The Adventures of Travels

Four and a half days have passed since my plane touched down in Indy. The journey was long and bittersweet. Zeger was flying out the day before me, so we went down to Lusaka together.  We visited a few markets around town. I learned to bargain (although not well), and I bought enough to share a bit with friends and decorate my room with African mementos. We had a really good time and spent the evening reminiscing about the summer and the little ones we had left behind. Amy joined us the next day. We hit one more market, then Zeger grabbed a taxi for the airport. Amy took me for a pedicure that afternoon (my first ever-- my feet are unreasonably ticklish).  I'm pretty sure that's the first time my feet had been soft and clean since I arrived in Africa. Then we drank coffee, watched the new Harry Potter movie, and ate Indian food.  I was already missing those kids more than words could possibly express, but at the same time I really enjoyed the chance to spend some time with Amy aside from the distractions that the orphanage inevitably brings.

I cried like a crazy person during the second half of the movie.  I'm not really even sure why. Amy kept glancing at me nervously out of the corner of her eye.  Partially, I just really desperately needed the good guys to win one, even if it was only on a movie. I knew they would in the end, but the journey hurt an awful lot.

The next morning, Amy picked up a team from the airport. I had a chance to get to know them a little before I had to leave that afternoon. The thought of leaving Africa was in and of itself enough to make me feel nauseous, but knowing that those people got to go to Kazembe and love on the kids who had hijacked my heart left me downright jealous.

After Amy and the new volunteers left for the bus station, I had a chance to sit and talk with Lydia, the woman whose house we were staying at. She is wonderfully sweet, and I really treasured the opportunity to get to know her heart.

I spent most of the plane ride memorizing everything I could out of the Bemba grammar papers that a Peace Corp friend gave me. The woman sitting next to me happened to grow up in Luapula, so she helped me with some pronunciations. It made the trip a bit more bearable.

When I finally arrived in Indianapolis, I found that my bags had been seized by customs in DC. Perfect. After several hours, we were told they had been released. We waited five hours for the next flight to get there. It was delayed. Twice. Then once it finally arrived, they couldn't unload the luggage because of lightening. Finally I got my bags. Nothing was missing.

I fell asleep almost instantly in the car on the way home. Forty-eight hours after landing in the States, I pulled out of my driveway and headed to Nashville. Ten minutes out of Evansville, the rear driver's side tire blew on my car. An hour later, AAA got there. Yet another hour and a half later, Walmart finished switching the tire. Finally, I got back on the road. I barely made it to Nashville in time for my 5pm move-in time.

The next morning, I started RA training. I have to say, despite all the craziness and the brutally long days on top of relentless jetlag, I'm loving every minute of it. It looks like God knew what He was doing after all.

Well, that's the dry and emotionless version of my week. I could share a million little stories about the people I met and the adventures I had, but for now, I must sleep. My African blanket is beckoning me from my bed.

Goodnight, all. Laala.