By Jackie Chen, Global Zambia Cohort ’24
Today had to start early because we were headed far, far away. Livingstone was our destination, and even though it’s just south of Lusaka, it would take around eight hours by bus to get there. As I packed my bags and ate an orange and a few potatoes for breakfast, I wondered how an all-day drive would compare to the action-packed days that came before.
I’m a positive person, so when I entered the understandably cramped bus, I focused on the fact that I got the lucky seat in the back with all the backpacks and luggage, which made for a nice headrest. Though packed to the brim, the bus was lively. Excitement filled the air as we anticipated visiting a new location and discovering new experiences. Outside, I saw people selling the usual—tomatoes, charcoal, fruit, and soda. But five minutes into the drive, we encountered a huge parade of people marching and singing on the side of the street. I later found out it was for a church event. It felt like the perfect send-off for new beginnings. That is until we had to head back because someone forgot something at the hotel. Even though our trek became longer, I knew whatever was coming would be worth the wait.
On our second attempt to Livingstone, we continued talking and singing along to music. Listening to music is always my favorite part of our communal bus rides because we get to share our favorite songs and appreciate others’. I sat next to Chriad, one of the best people to get stuck on an eight-hour bus ride with, as he had endless incredible stories about his family and ventures, and he didn’t spread his legs too much. We spent most of the ride conversing, which not only made the time fly by but also provided an amazing and deep sharing and learning experience.
Before stopping for lunch, we played a game I had never heard of before. We wrote down three fun facts about ourselves on pieces of paper, mixed them up, and had to guess who they belonged to. I learned about people’s interesting sleeping habits and favorite foods. It put me in the mood for lunch and became a highlight of the day, as it brought us all together despite the cramped setting.
Lunch was at Hungry Lion, similar to KFC in the States. What stood out was how common it was for people in Zambia to add more salt to their already salted chicken. It was like watching someone wrap a hotdog in another hotdog. My friends almost convinced me to do the same, but I came to my senses. After some salty fried chicken and fries, we cracked open the windows and hit the road again. I watched a movie with my seat buddy and observed the beautiful bushy, tree-spotted terrain against a backdrop of purple and orange from the sunset. By the end of the ride, it was dark, our bus driver was deserving of a nap, and it was dinner time. We were finally in Livingstone! We waited a while at an outdoor restaurant that served a variety of meats. The fried fish, similar to one my dad makes, made me miss my family a little. My friends and I ended dinner by salsa dancing under the stars, then returned to a lovely hotel and fell asleep.
The people make the trip. That’s the main thing I learned today. Going into the day, I didn’t expect the long bus ride to be anything more than monotonous, like every other motor vehicle ride I’ve had. But it proved to be much more. I had known some of these people since the Fellows program, and the rest I had been bonding with every day for a week and a half. In a time when I might normally watch YouTube or sleep, I was motivated to engage in conversation, whether it was about the meaning behind an artist’s lyrics, our personal life stories, or our chicken seasoning preferences. Through dialogue, there are always opportunities to gain insight into a life different from your own, and those conversations are worth having. Even as I sit here writing this blog, my friends in Zambia and Washington D.C. continue to encourage and inspire me to seek out discussions that push me to learn more about the people I share this world with. Before this trip, I took for granted how enriching face-to-face connections can be, both in social entrepreneurship and real life. This day taught me that even the smallest exchange can turn a simple road trip into an unforgettable adventure.