Meaningful Steam- Blog Post #1 (EA)

When assigned the prompt “describe a meaningful experience from your two weeks in Lusaka”, I was sure I would end up writing about an encounter at the SANI Foundation as Alex and I continued our preliminary research. If not this, perhaps I would end up rambling about an experience shadowing at the University Teaching Hospital. If all else failed, I knew there would probably be an interesting story from my home stay.

Well, here I find myself writing this at “The Deli” (one of our favorite Internet cafes) breathing somewhat normally through my nose for the first time in a couple of days. I developed a sinus and ear infection and that really put a damper on what has truly been a great first 2 weeks in Lusaka. Although very uncomfortable, it has been interesting being sick in Zambia because, as cliché as it sounds, to some extent I have been able to experience the health care system from a different perspective. Getting a consultation and my necessary antibiotics from the CFB clinic was a relatively painless, and efficient process. I began to imagine what it would have been like to be treated at UTH and reflected on my privilege being here. After the orientation lectures and this experience, I definitely had more of an understanding on how one’s economic capital is almost directly related to the health care they receive.

Although the general experience of being ill has been quite interesting, a specific experience at my host family was really memorable. On Friday, we had planned to go to The National Park as a group, but because I wasn’t feeling well, Daddy Paul dropped me off at home early. Mommy Linda was extremely sad that I was sick and was convinced that it was because I wasn’t dressing warmly enough. Almost every night since we have arrived, she has reminded us that it is “winter” here and we need to make sure we wore our stockings and sweats. She wrapped me up in all of these blankets and after we had one of our hour-long check ins she asked me if I wanted to “steam”. I smiled because I was familiar with the remedy to help with congestion in which vapor rub is placed into a bowl and hot water is poured over it. The sick person then hovers their face over the bowl and places a blanket over their head. My mom used to do this for me when I was sick, so watching Mommy Linda boil the water reminded me of home. Although I haven’t felt homesick at all since being here, having Mommy Linda do what my mom would have done if I was sick at home really made me feel great. As I sat under the blanket, I couldn’t help but smile ear to ear as Mommy Linda continued to ask me if I was inhaling deeply enough.

Coming to Zambia, I had an inherent bias that I would be more struck by the developing nation in terms of resources and infrastructure. I think I unknowingly carried not only what I had experienced in other developing nations, but also what is shown through the media to cloud what I expected from my time in Zambia. I did not to expect people to show care and love towards me the way they do in the United States. I think if I understood that we are all firstly human and secondly what we have in terms of materials, I would expect the unconditional love that people have shown me so far. Furthermore, I would appreciate it more. I am so glad that I have six more weeks to do this!