Blog Post #4: Sunsets in Choma - AH

      This picture was taken during our Peace Corp trip to Choma, which was hands-down the best time I have had in Zambia thus far. It was a nice change of scenery from the city landscape of Lusaka and a great weekend of relaxation free from the worries of work and research. The highlight of this trip was bonding with the Junior, the son of the host parents with whom our Peace Corp volunteered was living. For hours each day we would play soccer, volleyball, and tag as we ran around the village. At nights, there would be dance parties where kids from all around came over to hang out and dance with us. Junior taught us his signature move of shaking his legs and we all had a blast trying to copy it. The picture here was taken when we all went for a walk around the village to explore and see the sunset. Junior showed us around and we met the other people living in the village, one of whom gave us a giant cucumber to take back with us. Not only did I get to bond with Junior but I was also able to talk a lot with his parents about America and their livelihoods. Even after just spending three days with the them I felt closer to them than I have with anyone else in Zambia and it was a great feeling. This trip in particular exemplified the friendliness of everyone in Zambia, a quality that has truly made my time in Zambia special. 
     In terms of ethical considerations, we showed Junior the picture after taking it and he was excited about it. He even asked me to take another picture with him before I left. Unfortunately, that picture is on my phone that stopped working but it was really nice to spend so much time with him and get close to him over my three days there. I was sad to leave him and head back home to Lusaka but I am hoping one day somehow our paths cross again.


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