phear

thanks for looking at my pics...

i haven't really talked alot on this site about my trip. i went as an international observer for an indigineous NGO in zambia called women for change. so i spent a month living in villages, going to development workshops, exploring southern province. i ended up at the hospice by accident, we were driving by and i remembered seeing tom stoddart's photos from there and i mentioned how much i would like to photograph there as well. a reporter from the independant radio was with us, and she get me access.

all the sad, shitty, unfair stuff i saw didn't really affect me until i got home. people in zambia are so open and welcoming, they will share anything they have, even when they have so little. i come back to canada, where everyone's complaining about their lattes being too cold and won't give a dime to the homeless guy on the corner, and i just about lost it. i was so depressed i didn't leave my house for about a week. i watched those world vision adopt a child shows and bawled my eyes out. the lady at the photo place asked me if i wanted glossy or matte prints, and i told her i photographed someone as they were dying. for a long time i felt like i was given so much by my experiences in zambia, yet i had nothing to give back.

it's still hard sometimes. i do talks and have photo shows to try and raise awareness of NGOs like women for change and the massive problems they face. i sent some money back to them, and to the hospice, but i have to go back. it's not even a question, i'll be there as soon as possible. life just makes so much more sense there.

wow - that was long, hope you don't mind.