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Kilimanjaro Trek 2005 | |
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November 15, 2005
I've been home for two nights now and the readjustment to home life is going well. It will take a few more days for my sleep schedule to become normal, as my body clock is still 7 hours ahead, but so far, I'm enjoying going to bed at 9 and waking up by 4 or 5.I spend most of my waking time thinking about the experiences I've had these past two months, and how they have changed me. Every trip I've ever made in my life has changed me, if only a little, but I feel like this one has particularly so.
Africa is such a land of contrasts, and its problems make headline news nearly every day, but you cannot go there and fail to fall completely in love with it. I walked through the streets of many African cities and villages and saw desperate poverty, crime, garbage and lack of development and it made my heart ache with sadness. Then I turned and walked farther, and saw the vibrant, rich cultures, the generous hospitality of everyday Africans and the friendship they freely and openly offer and my heart nearly burst with pleasure of it all. There is so much that ordinary Africans lack, in terms of material things, but so much they have in terms of community and appreciation of relationships. Over and over, I witnessed an African way of doing something that might not seem as fast or efficient as a western way, but I could not say that it was better or worse. It was simply different.
So now I think to myself, how has all this changed me? My understanding and appreciation of several cultures has increased substantially. I have made many friends throughout east Africa, which affects how I feel about US policies towards their countries and my level of interest in their elections and current issues. I am also acutely more aware of waste and overuse of resources here at home. We use - and throw away - so much water, fuel, food and plastic, to name just a few. We live in castles and eat like kings, but still complain about the deficiencies of our homes and food. I don't want to be like this anymore! I want to appreciate the richness of my life, even if it pales by comparison to others. In fact, I don't want to compare it to others. I never want to take relationships with friends and family for granted again. I never want to pre-judge a person based on their skin color, but to give everyone fair and equal treatment. It was not always easy to be a white person in Africa. Sometimes I was cheated, often I was overcharged for fares and goods, and once I was the subject of a fierce debate when a black friend stood up for me. Even still, for every negative experience, I have 100 positives ones. But I do want those experiences to ensure that I will never treat another person poorly based on their race.
My interactions with many deaf Africans were especially rewarding. I have studied a few different languages but none have ever been able to bridge so many cultural boundaries as American Sign Language has. I have never used a spoken language and found my conversation partner absolutely delighted to communicate with me, as I have with sign language. The wide smiles, tight handshakes and close hugs I got from many deaf and interpreter friends are precious in my memory. I will not ever forget them.
So now it is time to get back to work, to school, to church, and take up the tasks before me. Though I had to forgo many things and the cost of the trip was very high, I want to believe that I am now a better person for it. It was worth every skipped meal, every pleasure denied and every painful medical study that I volunteered for!
If you ever have a chance to travel to Africa, take it. You will never regret it.
Home again, looking a little more African than before.