Dávid from Zambia – XXXIV. Blog Post

14 Days and We're in Europe!

They say the African sunshine has a positive effect on the body, especially the skin. Well… after nearly 6 months of being in Zambia, I have a few questions about that.

Huge shout-out to everyone! Yes... it's already been 6 months. Sometimes it feels like it went by quickly, yet other times it felt so slow it's almost unbelievable.

Mixed emotions again. Exactly the same as when we left England and CICD for our journey to Zambia, yet somehow different.

A lot has happened during this time: we got to know the Zambian culture, made new friends, prepared and established a super cool "Baking and Cooking Club" with a few local young mothers, and we went on safaris, ate, drank, and gathered experiences and memories.

It's hard to say goodbye to the country, but at the same time, we're excited to finally be home! After 3 years of volunteering and international travels, I can firmly say that one of the hardest things that truly tugs at your heart is being away from family, friends, and your familiar culture... and maybe this Zambia trip was even tougher than the others: we went even further, spent more time here consecutively, and everything – the environment, the people, the culture – was so new, that homesickness was constantly present in our hearts.

I don't really want to write much more about this; I'll be discussing this in detail in the documentary that's currently in the works.

But!

In 5 days, we'll be back in Europe, precisely in England – back at CICD. A one-month reflection period awaits us, which is mainly about drawing a collective conclusion with the team on the time spent at school and in the program, and then releasing a "message" to the public. We're planning to implement this in two countries: England and Portugal – more details will come later.

I've already shared some information on the future plans regarding volunteering and our community on the Hungarian community group's chat platform, but for those who missed it:

In mid-August, I'll be returning to my "sanctuary" at the CICD recruitment and promotion office. After my dear friend Ivett's excellent work, I'll be taking over the office responsible for the Hungarian volunteers.

So, what can you expect this year?

There will be several group and personal meetings in Hungary, where you can learn more about the volunteering opportunities and programs offered by CICD, as well as about my experiences: whether it's travel, volunteering, Africa, or just general world exploration.

Bodó Katalin (also known as AfriKata) is organizing an "Autumn RoadShow" series of presentations in Hungary, where interactive topics and talks related to Africa will be on offer.

Of course, I'll be part of that too! You can find more information about the event on Kata's Facebook page.

Like Kata, I'm also working on a project. This one is a "community meet-up" focused on you and showcasing various volunteer opportunities. However, to keep things realistic, it will likely happen in the spring of 2024.

This event will be a chance for you to meet and connect with one another, and with notable "Africa-connected" individuals from Hungary, as well as former CICD students from different countries.

The event will be packed with interactive programs, short yet meaningful presentations, African cultural elements, shared cooking and outdoor cooking sessions, music, an outdoor movie, and even a small party. Additionally, we'll invite several organizations offering volunteer programs, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to browse through different options.

So, that's where we stand for now. A few days and we'll be home!

In the meantime... can anyone recommend a good cream for wrinkles?