You will find when you go to Africa that it is not entering Africa that gives you culture shock, but it is upon return to the U.S that you become a little freaked out. Freaked out by the unnecessary amount of things we consider necessities. There is something about Africa that always calls me back and on this past trip I finally realized what that was - it is the feeling and total witnessing of the fragility of life, and through recognizing the fragility of our lives, we begin to appreciate every moment and look at each new day as a gift and an unknown adventure. Nothing in Africa is planned or organized; it is chaotic, but there is order in that chaos, and a stillness that runs through it all, a stillness that I have never felt in any other place. This stillness and connection with a divine source is what I believe fuels the unbelievable strength of the human spirit that I witnessed throughout Africa - the spirits in the tin sheds who were HIV-positive and alone but still said thank you God; the spirits that were thrown into garbage cans when they were babies but still they sing loud and dance with such joy.

Thank you, Africa, for showing me your true self, for sharing your stories, and wisdom, and above all showing me the potential of the human spirit.