I recently wrote a guest post for The Best of Zambia blog. It’s a wonderful site for anyone interested in traveling to Africa (and you all should) and I was happy to speak a bit about my recent globetrotting adventures. Here it is, reposted, in case any of you have missed it:
© Sonja Nuttall 2008-2011
Zambia and Zimbabwe (where I’m from) should have dinner with Haiti. The three of them would be laughing, dancing, cooking and certainly singing within 30 minutes of shaking hands. The similarities to me at least, are ridiculous. Triplets.
Being 300 feet above the airstrip in Haiti conjured up the same emotions as landing in Africa. Why is it I feel the gritty truth of a developing or third world country in a way that won’t allow for a poised reaction? Perhaps my inner grit contains magnetic particles. All I do know is that I was completely open for my 51 hours of being there. Sleep wasn’t even a consideration and mobile usage certainly wasn’t on the top of my list.
All three countries have such character to be able to rise above the stench (literally) to be warm to a visitor, to show appreciation and, above all, to show such generosity with so little, which turns out to be so much. Localities like Africa, and Haiti, teach us such important lessons:
- For us to always find the big in the small
- That it is our attitudes that set us apart. Perhaps let’s all try and have an attitude of character and appreciation
- To always find a smile in a tear, and above all, to always remember we are connected, no matter where we are from, what color, shape, age or size.
Thank you Haiti for helping me expand my focus. And Zambia. And Africa. I leave for Kenya this Saturday and I am so looking forward to touch down.
Be Well.
-c
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