The Heart of Africa
Concluding Thoughts on an Epic Journey
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Concluding Thoughts on an Epic Journey
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From the minute I set foot in Nairobi to my final moments in Cape Town, Africa opened herself to me. Extending hands of kindness, voices of hope and lives of beauty, I spent 3 months discovering, “The Heart of Africa”.
Hailing from a society where anonymity is common, Africa called for the opposite. Be comfortable in your own skin, speak your mind, dance when you want, sing praise wherever praise is due and live in the moment!
Hailing from a society where anonymity is common, Africa called for the opposite. Be comfortable in your own skin, speak your mind, dance when you want, sing praise wherever praise is due and live in the moment!
There was not one leg of the journey, albeit bus, matatu, train, or motorbike, where I didn’t meet someone who made my heart smile. Instead of burying my nose in a book, I would bury it in conversation. Instead of listening to an iPod, I opened my ears and listened to the voice of Africa. A voice of hope amidst hardship, joy amidst sadness and life amidst death.
Some say the cost of life in Africa is minimal - Death knocking on many almost expected doors because of disease, starvation and violence. But maybe it’s this exact reason Africa is patronized for that makes the quality of life so wonderful! Nurture friendships, harbor community, keep family near and savor every moment with those you love. Life might not be easy in Africa but the challenge is what makes life worth living! In closing, what did I learn from my time in Africa…well, how much time do you have? 9 countries, dozens of back and forth border crossings, hundreds of dialects, thousands of friendly locals, countless transportation methods and endless culture teach you how to truly live! I learned how to keep my patience amidst the most frustrating of times. I learned how to contort my body into Tetris-style positions for double capacity matatu rides. I learned how moments of raw vulnerability could lead to those of pure hospitality. But most of all, I learned to listen to my heart, not my brain. Listening to my gut instinct on people, places and situations opened a world of true beauty. Big, bold and beautiful, Africa has stole my heart! |