Gonzaga University Psychology Program in Africa

Muli Shani!!!? Hi everyone. (It means hi, how are you in Bemba). Well, we’re here! We arrived safely after over 30 hours of traveling. Totally worth it, by the way. There are nine students here and two teachers. The guys that work around here are really nice. Everyone from GU is getting to know each other and getting along great. We walk the 3 miles and back to the chimpanzee enclosures every day. On Friday we had a Brie. We went to Sheila’s house (the lady who started Chimfunshi) and cooked Read more »

Dear Family and Friends,

It’s hard to believe that I was at home only six days ago and last night I watched the sun set half way around the world in Africa.  There so much to tell you all about but for now you will have to settle for only one story. The main reason is you would probably be reading for a few hours.

The other night I had the opportunity to tag along with Dr. Bodamer to Read more »

Hey besties and the fam!

WELP….I can’t even begin to explain my past week, with everything from my first time in the London Heathrow Airport-which is awesome-to a 10 hour bus ride to remote Chimfunshi in Zambia, everything has been mind blowing.  First off, the sun here is exceptionally amazing!!! I could sit in it all day making lanyard bracelets and reading bug-book field guides.  But what is even cooler, Read more »

Dear anyone reading this blog,

Africa, and Zambia in particular, is great! My favorite part (like many before me) is playing with the local kids.  We play soccer and frisbee and the new favorite is duck-duck-goose.  Last time I was at the dambo, two little boys were sitting by me watching a soccer game when one stands up and starts tapping the other on his head saying “duck-duck-duck-GOOSE!” and then running away.  Unfortunately, the game is really not meant for two people because then there is no one to run around… so naturally I just joined right in and as we played more and more kids joined us.  As the game progressed, it became rather difficult for me to be the “goose” because every time I was on the ground one (or more) of the kids would want to sit in my lap, but we had a blast!

PS. Mom and Dad, what about that DQ ice cream cake?

Muli Shani?! (”Hi, how are you?!” in Bemba- the local language)

To continue on with Sean’s account of our great adventure with Sheila and the great city of Chingola I need to begin with the ride to town- and when I say ride, I mean a turbulent adventure that is both horrifying and wonderful all at once and can only be appreciated by those who have driven around these parts of Africa. We left promptly at 7:30 as Sheila had planned, but not before turning on the tunes in the little car. Read more »

On Monday the 15th Jenna, Kylie, and I (Sean) arranged to go into town with Sheila to visit an orthopedic surgeon friend of hers as a hospital visit and to ask questions. To ease leaving in the morning the three of us spent the night in a guest house/room at the orphanage. I’d spent the night there once before, and have had dinner there 3 or 4 times, but I was not ready for the night that we had. After playing with the Vervet monkey for a little while, I went to shower, only to be disturbed as the Read more »

The second group has arrived and they waived goodbye to the first group as they waited in line at the airport.

I wish I could tell you all this experience has meant to me however, in the past week I have realized that I have not yet even begun to realize the changes happening within me. Every passing day I step into a cold shower without a thought, wave to the Chimps as if they were life time friends and shout “Mulishani” to every passing stranger, like I have lived here since birth. Despite my seamless adjustment to Zambian life I have only just begun to realize how much I have to learn about this place. Read more »

Hi all! Hope everything back home is going well.

I have had quite the week at Chimfunshi. I did dawn patrol with Dr. Mark and discovered the vibrancy of the birdlife here. I never realized how many different kinds lived in this area and also never appreciated their songs. It was nice to stand on top of enclosure two and look through binoculars at all the different species for at least an hour. Dr. Mark and I Read more »

Mui-shani!

After reading everyone’s posts I can’t help but cry. (I also can’t help but think that everything has already been written about ha ha.) It’s incredible how the simple change of setting, can do to a person. The tiny transformations that I feel happen here daily are unlike anything I’ve experienced. My sensations are completely heightened- there is no faint freeway noise when I’m drinking my coffee outside in the morning, the Read more »