Priceless
BY JENIECE TORANZO "GIDGET", MESA, ARIZONA - We have been back from Zambia for 18 days now. I can't believe it. It's crazy! Each day that goes by, is another day closer to finishing the project. It feels like a race against time and we all know that time waits for no man. I hope we can make it to the finish line. It could be a tie breaker though. We'll see though. Could be a close call, but that's what makes races exciting. It's suspenseful and intense.
I must say I am a little sad. As I go through the footage to log, all the memories and feelings with them come back to me. It seems so long ago when we were there. It feels more and more like a dream. Having footage and photos help confirm that we were there and we did make a feature film and documentary. It is hard to let go of that life we had back in Zambia. I want to hold on to the feelings of joy and excitement we had when we were there. We were doing what we loved and we grew closer as a crew. I have to be honest, it's hard to see some of the crew back in their old lives again. Some are moving on in new and different directions. I will definitely keep in touch with some of the crew. Every time we get together, I believe we are more ourselves and we continue to learn and grow from each other. Sometimes we don't like something someone does, but overall we except each other for who we are.
Moments I will never forget...
You know your in Zambia when...
Our big purple and white bus (the added seats were useful).
Looking under the gates at the children at the Kwazulu Kraal Resort.
Our nicknames.
Constantly eating pizza (Im sick of it at the moment).
The Arcades.
Always having my camera and Carlos laughing at me for it.
Everyone always looking out for me, since I was the one always lagging behind.
Washing our clothes in the tub (thank goodness for washing machines).
The "Boob Room".
The Doom Squad.
The dance clubs (everyone dancing).
Scene 89, take 1 ahh (and everyone making jokes about it).
The "Animal in Man" speech.
The plane ride back to the U.S.
The music and playing pool and cards with the boys.
Musical beds.
Being on set.
Doing make-up for the children (and making some of them cry - oops).
Kwacha and haggling for gifts.
The crew and faculty (building special friendships with some of them and getting to know all of them).
Cyndi ... and the experience she gave to us all. An experience of a lifetime.
The list can go on and on...I will miss every moment I had because it shaped me into the person I am today.
This whole experience....is priceless.