Reflecting on Lessons Learned from Momma Odess

Four weeks with my host mom Odess and her wonderful children have flown by. These four weeks have been an unparalleled experience of personal growth and exposure to a new culture. My time spent with my homestay family has shown me the value of openness and how seemingly trivial acts of kindness can make a stranger feel at home in a place that seems foreign. From the moment I met Odess, she has countlessly gone out of her way to make me feel comfortable. Odess refers to Chinenye and me as her "babies". She loves to bake and welcomed us to her home by making a cake with our faces on it. The best part my days were we would return home from work and the children would all run to greet and hug us :)

Odess works so incredibly hard. She works full time and commutes from one hour away. She leaves at 7am and returns at 7pm, hugs her children, and immediately begins cooking dinner. She has perfected the balance between showering her kids with love while also maintaining strict discipline and high standards for her children. It’s amazing for me to see how well the children listen to her, it is unlike anything I have seen in America. Odess inspires me and forces me to expand upon what I believe I am capable of doing. She does this through the love she exhibits for every person that walks through her front door. She brings an energy and an appreciation for life that is infectious.

I am so thankful for Odess’s willingness to include Chinenye and me in her family. Odess has taken us to a wedding, a kitchen party, a reptile park, etc. Her enthusiasm for welcoming new people is infectious, and I hope to carry this same enthusiasm for people and for life in general going forward and extending beyond just the duration of this program. I will forever hold on to the love that my homestay family feels for one another. Watching the children interact is marvelous to witness because it so evident how much they care and value one another. Their love for one another sprung from the love that Odess feels for them, and it’s magical to see how their compassion acts as a positive feedback loop.

I continue to be amazed by how friendly Zambians are. Moving into the flat will undoubtedly be a different experience from my homestay family, but Odess has taught me to embrace new people and new journeys. Odess has gifted me with a newfound energy and appreciation for life. I am certain that our transition to the flat will continue to a wondrous process during which our cohort can grow closer and support one another. The people, the culture, and the experiences here bring me so much excitement and joy. I cannot wait to see the adventure that each day will bring.