I have never been to Africa in my life, but I would really like to go. I do know some people who have been there (like, for instance, my friend, M'buti Moore, and her husband, Roberto Sormiento; they are on their way back there now), and my friends Eshe, Paingoni, and Keserian and Naiser. (M'buti, Eshe, Paingoni, Keserian, and Naiser are all from that part of the world; they are all originally from the country of Kenya. My little adopted brother, Kwame', and my sisters Lightning and Melizza are from there, too.) They all say that Africa is beautiful, and that there is much to see.
When I think of Africa, I immediately think of cheetahs, rhinoceroses, zebras, all kinds of antelope, lions, elephants, birds, monkeys, and hyenas; and I think of how they must kill to eat; lions and hyenas kill zebras, antelope, and stuff in order to survive; and they sometimes eat cheetah babies if the mama cheetah isn't around, which is always a sad thing. I also think of those people who eat stuff like zebra, wildebeest, or antelope meat. (Hmm..wonder what a ZEBRA or WILDEBEEST tastes like?? I wonder if it tastes ANYTHING like *CHICKEN*!!!!)
I also think of the wide, open expanse of land, grassy plains that seem to go on forever, and the acacia trees and baobob trees offering little in the way of shade and protection from the hot, blazing African sun. I think of sleepy cheetahs lying among the tall grass or under trees, trying desperately to rest after going after prey (oftentimes they are often unsuccessful), or monkeys chattering noisily (especially in the jungles or at night). I think of the bright stars shining in the night sky and how close they appear to be; and I think of the sounds of the different animals, like elepahants trumpeting, lions roaring, hyenas laughing, and the monkeys screaming or chattering like noisy children. (It must be hard to sleep with all that racket going on in Africa...)
I also think of the different people there..the Arabic nomads in search of home and food for their families and camels; the tall, dark, stately Maasai warriors with their spears and their herds of cattle, and the beautiful Maasai women wearing colorful shukas and handmade jeweled necklaces and earrings that hang from elongated earlobes (to the Maasai, elongated earlobes are a sign of beauty in their culture); and the tiny Pygmies who are not that much bigger than me, even when they get to become adults. I also think of the different languages that are spoken there, and how interesting it must be trying to communicate with one another. (But a lot of African people speak English, especially in the larger cities like Cairo, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and Johannesburg. They also speak Swahili and also their native tribal tongue. So they are very good at speaking several different languages. Or they may even speak French or Spanish or even Arabic.)
I also think of the sights and the sounds and the smells of Africa: the sound of hungry, starving babies who beg and cry for food as their swollen bellies growl in hunger, their thin arms and legs resembling sticks; the hopelessness of these babies' mothers and fathers as they watch their children become weaker and sicker from lack of food and not knowing whether they are going to survive (a lot of tiny babies or young children don't), the smell of rotting wildbeest meat fermenting in the sun as lions and hyenas drink the blood and eat the meat, not caring one bit if the meat is rotting under their noses (that must smell *NASTY*!), and the different languages punctuating the African air as vendors try to sell their wares at open-air markets, hoping that tourists or locals will buy something and give them money; and the unforgettable sight of a cheetah running speedily after a terrified gazelle in the hopes of getting a meal for her and her three terrified little cubs hiding in the grass, hoping that a lion or hyena doesn't kill them or steal their food once their mother catches it.
I also think of all the poor people who don't have good medical care and how a lot of them die from diseases like measles, chickenpox, or worse, diseases we kids get shots for here in America, and how AIDS and the ebola virus are killing Africans by the hundreds and thousands; yet nobody seems to be wanting to do anything to try to help them. I think of how men are fighting and killing innocent people who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, or just because they are mean and nasty and don't care about nobody but themselves or what THEY want; and to heck with anyone else. I also think of the beggars on crutches or canes, or blind people groveling for a bite of food or even some money or even some clothes; as they don't have a thing to their name, and how they beg pitifully at the tourists who walk by them and don't even pay them any mind.
That must be horrible to be in that type of situation. I know I wouldn't like to be in this type of situation....
But despite its many problems, Africa is one place I would really like to visit, especially after hearing M'buti and her friends (and also Roberto) tell me and my family about it. They really like it there, and they say that Africa is a beautiful place. I have several African earrings from the Maasai tribe; and I have some shukas and some tee-shirts from Kenya and Tanzania; and I have some African tapes, and I love everything I've gotten. I also have pictures of cheetahs, and I have some toy cheetahs that they got me over there; and I have some pictures of Africa on my walls in my bedroom. It looks like I have BEEN to Africa when I really haven't.
YET.
Someday I hope to go to Africa. Next year, my sister, Barbara, is going on a missions trip to Kenya, and I am really excited for her, as I know she wants to go almost as badly as I do (excepting that SHE gets to go first, the WORM!!!).
Hmm. I wonder if I can talk Pastor Bilkey into letting ME go to Africa. I COULD sneak into one of the carrying cases, and they can sneak me into the airplanes; and then I'd be a stowaway....((((HEE-HEE!!!!))))
That would be just *SO AWESOME* If I could go to Africa---
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I know someone who JUST GOT BACK FROM Africa just a few days ago; and she was there for almost 2 weeks. She went to Kenya, and she really enjoyed herself. She got my twin sister 1 pair of Maasai earrings (handmade) and 1 pair of earrings from the Kikuyu tribe (most common tribe in Kenya); and she also got her several cheetah postcards; and she got me a cheetah postcard. She said Africa was someplace she's always wanted to visit since she was a little girl; and she got to fulfill that dream. She is already thinking of going back to Africa next year.
ME, TOO. Great write! TEN!! :) Maybe we can save $$ and go together...that would be too cool. Twins on a twin African adventure! :) Love and (((HUGS))), Karla. :)
Yankee Doodle Daddy is a historical Appalachian Family Saga. The story follows a mother's reckoning as she struggles to survive and keep her four daughters alive.
