It happened. Chipo had to leave and go back with her parents. Ugh.
Life with Royce for those few days was actually quite entertaining. She followed my no noise-making rules pretty well but I did find Royce both mornings on the catwalk at 6:00AM washing clothes. I really enjoyed seeing Chipo interact with her mom. I loved seeing her so happy.
I never thought that living with a 12 year-old would be in my agenda for my year in Zambia. And, when I did find out that Chipo would be living with me, I would have never guessed what a blessing it would have turned into. I have a lot to thank Chipo for. She taught me how to cook Zambian style – nshima and soup. She taught me how to wash my clothes by hand, carry a bucket of water on my head, and even to say excuse me after I burp. I suppose my parents should personally thank her. I’m not sure what will happen in the future or when I will get to see Chipo again but I know I made a bond with her that will last.
I want to leave you with a few of her recent antics:
- Chipo doing her very own version of Risky Business in her underwear.
- While we were swimming, Chipo decided she wanted to sit on my shoulders. She was going to use my butt/back as her step ladder. Instead of stepping on my butt, she kneed me right in the butt. I started complaining because it hurt. She called me a baby.
- She insists on calling popcorn, cornpoop. Whenever we eat popcorn, everyone gets their own bag. Chipo loves to throw the popcorn in her mouth so she routinely drops it on the floor. She will always pick it up, throw it in Innocent’s bag of cornpoop and shake it up so he can’t find the dirty piece.
