Under African Skies...
“Without
language, one cannot talk to people and understand them; one cannot share their
hopes and aspirations, grasp their history, appreciate their poetry, or savor
their songs. I again realized that we were not different people speaking
separate languages; we were one people, with different tongues.”
~Nelson Mandela
~Nelson Mandela
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| South African Airways, JFK Terminal 4, NYC |
This past autumn, I found myself back on the Go Abroad's website, just playing
around. I’ve been playing around with it for years now. I know that I need to
get back to the things that I love to do. Did you know that the majority of
Americans do not; I repeat do not hold a passport, according to the State
Department? There’s a great report, How Many Americans Have A Passport
that show the statics first hand. Really, come on. I’m heart broken over these
figures. It’s so sad that many will not actually take advantage of how
beautiful the world is actually is. Going out of your comfort zone to combat
the fear is the only way to do it. The fear of the unknown, yes the unknown,
it’s not such a bad thing really. It’s even sadder that many people haven’t
left the State of Maine to travel to see Boston or any other place in the
country first before conquering the world. Really, these numbers have to
change. Go abroad, see the world, the world is your oyster. There’s so much
beauty out there.
I read Arianna Huffington’s book Thrive right before Thanksgiving & couldn’t put it down.
Seriously, I got sucked in, clench to the pages with heart filled goodness. I
was like “WOW”; this lady is awesome
to get all of this out on paper talking about the need for us to change as a
society for the betterment of our overall life condition. Let’s just say that I
could relate in many respects to what she was talking about. It’s all about
making healthy choices for you rather than being a people pleaser. It’s simple;
you got to take care of you. Sad to say that “the workaholic syndrome” is the norm these days for many
people, honestly it doesn’t need to be that way. There’s nothing wrong with
doing some volunteering, traveling, mediation, self love, etc. Check out the
article, 'Thrive', Arianna Huffington
on the Finical Times.
From reading the book, I was getting a strong vibe to go off
& to volunteer. I just knew at this point with everything that I have going
on that it would be the right time for me to do it. Why, keep on putting it
off. Honestly, I had always had this vibe. I have been going back with the
concept of the Peace Corps since my
days prior to university. It’s been rooted in me for some time. I found my way
back to the Go Abroad’s website looking at all of the options. I was looking at
programs from all over the world. Honestly, it wasn’t until Cyber Monday flight specials showing up
in my inbox that the vibe on where to go this winter came into play. The place
that I wanted to visit showed up. I would tell myself if only when so & so
happens that I will get there, however my guides were telling me to go &
capture my dreams. At first I didn’t book the ticket, I went back to the website
narrowing down my options. I some how found myself onto GoEco's website
that I found this volunteering photography project that just stood out to me. I
found this project titled “Wildlife Photography
& Conservation & Thanda Reserve” with African Impact. The
Thanda Private Game Reserve is located in Hluhluwe, KwaZula Natal, South
Africa. It’s about a three hour drive from Durban. I applied for the program
over Prelude & three days later, I got in. It must of meant to be that cos
everything from that point on has been moving very fast. I have been quite please
from all of the help that I have received from my booking agent at GoEco, Gap Year Travel’s exclusive “Travel
Butler” service (a subsidiary of Flight
Center), to a couple of friends in South Africa & not to mention a
couple of friends who actually lived in South Africa for a bit. There’s this
great article Five Reasons Why You Should Volunteer In South Africa that ironically I can
agree with why I just found myself on my way to accept that “call” to
volunteer. National Geographic has a
great travel guide for the country, National Geographic Travel's South Africa Guide
that is very helpful.
“Joseph’s face was black as night
The pale yellow moon shown in his eyes
His path was marked
By the stars in the Southern Hemisphere
And he walked his days
Under African Skies
The pale yellow moon shown in his eyes
His path was marked
By the stars in the Southern Hemisphere
And he walked his days
Under African Skies
This is the story of how we begin to remember
This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein
After the dream of falling and calling your name out
These are the roots of rhythm
And the roots of rhythm remain
This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein
After the dream of falling and calling your name out
These are the roots of rhythm
And the roots of rhythm remain
In early memory
Mission music
Was ringing ‘round my nursery door
I said, “Take this child, Lord
From Tucson, Arizona
Give her the wings to fly through harmony
And she won’t bother you no more”
Mission music
Was ringing ‘round my nursery door
I said, “Take this child, Lord
From Tucson, Arizona
Give her the wings to fly through harmony
And she won’t bother you no more”
This is the story of how we begin to remember
This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein
After the dream of falling and calling your name out
These are the roots of rhythm
And the roots of rhythm remain
This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein
After the dream of falling and calling your name out
These are the roots of rhythm
And the roots of rhythm remain
Joseph’s face was black as night
The pale yellow moon shown in his eyes
His path was marked
By the stars in the Southern Hemisphere
And he walked the length of his days
Under African Skies”
The pale yellow moon shown in his eyes
His path was marked
By the stars in the Southern Hemisphere
And he walked the length of his days
Under African Skies”
~Paul Simon
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| A bush tree, Thanda Private Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
