I BE UP, UP & AWAY

Well, right now I'm on the airplane to start my adventure. It still hasn't hit me yet that I am going to be away from everything and everyone I've ever known. I'm sure it will come at some point. So far the journey has gone well. I sat next to this this really nice woman from Nigeria on my flight from ATL to NYC. Her name was Jo, and she works for Shell and lives in Lagos. She was on her way to the UN for a conference. I asked her a lot of questions and she was impressed with my knowledge of her homeland.
Then in JFK I met a gentleman by the name of Simba. He taught french at the University of Cincinnati and spoke 5 languages. The US really needs to get up to date with the whole language thing in our education. Well I'm going to bed, should wake up in Senegal.

Song of the Moment: Up Up & Away - Kid Kudi

Dream like a Child

Imagination leads to great things and accomplishments. If you're a dreamer today it seems like you're automatically tagged as being "lazy", "crazy", "unmotivated", or all of the above. If you disagree with me, then think back in the past month. How many times have you scoffed at someone elses ideas? I know I have done it at least a few times. Where would we be if we never dreamed? I'd argue that if we, the collective we that is mankind, never dreamed we wouldn't be where we are at right now. No new inventions or ideas would have ever been produced; countries and new governments would ever have been created; and stagnation would rule the world we live in. Being a citizen of this country, I am afforded the right to dream. In some parts of the world, dreamers are ostracized or much worse. Dreams have unlimited potential, and that can scare people. Maybe that is why we are so quick to put aside others dreams as coming from an unsound mind, but our own personal dreams are perfectly sound. It comes down to the fact that dreams and dreamers can be "dangerous", not in the normal sense of the words. It's the untapped potential of the human mind that scares people, even our own dreams can scare us. So we at times shelf our own ideas because of the possibilities and where they can lead. I know some are worried about my dreams. At times they can scare me a little bit, but I put those fears aside because I'm more scared of censoring my own mind. Life is way too short to not follow your dreams. It's so much easier to let your imagination run wild when you're a kid. It probably goes along with the fact that as "grown ups", our lives have taught us that their are certain things that are to be feared. As children though we haven't experienced what life has thrown at us. So those barriers aren't there in our youth. I plan on continuing to dream like a child...even if I fall flat on my face, I know I am strong enough to pick myself back up, dust myself off, and try again.

With that being said I would like to take this time now to thank all of you that have supported and will support me while I live my dreams. The going away shindig was great, and thank y'all for that. I just want you all to know that without you guys, I wouldn't be able to do this. You're support is going to give me strength throughout this adventure.

Today started off on a very positive note, I was driving to go work out this morning and I got a phone call. I didn't recognize the number, but I DID notice that it was a few digits too long. I answered the phone and it was Fina, the desk manager for Projects Abroad in Senegal. She sounded so nice, sweet, and sincere. She was calling to make sure I was ready for my impending trip. I told her I was and that I couldn't wait to meet her and everyone else. She laughed a few times on the phone, and that made me smile so big. It set me at ease.

"Laughing is the way your soul smiles."

Song of the Moment: Time of Your Song - Matisyahu

You and Your Shoes

Today I spent close to 12 hours in airports and airplanes...that's half a day (yeah I learned a little something in grade school). While there I focused on something that I realized a while back and had forgotten about; you can tell a lot about someone by the shoes on their feet. Shoes speak volumes about who you are, where you're from, and what point in life you're at. They can be everything from a fashion statement to a status symbol; seriously take some time to look at your own shoes sometime, more specifically your favorite pair. What do they say about you? I'm going to use my old reeboks for an example. They are beat up, warn down, have character, been around the block/world, broken in, but they keep truckin' along just like the first day I strapped them on my feet. They remind me of myself, my attitude, and my life. I've always argued that I am no more important or better than anyone else walking this earth. Those shoes remind of that fact every time I see 'em. God, Allah, or whatever your particular brand of religious tea didn't make any one of us above the rest (yeah you can argue that the Hindu caste system speaks otherwise, but I don't agree with that religion in that regard). Whether you have a $500 dollar pair of Gucci loafers or a pair of Walmart Adidas knockoffs, no one deserves to live life more than anyone else. I'm not trying to preach here, and so don't take it as being that way. I'm not saying you should feel bad for wearing nice shoes (I have a few pairs of shoes that in my opinion are "nice"). All I want is for you to at some point in your life; look down at the shoes that carry you through life and think about what they say about you. Maybe you have a pair of boots that give you confidence; a pair of running shoes that smell bad, but have been loyal to you for hundreds miles; a pair of vans that set you and your style apart from everyone else; or a pair of nice dress shoes that you bought with hard earned cash. Whatever style, brand, color, or size they are; they are you and no one should ever be able to change that.

Now that I am home from visiting the family in PA, all I have left is to count down the days till I leave (5 days to be exact). Each day that goes by I get more anxious, but I don't know about what exactly...I do know that I'll figure it out someday. May not be tomorrow, the day I get there, or till months after I get back; I just know when it hits me I'll realize it...

I read a vietnamese quote that I am gonna do my best to live by while I'm over there. In my oh so humble opinion, it is some of the wisest words of advice that can be spoken while you are interacting in this world:

"You learn by looking and listening as opposed to talking. That's why you have two ears, two eyes, and only one mouth."

Song of the Moment: Dayvan Cowboy - Boards of Canada

Say Goodbye with your Eyes

I'm starting to get this eerie feeling when it comes to saying goodbyes now. I can't really put my finger on it, but it is far from normal. Saying goodbye to people because I'm leaving for 3 months just seems odd to me. What's 3 months in the course of a lifetime??? I equate it to about 5 seconds in a day, if that. It's almost like a just in case kind of thing for some people, especially when I look into their eyes. Eyes can tell quite a bit about how a person is feeling at the moment; whether or not they are angry, how excited they are to see you, whether it's okay to kiss the person whoe eyes your looking into, if their worried/scared about the future, and so much more. Eyes might have been some way for humans to communicate to one another before spoken language. Eye contact is important to the development of communication in infants. However, I'm assuming that the majority of the world has moved away from their instinct to read pupil dilation, catch eyelid closure, and observe eye movement/aversion. It is arguably an unnecessary talent, skill, behavior, etc. Nevertheless, spending my last 7 days saying my goodbyes to people; I often find myself paying more attention to what their eyes are saying than the words that are coming out of their mouths...

There are a few people I won't have the opportunity to say goodbye to in person, if you know who are you also know how sorry I am about that fact. Let me give some hints; two in Cali, one in FL, one in Bama, and ALL amazing friends who I am going to miss very much. Sorry guys, and I'll try to make it up some way to y'all...

I got word from back home that my pack is in. I can't deny the fact that I was a little nervous about whether or not it was going to come in. Sometimes that little feeling of not knowing whether or not something will work out gives me a sort of high. I'm a sucker for a rush el naturale (Merck, Wyeth, and Pfizer have nothing on God; Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Adrenaline, etc) no matter what stimulus, good or bad, causes it. That's why I wing a lot of things probably; it'll show in this blog I'm sure. Today I'm getting a few last minute items (Water purification items, a clothesline, quickdry towel, power outlet converter, a travel electric razor, etc) which further proves my point.

Song of the Moment: Fight Test - The Flaming Lips

Even the Same things are Different

7 days until I leave...

Wow everyday I wake up and it come closer to the time for me to leave. I can't believe it. Even I'm starting to think that this is slightly ridiculous, only slightly though. Like I stated before, this makes more sense than anthing I've done in the past two years. It probably wont hit me till I step out of the airport onto african soil again. It's going to sound odd, but the feel of everything over there IS different. I don't mean the obvious things; food, people, culture, radio, television, religious beliefs, customs, etc. It's the things that seem so commonplace all around the world. The way the sun beats down on your face, the way the water feels as you cup your hands, and the way the wind blows back your hair. Besides the people and culture, those are the things that I miss about Africa. Taking those split-seconds to realize your senses aren't wrong; that something is aloof; and that nothing feels, smells, sounds, tastes, and looks the same.

My main fear/concern about living in l'Afrique for 3 months is the language barrier. For those of you that are unaware african nations don't speak only african tongues and dialects. The majority of Africa has a national language that is common in other parts of the world. The majority of countries in West Africa (where I'll be) are francophone countries. Although the population of the country does speak their tribal language, they also learn to speak french (or English in some countries and also Portuguese in a couple others). Once again America is falling behind the rest of the world in the language department. It really is sad and is something that everyone always talks about, but we need to get on the ball of making learning at least one other language a priority.

Yesterday I was in the car for an extended period of time, 5 hours to be exact. Well I wasn't in control of the radio (you know the "if you are the driver, then you get to control the music" rule/law) and this one song came on at least 5 times in that five hour period. By the the 3rd time this song came on I got the gist of the lyrics and motif behind it (didn't particularly like the song, to each his/her own though). It's an interesting concept, and I'd like to think that I tend to at least try to live like I am dying everyday. At times, I catch myself slipping on this concept and have to reel myself back in. Life is way too short not to live that way. The second all of us are conceived by our parents we start the end game clock. Only God knows when the time is up, and so we are all at a disadvantage. SO at the end of the day we should all be able to say to ourselves, as we stare up at the ceiling fan while we lay on our backs, "Hey if I don't wake up from my bed tomorrow, at least I know I gave the past X amount of years my all." So tell that girl at the bar, "You're gorgeous" (and when she doesn't hear you; don't get discouraged and say "Hey, I just want you to know you're beautiful"). Go for that promotion that everyone told you, "you'll never get it". Run that race that everyone scoffed at you for even bringing up. Apply to that Grad School that is a "stretch". Do the things that you never would do, because you never know if you will get the opportunity to do them. When I look back at my last bit of time with her, I think that's the way that life was lived. Did the news that we all got in May make her do it, probably. Did that life live that way before that, maybe not. However, through her, I am living my life that way before I get that phone call or test back. I don't want to lose any more seconds of any more days in the years I have left...A wiser man than myself has told me this a thousands times and I can't argue with it:

"You miss a 100% of the shots you don't take..."

Song of the Moment: Suspended in Gaffa - Ra Ra Riot

Done with That, Now for This

So I finally got the last distraction out of my way before my trip to L'Afrique. A standardized test some of you may be familiar with, the GRE. I've never been a big fan of standardized tests measuring a persons aptitude to get into school. but it is what it is. Didn't do terrible, didn't do great...I did fine. But I'm digressing, and now that it is over with I don't feel like thinking about it anymore.

For of those of you that don't know, I am actually going to be volunteering in the West African nation of Senegal. More specifically I'll be living in a place that resembles Beaufort a little bit in my opinion, Saint-Louis. I'm working with a group called Projects abroad, their link is found on this blog. I'm gonna have the opportunity to work with Les Talibés. For those of you that don't know me, I've always been passionate about helping children. Especially children who can't help themselves for whatever reason (in my short life I've realized there are alot).

I have all my vaccinations as of yesterday (Typhoid, Hep A, FLU, and the important one Yellow Fever). Yellow Fever is so rampant in Western Africa that you can not travel from country to country without a Carte Jaune (Yellow Vaccination Card). This is to help control the spread of the virus not between the endemic areas (Africa and Asia), but rather to countries in the "developed" world. On a side note, the Yellow Fever shot hurt like hell 4 hours later. It literally felt like someone had been consistently slugging my arm for a good 4 hours. I also got my anti-malarials, I opted for the Doxycycline this time Holden. I'd rather do without the weird, vivid dreams. On an even more interesting side note, apparently King Tut may have died because of a bout of malaria it seems:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8516425.stm

I'm excited that I can focus more on my trip...only 9 days left...

Song of the Moment: Good Girls (Cousin Cole Remix) - Wale

The Beginning is filled with Irony

Well, for anyone that doesn't know. I'm leaving, going away for awhile, on holiday, or whatever else you want to call it. I'm going to Africa; West Africa to be exact. For many of you that follow this, it won't make a whole lot of sense on why I am going, but for a few people that know me well enough this will make more sense than a lot of things I've done in my life. Even though I am going to volunteer over there, this is probably the most selfish thing I've done in 2 years. It's kind of ironic that this trip is going to have a lasting selfish connotation in my eyes. I had to do this for myself, because to be honest I've lost what my self is since that morning on February 3rd, 2008. The further irony is that without that important day in my life, I wouldn't have the means or drive to do the most important thing I've ever done. Although I am more excited for this than anything else that I've experienced, I'd rather not have this opportunity at all (if you don't get it, ask someone). Life is a paradoxically funny thing sometimes.

To add further incongruity to this whole trip, quest, or whatever it ends up being...I hate being alone. Yeah, yeah...I know what some of y'all are saying you're never truly alone and all that. I believe that, trust me I really do, but I still don't like not knowing anyone. Nevertheless, something tells me that this is the only way I can figure out all the things I need to (there's a lot). I've always been a big fan of meeting new people though. The main reason is because everyone looks at this life, and the next one for that matter, differently. Everyone can teach you something different about the way the world works (if you open your mind and heart enough). Aside from her, I learned the most out of life from a 4 year old boy in Soweto. He understood more about it than the majority of people I've ever met, myself included. Even though we didn't speak the same language, he taught me more in that short hour we spent together than any class or lecture I've ever attended. He didn't know he was teaching me the biggest life lesson I had received since that day in February. He will never know how much he changed my outlook on life. But for the wisdom he bestowed on me I am forever indebted to him.

For those that are worried, I know there are a few (or many), let me reassure you that I'm going to be fine. I'll be a hell of a lot better off than if I didn't end up doing this. That scares me way more than anything or anyone I might come across in Africa. I am going off the beaten path from what I've been told. However, I decided I wasn't going to shelter myself or do this with blinders on. It would take away from everything I am trying to do with this trip. Please don't worry though, I've been told that I've been blessed with not only stubbornness, but also a strong will and resilience that was bestowed upon me by her. On top of that the best compliment I have ever received from someone was that I am the living embodiment of her. If that is true, than you should all know I am going to be fine.

Well with all that being said; I don't exactly know what this blog is going to be. More than likely it will be a collage of things; culture, food, people, travel, news, pictorial essay, a story. Everyone is going to take something different away from this, and I hope everyone can find something that they enjoy. However, if you read this blog just once than take a moment to think about this:

"If you change one person's life, you change the world for that person."

Song of the Moment: Clarity - Midwest Product