I'm not sure if I wrote about this before, but I think of this Zambia-Africa experience, as a ripple effect.
Think of a pond, and this internship as a Rock.
All of these opportunities rippling out as an effect of the rock being dropped in a pond, is kind of what I am experiencing now.
I am so blessed with the doors that have opened for me. I feel I am now a catalyst in empowering youth in my community.
I had to laugh, going through my journals of when I was in Africa. Usually I am very emotionally affected when I read them. Sometimes I laugh, and sometimes I cry.
There is something amazing that happened to me every day when I was there. Living with four other interns, it was always a fun- adventerous time. I read a journal entry last night, where we tarantala trapping, and there was one in our kitchen! The biggest and fastest one I seen in Zambia, and we made a video to document us trying to catch it. I remember being so afraid, and my friends laughing at me for being such a scaredy cat.
Made me laugh, and feel nastalgic, and I really think about how great it was as an experience. I highly recommend for all ages to step out of your comfort zone, and leap into new challenges. Even when your scared. The Creator will never give you anything you can't handle.
This quote brought me strength every day in difficult situations...
"There may not be good days, but there is good in every day"
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On the note of spiders, I remember my most scaredy cat moment....I had come home from using the Internet cafe at Arcades Mall, and to my surprise, I was the only one home. I was exhausted, it was a long day in the office, and I came in my room and turned the light on, releived to find we had electricty that day.
On the corner of my eye, I seen some legs sticking out from under the bed.
My heart skipped about 8 beats. I knew exactly what these legs were from.
I set my back pack down, while keeping my distance, I looked closer, Sure enough, these hairy thick spotted legs were from...you guessed, a tarantala.
Instantly I was panicked, because I was the only one home, and the legs were poking out from under my bed. I started sweating and couldn't move. I could see it under the bed, but I felt itchy, like they were crawling on me. Even tho it wasn't moving.
What was I going to do? I was the only one home and I needed to sleep. My amigos were out and about. I called my roomies, to come home, I said I had a "situation" and they needed to help me. So Shay Shay and Coco Speed home as fast as they can to save me.
Thankfully the Creator answered my prayers, and Nathan my other roomie came back to save the day. Tarantala= Gonzo! I still apologize to the Creator for all the spideys who had to perish while I was in Zambia.
My co-workers in Zambia could never fully understand why I was so afraid of spiders. They would laugh, and tell me, I needed more exposure to them so I wouldn'd be afraid anymore. Not this girl. Incurable fear of Arachnids.
I have about 40 other stories like this, where spiders threw my whole homeostasis off, but I had amazing room mates who always were understanding. Some of my roomies were afraid of rats, this is where I could show off, because I wasn't afraid of rats. We were a great team despite everything we been through together.
I know these special people who I got to live with in Zambia including Rohan our on the ground program coordinator added to the experience and the success of all of staying the entire four months.
These interns will always have a special place in my heart, because I will never forget Zambia, and the people who made the experience what it is. To my roomies, I thank you! Without you, I would have gone home the first day at the YWCA where we were chasing out toonie size spideys. Love our crazy team. Ro, Coco, Shay Shay, Rexx & Nate Bomb.
