As the scorching Zambian sun hung high in the sky, I found myself in a place far removed from my comfort zone. Siachiyasa, a remote village that was a world away from the bustling city life I had grown accustomed to. My mission here was not one of grandeur or ambition, but rather a humble quest to experience the world and its people in a way I had never imagined.
My journey had led me to a quaint, thatched-roof hut, where an 82-year-old woman lived. She was a stranger, yet her eyes sparkled with warmth and wisdom. As I stood before her, feeling like an outsider in this unfamiliar land, I couldn’t help but marvel at the simplicity of her existence.
“Welcome,” Elderly woman greeted me with a smile that reached her eyes. Her voice was like a soothing melody, and her wrinkled hands beckoned me closer. “Would you care to learn how to cook a meal in our village?”
I nodded eagerly, though my excitement was tinged with a tinge of nervousness. My culinary skills back home were basic at best, and here I was, about to be schooled by a Zambian elder in the heart of Siachiyasa.
The elderly woman led me into her humble abode. With the grace of a dancer, she moved towards a brazier in the centre of her hut. As if reading my thoughts, Elderly woman said, “In our village, we cook with the wisdom passed down through generations.” She handed me a wooden spoon and we began.
I watched in awe as the elderly woman mixed her ingredients and filled the hut with a pleasant aroma. As she cooked, the elderly woman shared stories of her youth. She told me tales of a simpler time when life was about community, gratitude, and learning from one another. Her words resonated deeply within me, touching my heart in a way I hadn’t expected.
As the sun began its descent, casting an orange hue over the village, the elderly woman and I sat down to share the meal we had prepared together.
With each bite, I felt a profound sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the elderly woman’s kindness in opening her home and heart to a stranger. Gratitude for the opportunity to immerse myself in a culture so rich and different from my own. Gratitude for the simple pleasures of life and the lessons learned from this wise woman who had seen the world change around her.
Siachiyasa, the village I had stumbled upon, had gifted me with a profound lesson in humility and the beauty of human connection. I left the elderly woman’s hut that afternoon not just with a newfound culinary skill but with a heart full of gratitude for the unexpected teacher who had welcomed me into her world, reminding me that in the most unlikely places, the most precious lessons can be found.
