Attempting to capture the richness of my time in Zambia


In this photo, I am blissfully happy. I am standing on a fence at Victoria Falls, struggling to balance and about to fall and yet could not be more grateful to be in that exact place in that moment. The Falls, in addition to many other aspects of Zambia, has taken my breath away. My face in this photo is one of awe and bewilderment – I still cannot believe that I have had this amazing opportunity to live in this marvelous country for two months. In this photo, in that moment, and throughout the entirety of this program, I have felt liberated from the unhealthy thoughts and worries that often plagued my days in the United States. I am learning to be present and appreciate moments as they happen.

While there is no sole photo nor amount of words that could truly capture the richness of my time in Zambia thus far, this picture is a representative snapshot. I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Even typing that sentence seems too good to be true – this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I plan to carry with me for the rest of my life.

Ethical photography has been a major theme of this trip, as it can be all-too-easy to forget to practice cultural relativism and take a photo that paints a culture or its people in an inaccurate or inconsiderate light. However, it is absolutely essential to remind ourselves of the ethical considerations when taking photos. When taking this photo, I made sure to not include any strangers in an attempt to accurately portray my own experience and not improperly include a person I do not know into my story.

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