazing food (cooked by our mamas), marking connections, new and old, with the Zambezi community with photos, dancing, speeches and songs. At the center of our program here is developing relationships, and tonight we got to meet each students’ “people” and honor them for the generous hospitality that been extended to us.
This year, Katie and Jackson emceed, and the absolute highlight was each Zag introducing their guests, explaining what they valued in their friends and what they learned from their Zambian guides. Early in the buildup to our trip and again when we arrive, we read Aaron Ausland’s brief essay, “Staying for Tea,” in which he cautions us against seeing people as function or backdrop, preferring instead the pursuit of friendship true and deep. It is affirming and inspiring to see the ways our students come to know, after just three weeks, the people in Zambezi friends.
The evening closed, as it often does, with Jessica Mukumbi singing a song called “Time has come.” It’s a goodbye song, but also one that looks forward to a reunion full of rejoicing. Often she sings the song to us, but this year, the group slowly began to sing along, building from a singular voice to full choir of perhaps 50 Zambians and Zags celebrating our time together. Full Hearts.
As we start our last full day in Zambezi with full hearts, minds, and hands, We are beyond grateful for the community of Zags on this program. They have taken full embrace of the possibility each day offers, navigating uncomfortable spaces while moving towards growth. We have laughed and cried together. We have experienced inspiring beauty in the people of Zambezi and wrestled with the complexity of this place. They sing and dance to the delight of this community. They have lived into a maturity and connection which has allowed us to stay together through difficulties. We have marveled at the connections they have formed in Zambezi. You should be proud, and ready to listen to these stories when we return.
Josh Armstrong and Jeff Dodd, Associate Professors, Gonzaga University
This week signifies the final stretch of classes and our time here in Zambezi. From the student’s computer presentations with Sarah and Charlie, to the business proposal with Emily and Lucia. Will, Ana, Julia, and Ani led a science project at the local school, Chilangi, while Katie and I had one of our last hospital days in the morning. There were several market trips scattered in to all of our busy days. And of course we all came back together at noon for one more Mama Josephine lesson. All these endings to classes and the inevitable countdown of days going by, has gotten me reflecting and thinking about what has happened here, but also what is still to come.
Earlier last week, I went on a run with Josh (no, I am not a runner and this was my second run this entire trip), but as we ran we talked about how the trip has gone, different things we were looking forward to throughout the day, and I talked about the friendship’s I’ve made in the hospital. Yet something was nagging at the back of my mind as we talked. This whole trip I felt an immense amount of pressure that I was putting on myself to make deep connections and foster relationships that was boiling to the surface with our now very limited time. Now don’t get me wrong, I was working to create new friends, but what I actually did was create a fear that I wouldn’t be able to have what I thought was the “right” experience here. That maybe I wasn’t going deep enough in conversations, branching out far enough, or simply fearing that if I asked one of my new friends to grab a coke during their lunch break, they would say no.
Flash forward to this morning. It all started in the hospital. Throughout my time in Zambezi, I have spent many mornings in the physiotherapy ward (some background info for those that don’t know me, I’m hoping to one day become a PT). And today was no different. I got to spend time with some of my favorite physiotechs, Brudas and Able. I have spent many hours with Brudas watching as he examines fractures showing me the x-rays and then quizzing me on if I can find its location, or watching as he plasters a cast or removes one on “Fracture Friday.” I have absolutely loved every second of getting to be in this ward. Today, I got to talk more one on one with Able. Our previous conversations had consisted of snippets of bonding over Top Gun or sharing our favorite music, my answer of course being Noah Kahan. I found the same structure this morning, as he asked for even more music suggestions, as he said that he would always remember me as the person that introduced him to Stick Season and that he was never tired of finding a new artist. This conversation grew and grew more into me no longer watching the plaster of a cast or examining an x-ray, but instead, engaging in small talk that now furthers me and Able’s bond. We talked of his education, his family, my family, my sisters, his girlfriend and how she is visiting soon. Then, when I was losing track of time and before I knew it Katie came from the peds ward to get me. Before I left, he said something during the smiles, laughter, and sad goodbyes for the day, “We have so much to talk about.”
When Able said this, it was a conformation to me that he was not only my friend, but that he was able to see me as his.
That I’ve had the privilege of getting to know them as they have gotten to know me, and together we’ve gotten to walk together for this brief amount of time, even if some days I was simply accompanying Brudas as he placed on a cast.
Though the run last week left me feeling fearful for the time I had left and the connections I had yet to make, in instances like this I find that my fear slowly disappearing because even though the time here is almost up, I know that we really do have so much left to talk about. One of our group reflections last week, we emphasized how our relationships made here are not meant to end during our three weeks. That they come back with us and can also further flourish and grow. Though we have so much to talk about, we really have do much time to talk. It has been a comfort to me these last days to know the seeds of my friendships have started in the connections I’ve made here in Zambezi. That though I have experienced pressures, and wrestling with the feelings of a “right” experience, I have found places where connecions have formed in beautiful depth, vulnerability yet also small talk or a hand hold or a quick Chimene Mwane. That though our time here is brief, the connections are only just beginning because we really do have so much to talk about.
To my family and friends at home, I miss you all and I am so excited to see!
Three weeks ago the Zam Fam began our day headed to Victoria Falls to see one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World. We hiked in to the national park, and—when we got our first glimpse of the falls—we wanted to stop and take it all in. From our first view we walked to the right side of the falls where the Zambezi River dropped off. We were perpendicular to the water as it fell. We could see the other cliffs that faced the river that were filled with luscious green rainforest trees. When we looked down where the water fell we could see jagged rocks and crashing water that fell so hard it sprayed back up to our eye level. We could even see a rainbow formed from the reflection of the sun on the spraying water. I remember trying to juggle taking in the beauty of the falls with my own eyes, taking photos on my phone, and taking photos on my digital camera. I remember also feeling dumbstruck. I didn’t want to move from the spot we were at. Despite this Father Dominic, kept telling us as a group, “Let’s keep moving the beauty is still yet to come”. So I marched on.
We backtracked and went down a path to the left that we saw from the previous viewing point. Again, we could see the falls and the same feeling overcame me. The spot was surrounded by green rainforest trees that created a sort of dome out of which jetted a platform to see the falls. From this angle we were face to face with the sudden drop off where the Zambezi river crashed over the edge and became Victoria Falls. We could see the falls on both our left and our right. On the left hand the falls seemed to stretch out far. Again I wanted to stop, and again Dominic said “Keep Moving the Beauty is still yet to come”.
Again I marched, but I fell behind the rest of the group. This time I found myself on a bridge where I could see Victoria falls on my right and water sprayed up onto me. To my left was a second bridge that resided within Zimbabwe where I could see bungee jumpers fall. I could also see a rainforest beneath me with more beautiful green trees and running rapids. From the spraying water another rainbow was forming. Yet again, I wanted to take photos and soak it up, but I was told “There is still more beauty to come.” We walked up the trail and there was a spot that sat the closest to the other side of the falls where the water of the Zambezi fell. At this spot the spraying water from the falls was so powerful and so close to us the water felt like a heavy rain. I stood there dancing, singing, playing with my fellow Zags as we all tried to (literally) soak in the beauty of Victoria falls. As I sat there I thought to my self, “This must be what Dominic meant by ‘the Beauty is still yet to Come’”.
“The Beauty is Still Yet to Come.” These words have stuck with me through this whole trip.
As we approach the end of our time in Zambezi, many of our minds are turning to things like saying goodbye to the people of Zambezi, what our our first meal at home will be, or seeing the faces of our loved ones back home. At least I know my mind has turned to thoughts such as these. However, every time I think like this I am reminded of Dominic’s words. “The Beauty is Still Yet to Come”.
After posting this blog we will have only three full days left in Zambezi. So what do we have left to look forward to? On Wednesday we will be hosting an “Accompaniment dinner” for all of our closest friends of the program. Each student will be inviting one person they have considered a close friend or cultural mentor and we will prepare a meal for them. This is meant to be a celebration of the relationships we have developed in our short time in Zambezi.
The hope of the Accompaniment Dinner is that these relationships will not end when we step on the bush plane on Friday.
The hope is that the relationships that have been created with Zambezi will be maintained both at the individual level and the community level. The hope is that each Gonzaga student will not forget the people of Zambezi, and will still check in with the town every once in a while, even if they never return. The hope is also Gonzaga will again return and the long history between Gonzaga and Zambezi will last well into future. This hope is what “The Beauty is Still Yet to Come” has come to mean to me. We still have a short time on this trip and many highlights remain. We still can create memories of and with the people here. This is something we shouldn’t mentally rush past to get home, no matter how much we miss it there.
Even on these last days there are still beautiful moments to be found. Just this last Friday Ellie, Ani, Dominic, and I hosted a panel on mental health at Zambezi Boarding. The panel went very well and many of the students reported feeling they learned from it. I plan to keep in touch with the teachers who helped us organize this and continue to deepen the relationships we have there before we leave.
Even once we do find ourselves on a plane returning to the United States, the beauty doesn’t have to end there. We can still send WhatsApp messages to our friends here. We can still send supplies for ZamCity when the next Gonzaga class goes. We can still recruit underclassman to ensure the program survives. All of these small actions ensure the beauty of our trip doesn’t have to end here. We hopefully might even find ourselves like I did in Victoria Fall surprised at just how beautiful the world can be.
To my family and friends back home I miss you very much. I will see you soon.
