With so much time to think and reflect on life I have come to a few realizations in the few weeks I have been here in Africa. My family is from Sierra Leone (in West Africa) and even though its quite a ways from Uganda (in East Africa) I am beginning to understand so many things about my family based on the way life is here. Suddenly I get why I never saw my Mom and Dad kiss or be lovey dovey with each other while growing up. I understand why my Aunt tells me to stop crying instead of holding me and letting me cry out my feelings when I talk to her about certain things. I understand why they can be harsh in some of the things they say and even lack emotion at times. Life is hard in Africa….point blank. The simplest things take 10 times the effort that it would in the US. Washing clothes, cooking food, transporting heavy items, travelling, getting clean water…I mean I could go on and on. And to do all this with the sun beating down on you at all times. There is no time to cry and think about your feelings when the physical labor is so tough. There is no time to ask about your emotions when there is so much to get done and its takes so long. I appreciate so much more the fact that my parents busted their asses to grow up in Africa and then come to the US which is so culturally different (and expensive and racist) to them to make a way for their children. I really wish I could tell both of them how proud I am for everything they sacrificed for me. And that I’m finally beginning to understand what it took for them to do so.
This trip is also solidifying the pride I have in being African and Black. There is no other people on the face of this earth that could’ve endured slavery and all that it entailed. African people are so strong and hard working….and can even put a smile on their face when doing so. I am so happy to be here and it makes this trip even more special to me to come to all these understandings while here.
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wow. growing up, i never could grasp why my parents did things a certain way, but life has taught me a lot of lessons and now i better understand. seems like youre getting a better understanding of why your parents handle situations and life the way they do. im glad that your learning and finding peace in doing so.
ReplyDeleteThanks hun! Its been very eye opening and I'm so glad I'm getting the chance to understand them better.
ReplyDeleteYES! That's what I'm talking about. Now you're gettin' it LS ;-)
ReplyDeleteGod BLESS!!!!! Thank you for sharing everything. . . I clearly can't relate in the parental situation HOWEVER, I will say that on a separate yet somewhat similar note I am so grateful for how my mother raised me. I am glad for all of the days she didn't let me hang out at the mall or just chill and always asked where I was going and who I was going with. Because the "youngins" that I "follow" (mentor- I hate that term it sounds condescending sometimes) really don't have someone to say "where are you?" "who are you with" "when will you be home?" and when I think about all the times that there was food in the cupboard and I begged my mother to order pizza (again not making a correlation to Africa) and she didn't have the money it makes me so mad at myself. ANYWAY!!!! I am so excited to hear about everything when you get back!
ReplyDeleteTHanks Tina...I;m def getting it now!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for sharing Jana. Its not the same as Africa but it def has its parralels. We only begin to understand why our parents did things the way they did and have appreciation for it when we can look back and reflect on it. I have TONS of stories for you when I get back!