Family Time

Joey and I have been far beyond spoiled when it comes to having family and friends visit. For the past 2 weeks, my father, Dana, and step-mother, Pam, have been carted all over Zambia via plane, bus and rental car. It has been a busy trip, but an unforgettable one. We started by paying a visit to the glorious Victoria Falls. The water flow was at its highest, and between pockets of mist, we got fantastic photos. We also got soaked when walking through the park (rental ponchos don’t always come through), but it was worth it. Besides the view of the Falls, we got to cruise down the Zambezi River, feast on crocodile, bush meat (kudu), and chicken liver, and stroll the market. The men also managed to fit in 9 holes of golf and the Peace Corps Volunteers got their thrill dropping 550 feetinto a gorge strapped into to each other by harnesses and falling backwards hooked up to a bunge swing. While Livingstone was beautiful, we had a more important stop to make. We woke early and met up with our new friend, Simbayi, our car driver, and off we went to Mkushi. We visited the market where Pam and I bought a new blanket for our house for the up-coming cold season, and picked up some beans and onions for dinner from the vegetable market. On the drive home to the village, we stopped at the border of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo and had a picture taken. It was a long day in the car, but totally worth it when we got there. Both Dana and Pam were thrilled when they first took in our home. Our host family greeted us with mile-long grins and joy-filled laughs. We showed our family the school, the field, our water hole, and of course, cell-phone mountain (the one spot where we receive full-service on our phone). Everyone enjoyed nshima for dinner, and the following morning it was already time to get back on the road. This time we headed for South Luangwa National Park for 3 nights. We experienced animal sightings that were unforgettable. The first night, we watched a leopard as he stalked a family of baboons before finally lunging up a tree and grabbing a young baboon for supper. It was incredible. We also witnessed a family of elephants taking a mud bath in the wet lagoon, while relaxing on our front porch at the lodge. At the end of the day, the vacation was wonderful, as well as the activities, but what was most special was the time together. We have said it before, but being with family is what’s important.