Mom's visit

Guest entry by Jen Stevens: July 4, 2009

After months of planning and anticipation, Rachel's Colorado Aunt Bev and I finally made it to Africa! Rachel and her boyfriend Pat (I approve!) met us at Lusaka airport the evening of May 9. We spent a couple of days exploring Lusaka, going to the market and meeting a group of other PCV's for dinner. Bev practiced the stick shift and left-road driving of the pick-up truck we rented for the 8-hour drive to Fiwila.

We were astonished at the number of pedestrians and bicyclists along the highway. Many vegetable stalls and poverty. Speed bumps and police checkpoints. We stopped at the Mkushi post office and Mesansa. The dirt road from there to Fiwila was a challenge to navigate and by then Bev was an expert. A narrow walking path barely fit the truck and ended at her compound. We were immediately greeted by a women and children. Surreal!

For the next 3 days we experienced life in the village and was amazed at how well Rachel has adapted. I loved watching her communicate in distinct English or Bemba and recognized by everyone with a smile as we walked around Fiwila. She fed us well, preparing spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce, rice with soy pieces, and even delicious banana bread! I even cooked sweet potato fries for one of our meals!

I laughed when handed a LIVE chicken as a gift. Later it was killed with another one and cooked for a special dinner in our honor the last night. We feasted with the women on traditional Zambian nshima and relishes, sitting on a bamboo mat in Rachel's insaka and eating with our hands. What an unbelievable experience!

I have memories of a million stars in the sky, beautiful landscapes, petting Tulo and Buddy, children laughing and playing with each other, no bad bug encounters, a great bucket bath in the shower hut, adjusting to the pit latrine, the squawking of chickens during the night, candles and flashlights.

On our drive back to Lusaka we were lucky that when we had a FLAT TIRE (!) it was in Mkushi where it was easily repaired. In Lusaka Bev's Texas cousin Tina met us at the hotel, and the next day we all flew to South Luangwa National Park for 6 days of safari. (That is another story...) Then we took another flight to Livingstone to visit Victoria Falls (amazing!) Rachel was a great roommate and traveling companion and helped her mother cope with all kinds of challenges. I learned just how far Zambia is both culturally and geographically from the United States. The trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the most difficult part was having to say good-bye to Rachel at the airport and know it will be another 9 to 10 months before I get to see her again. But I believe she was meant to be a Peace Corps Volunteer and she IS making a difference in this world and I AM SO PROUD!!!