Last month I was visited by my Dad and Tammy and took them around what my dad likes to call "Brittany World." It was an amazing chance to show family my life here in Zambia, and give them a chance to understand the culture and beauty of my home.
They arrived in Lusaka and we headed up to my village. Most parents are known for visiting their childrens' huts, seeing it, and then leaving, as it is nothing compared to life in America and a bit hard to embrace. Dad and Tammy were the opposite...they didn't want to leave my village, and begged to stay another day so they could get more time to play with the children and meet other villagers.
As I dragged them away from the village, tears built up in their eyes...it was similar to how Frank acted when we left Disney Land (and World) when we were children. I then took them to Samfya, the beach I frequent when I want to get away, and I think this was the moment where my Dad and Tammy stopped thinking I was struggling in Zambia. The food we cooked in the village was American-style (make-your-own-pizza, chinese, omelets, chocolate chip pancakes) and I'm pretty sure they were wondering why they had wasted hundreds of dollars on packages to their 'poor daughter in Africa.'
After Samfya, we headed down to Victoria Falls in Livingstone. I had yet to visit so it was nice to spend time together in a place we had never been before. Bungee jumping and white water rafting were activities high on our list and we had an amazing time...although the Zambian "sickness" came to visit some of us.
After our tour of Zambia we flew off to Nairobi to visit family friends. With our friends we went to The Massai Mara (where the Lion King comes from). Thousands upon thousands of wildebeest surrounded us at all times, due to the wildebeest migration, and the smell of wild mint filled the air making the experience unforgettable. I had the one goal of seeing the "life cyle." Sure enough we saw two lions mating and also a lion killing and feasting on a wildebeest. It was the experience of a lifetime.
