I'm in an internet cafe in Lusaka at the moment. We've been here two days after the longest journey of my life across the Atlantic.
We're staying at an orphanage/adoption agency called "The House of Moses," and over the past few days have been to the shanty towns/compounds outside the city. The poorest of the poor. We've visited a number of schools where the students have to walk home if they need to go to the bathroom, and the teachers are paid around $20/month. No electricity either, the kids have to do their work by the light of one small window in a dark room.
It's emotionally exausting on many levels, but being here, you realize many things. Firstly, these kids only know this life, and they are genuinely happy to see you. Beautiful smiles, and so much laughter. Your heart breaks for the squalor they live in, but then you see a homemade slide made out of trash that the children are enjoying playing on, and you realize that children are children no matter where you are.
If someone were to visit Kanyama, the largest compound outside the capital of Lusaka, and were to bring a bag full of soccer balls and distribute them among the kids there, they'd be giving these children months, if not YEARS of fun... Right now they kick balls of clothing and trash.
I'm taping all of our experiences for a little "documentary" of our trip. I'm getting so much good footage it's scary. It will all speak for itself. I can't do it justice with mere words.
I finally realize why Dave Chapelle went to AFRICA to get in touch with himself again... It's a whole different world out here. The air, sky, water, trees, dirt, and eyes are different out here. This trip will be with me for the rest of my days.
