Thoughts
Wearing trousers will never be the defining mark of civilization. Step out of your shoes; stop placing your Western values and preconceived notions on the mysterious yet striking world you have never taken the time to understand.
Everyday is a new beginning where nothing is guaranteed. There are no comforts to take for granted. Life is stripped down to a raw state where the littlest things are the most meaningful. You cannot help if you do not comprehend.
Africa brings me back to life. I know exactly who I am and where I am. I am irrationally in love with the place most fear to go. As they say, the biggest risks can reap the biggest benefits. I belong here. Everything I have done in the past six years have been working to return ‘home.’
Africa is a learning experience; lessons for life. Life is simple if you allow it to be. Remember what is important and don’t stray in response to little things from you grounding. It is necessary to keep one foot grounded at all times, otherwise you will love yourself in the ‘darkness.’
A lion kills a zebra to feed itself. It is not obscene or gruesome; it is life. The lion kills for survival. The alternative is death. In a way it is beautiful; the zebra is giving the lion life for another day. The lions, just like humans throughout history, give an unequal work burden to the females. Lionesses hunt for their male counterparts. It is the same with the Masai. They say the men walk around with sticks pointing at things and drink. Sadly not far from the truth, while the women fetch water, collect wood, care for the crops, the home, cook, and take full responsibility for the kids. My skin color here means less than my gender. I struggle for respect merely because I lack the Y chromosome. I struggle for my own empowerment alongside the women I am fighting for.
A mysterious allure blankets Africa. The abundance of beauty grapples with the steep, dark mystery, no assurance of who will win the battles each day. You must understand. If you don’t you will be met with an unforgiving roar that will shake you to your core.