"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone" - Neale Donald Walsh

   This has never resonated with me more than it does today. I don't think I have ever been so nervous and excited at the same time. It did not hit me until today that I am going to Africa; after planning for months it finally feels real. This trip holds an infinite amount of unknowns and I can't wait to discover all of them! 15 more hours!

FOUR MORE DAYS

Only four more days until I can officially begin checking things off the bucket list! 

I'm not sure how consistent the internet will be, but I'll do my best to keep the blog as updated as possible. 

Add caption

Why Zambia?

        If you find yourself reading my blog, I would assume that you already know a little bit about me. But, just in case you don't, here are some quick facts. My name is Taylor Pearson, I am a student at Louisiana State University (GEAUX TIGERS!) Majoring in International Studies and Minoring in Business Administration. I am a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and originally from Little Rock, Arkansas.

        I should probably explain what is bringing me to Zambia this summer for six weeks. In my major, we have primary and secondary concentrations. My primary is Global Diplomacy and my Secondary is Africa. I'm not only going to Zambia as a part of my major but I am also going because it has been a dream of mine for many years. I can't quite describe why the continent fascinates me but hopefully I will be able to attempt that after spending time there.

      I have many expectations for this trip; probably too many. I hope to fall in love with the country, the people, the culture, and the continent. I hope to learn as much as I can about the people I meet in Zambia; Zambians and the people I am taking this journey with. I'm also just a little obsessed with elephants, another story for another time, so I really hope I get so lucky as to see one.

      This brings me to why I have named my blog "Z is for Zambia." When I say I have absolutely no idea what this trip will bring I am being completely honest. Whenever I am able to blog in Zambia, which I'm not sure how often that will be, I hope to be able to write about what I've learned about or discovered and relate it to letters of the alphabet. Hopefully by the end of my trip I will have made it to Z and can attempt to describe what the journey has meant to me.

      Probably only my friends and family will be reading this, but that's okay, that's enough for me. I hope whoever reads this enjoys it and is able to get a glimpse into what my trip is like.

Here's a little sneak peak of what I'll be doing in Zambia at the Namwianga Mission in The Haven. Those precious little smiles were enough to convince me to fly half way around the world.