Anticipation, Expectation

As the Dark Continent looms on the horizon, I believe it is time to reflect on what I have done with my time up until now. I have done well and learned a lot about where I come from, where I am going, and now I must find out what I need to do. Leaving this beautiful Oregon is going to be hard, but not that hard. I mean, Africa, are you kidding me? I am so privileged, so lucky to be able to do this. I have always wanted to be trilingual (French, then maybe Dari, Urdu, Pashto, Farsi, Arabic, or Hindi) and be in the minority. I will be in a very well-to-do minority, however, so it doesn't really measure up. But it will have to do.

I know I like to think the culture shock won't be that bad, but I am in for it. I love French and I think I will pick it up quick. Picking up Mooré may be more difficult though. Hopefully learning them concurrently will be advantageous. I guess I should just not anticipate anything. Go into this wild safari with no expectations, no visages of what will transpire, what I will see, what emotions will course through me.

Having no expectations is impossible. I dream about Africa, about seeing the Volta Rouge all the time, running along clay roads and through the savanna, about checking out the beach at Accra, at Conakry. It's gonna be something else when I can't understand half the things my host family is saying to me though! Expectations were meant to be smashed and unmet, in some cases, anticipations made to be mistaken. That is part of what this journey is all about.

In any case, I am happy to be doing it. I am gonna have a blast and learn many more lessons and have so many more experiences than so many people can possibly imagine. Fortunate and grateful am I for the opportunity of a lifetime.

Carpe diem, something I am guilty of not always adhering to

mac