We have been back home for 7 weeks. The last month in Zambia was a blur and it felt like we blinked and we were on a plane back to America. As much as we tried to avoid it, we were very busy during our last stretch. Our good friend, Trevor, whom we met as a fellow Peace Corps Volunteer in 2010, came to stay with us for a few weeks for a fishing adventure with Joey and to seek out potential jobs of his own. It was nice to share Zambia with someone who had a similar experience as a volunteer, and of course, Joey had a blast having a buddy around to go fishing with on Lake Kariba. All of us also took a trip to the Kafue River and spent 2 nights on a lovely private camp with outdoor kitchen and netted chalets. Along with a last minute holiday, we also had to say a final goodbye to our village and expat friends in Lusaka. Our last visit to Musofu was happy and rewarding. We saw almost everyone we had worked with during our stay and we were able to share a toddling Stevie and lasting smiles. It will forever be one of our homes and the people there have truly impacted our lives forever. What an incredible blessing it was to be able to visit twice during our stay and include Stephen in a very dear part of our lives. Saying goodbye to our expat friends was also difficult. We (especially Stevie and I) made some wonderful, meaningful relationships and it was sad to say farewell. We hosted a BBQ for our dear friends a few days before we left and we all enjoyed a gorgeous afternoon together playing in the garden at our cottage. It was perfect. Again, so grateful for both old and new relationships that were made in Zambia. Joey also wrapped up at IAPRI and concluded a last minute training in Mkushi. We left Zambia on December 23rd, and after roughly 36 hours of traveling through Jo-Burg, South Africa; Accra, Ghana; Washington DC; and Boston, we arrived in Hampton, NH on Christmas Eve to spend the holiday with family. We moved back into our Lansing home after a few days of visiting family in Grand Rapids, and quickly unpacked the necessities, and settled in.
In many ways it felt like we never left, but we all grew during our move and our family is stronger because of it. We were all challenged in our own ways, but with great challenges often come great rewards. Our son was exposed to several cultures and people and he learned how to adapt, Joey took away experience in running a research project on every level possible, and I continued to see how to make home anywhere we are. Sometimes in life you have to take a leap and I will forever be grateful we took on this experience in Lusaka. Where to next?
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| Victoria Falls: Livingstone, Zambia |
