#NurseDTakesZambia #9 #PeopleOfZambia

Only a 18+ hour flight and the reality of the Zambian life, its people, its culture, and its lack of electricity fade into a sweet memory. I left that world where my white skin frighted the children who passed me by, and the curls in my hair, a tangible museum exhibition for its viewers. I felt as though my trip had reached full circle, as I boarded my flight and met the travelers whom I assisted with my nursing care on my flight to Africa, as well as the physician who also participated in caring for the sick traveler.

Reflecting on this life journey I had just traveled on; my appreciation for life, electric power, paved roads, brick homes, enough shoes for both my feet; and all the other life's basic details has increased fourfold. 

I speak to my seat mate on the plane about my adventures and they are fascinated. After my parents were assured that the only souvenirs that I brought home for them we some of the Zambian market's "chachkas" and not diseases, they too found great amazement in my pictures and the stories of my adventures.

In many of my posts regarding my various interactions with my patients in a hospital environment, I have mentioned the life that went beyond the bedside, and the human being that transcends the body we care for. Here I was in their world, I spent time walking on their unpaved roads, I sat in their small hot shacks lacking electricity, and I was opened to their world where malaria and HIV was as frequent as a common cold in the states. Yet, sometimes it takes both being in their world, and view their world from afar in order to fully capture the complete storyof their  existence.

I met beautiful souls, all with a life, and all with a story. In each photo, I captured only an image of a moment in that life. My photographs are only the cover page for what each human being's story has to tell. My photos portray humans with a story that goes beyond what an observer or visitor can capture in words. Writing can limit that human's story into what fits the pages and completes the sentences. However, each image opens the window to those people's worlds; more complex, and more admirable than my words can write.

A picture can zoom out to view the portrait of a living moment, yet also holds the ability to magnify the story portrayed in the ink prints of the photos. Photos can capture a story that one is unable to read even as one stands at the scene in real life. 

One of my photographs showed a group of children gathering around to collect some sweets. In real life I saw barefoot children,pushing their way through their peers to grab a sweet.It was when I shared the photo with my brother, that he spelled the story of two children on the side of of those pushing to get another candy. He identified  2 identical flip-flops, one worn on the left foot of one child who went barefoot on her right, and the other wore its identical pair on her right foot and went barefoot on her left. My photograph said a story of children who literally shared all that they had, with one who may have had less, and are still so visibly joyful and happy. 

Enjoy some more pictures of the #PeopleOfZambia. They are not merely objects of fascination that captured my interest; each picture is also the window through which I can view the humans I encountered on my journey, and my nursing experience in Zambia, Africa.

 What stories do you read from my photos?