Home (for now)

Today was the last leg of our journey from Messiah to Macha. We started out full of hopeful expectation, with some uncertainty about what we were getting ourselves into. Along the way we have gotten to know ourselves and each other a bit better. Not only did we learn how we respond to days of travel with fitful sleep, we also encountered our own stink in a way usually not required of us. I learned that it is tricky for me to think through unexpected changes to the plan when I was depending on someone else to think up the plan - and also that many people here in Zambia are kind and generous, and that the students are dependable, caring, and willing to be flexible, play things by ear, and try new things (like caterpillars for dinner!).

Preston eating a fried caterpillar, Zach looking grossed out!

We learned other fun things about each other: what kinds of movies people like to watch on planes, whether they snore, if they are willing to eat caterpillars for the experience of it (AND whether they LIKE eating caterpillars), how adventurous people are (whether they are willing to dance with the Zambian performers). We learned more once we arrived in Macha when Dr. Phil Thuma asked the students to give one word they would use to describe themselves. We have students who are self described as: social (and sociable), fun, shy, planners, laid-back, interesting, efficient, complex (and much more - I wish I had written them all down) it will be fun to get to know this aspect of each other during the next couple of weeks.

Now that we are here at Macha, the exhaustion that began to cloud our hopeful expectation is being replaced anew with hopeful expectation. We will tour the research institute and hospital tomorrow, and also tour the village and market. We have already met some Macha residents who warmly welcomed us to the village. This includes some kids who were more than willing to entertain a group of students with impromptu volleyball. I know the students are hoping for more of these fun and relaxing times with the kids during the coming weeks.

We have much to learn and much to see! Arriving in Macha has made part of what we had hoped for real, and now we are ready to dig in and experience what we came here to learn.