June 3, 2011

SAWUBONA (Welcome)…I haven’t yet reached my destination but I have such a strong feeling of WELCOME in my spirit. As I was waiting to board in the Dulles Airport there was a NATIVE from Senegal who was in a frustrating situation concerning her ticket. I noticed that she had requested the HELP of a man sitting next to her as far as how to work the pay phone. For the next two hours this man helped her call ALL her relatives in Senegal, buy a calling card and eventually spoke on her behalf at the help desk.

I had a sense of PRIDE as I watched them because he didn’t have to help her AT ALL! He could have said NO and moved to another seat. LATER on, on my flight from DC to Dakar, Senegal I was seated with another NATIVE from Senegal. The initial conversation was the NORMAL hellos and where are you from and where are you going, but soon the plane started to take off and I QUICKLY informed him that this was my FIRST TIME flying ever!! He smiled and said “Really?” As the plane took off human nature took over and I started saying “ Ohhh Lawd…Ohhh Lawd…Help Me now ” and I really don’t KNOW what he was doing but I bet he was hoping I didn’t break out in TONUGES!...lol

 

It’s funny how a 7 hour flight, 4 feet of space, two over head lights and one TV will bring two strangers to a very comfortable level. He’s English wasn’t very well but we managed and while I was taking my 100^TH nap he bought me a duty free gift, along with one for his wife. I was shocked and grateful but declined the gift as soon as I realized he was giving it to me and the DISAPPOINTMENT on his face was sooo EVIDENT I quickly accepted the gift and said THANK YOU.  I was immediately reminded that refusal of such gestures in other nations is taken as an insult but Americans,  especially African Americans,  are so accustom to never accepting gifts or hand outs from anyone,  it was just automatic.

I have an hour layover in Dakar, Senegal where I PLAN on getting the feeling back in my arms and legs and probably grab a sandwich. The AIRPLANE food is decent considering it was prepared IN THE SKY and the entertainment is scarce but I’m managing. It feels good not to be SOO connected to you guys…no phone, barely accessing the internet…makes me feel HUMAN again.

May 26, 2011

Good Evening...7 DAYS till take off!!! (I shouted that right in your FACE) and I am going BANANAS. I have cried A LITTLE and got sick to my stomach thinking about the FLIGHT. I don't know if I told you already but I joined my study abroad FACEBOOK group and they are GREAT!! I can't wait to meet them and learn so much from them.

TODAY I was off so I went to the movies and saw HANGOVER II...HIL-AR-I-OUS!!! And to think, Zach came from Wilkesboro, NC  (that's the chubby dude that's always spiking their beer or in this case the  MARSHMALLOWS) Then I went to Coldstones and got some AWESOME ice cream...

So I KNOW I'm only leaving for 6 weeks- not 6 months or even 1 year...but this is big, B-I-G big (Shout out to Biggie Smalls (spelling)) and its MY life that I am offering up to the EDUCATION ALTAR. I hope this will open doors (and windows, laughing out loud) and allow me to change and, I hate to say it but, GROW UP!!

So tonight I'm hanging out with some more friends..REALLY feeling the LOVE (I should go to Africa more often...just playing) and then reorganize my suitcase for the MILLIONTH time and pray till I fall asleep.

You have been a wonderful audience but the next time we speak I should be in the AIR or in my motherland, AFRICA!!!....ttyl

May 20, 2011

Good Morning....13 DAYS TILL DEPARTURE!! I am so scared, excited and worried...I'm ALL over the place. I was doing just fine until I started to RECEIVE the financial aid..now it seems like I STILL don't have enough...I have already ACCEPTED that this is going to be FRUSTRATING to the LAST minute...so LET'S GO!!!


For the pass 8 days I have been WORKING and PLANNING and CALLING trying to make sure that I have everything...THIS weekend is my GOING AWAY party (hope I'm not partying for nothing...shout out to Financial Aid Department)...and I hope to say GOODBYE to all my friends and family and just really enjoy the last couple days in my world.


I plan on keeping you UPDATED while I'm abroad but the INTERNET might be an obstacle...I have now seen SOME of the people I am traveling with thanks to FACEBOOK and I think I'm going to be OK!!


I'm going to READ a little this morning so I will type to you later...(smiling)...BYE!

May 12, 2011

Good Morning....3 WEEKS TILL TAKE OFF and the way my weeks go that really feels like 3 days! I am getting comfortable with the whole IDEA of being in another COUNTRY but I HAVE NOT started to pack! I think when I start to pack thats when its going to HIT me..(pretending to cry).


I'm off today and I plan on just relaxing and READING on South Africa as much as I can. I am constantly getting updates and emails from my sponsor and FINANCIAL AID seems to be falling from the sky so it must be my DESTINY (snobbish accent..no offense, snobs) to travel!


So today I will cut it SHORT and wish you a Happy Thursday...ttyl

May 9, 2011

Good Afternoon...So I worked ALL weekend and made some OK money, paid SOME bills and woke up today feeling CONTENT, but...


I just can't seem to wrap my mind around where I am in life...25, SENIOR in college, SINGLE and child-less and...out of nowhere...GOING TO SOUTH AFRICA...for education, nonetheless...Life is HILARIOUS!!!


So today's entry is going to be short because today isn't EXPECTED to be that eventful...but YOU NEVER KNOW...until then...ttyl

May 7, 2011

Good Afternoon...So yesterday was an interesting day would you like to hear about it? OF COURSE you would (chuckling). I got up and did some house work and took my LAST EXAM, stepped out to the nail salon for a couple hours and then got ready for work....BUT WAIT IT GETS BETTER!! I got to work and had a productive night then went to PF Chang's with some co-workers....AND THATS NOT ALL (if you can't tell by now, I'm being sarcastic, chuckling once again).


Later that night I was invited to a graduation party that I KNEW was going to put me in a tense situation. It was like inviting a GAZELLE to a LION'S DEN for Tea and Crumpets (British accent, no offense). So I got in my "SOUTH AFRICAN" state of mind and knew that if I could keep my cool in this situation and accept this REALITY CHECK then it would be good practice on leaving my COMFORT ZONE . (I wanted to show moral support to the guest of honor, thats why I went) and PASSED with flying colors, so BRING ON THE LION'S South Africa...(whispering) I'm just playing...


It is now 25 days till I am on a 22 hour flight to Paris, France then to Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA!!! (As much hype as I'm giving this event, I better come back with a prince or something, chuckling one mo' time). I would like to TAKE THIS TIME though, to give a shout out to all my readers, fans and follower which all equal a whopping...1 (I see you Tam'Tam!!). But really thank you to every one that has decide to take this journey with me, you are APPRECIATED (Tupac singing in the background)...I crack myself up sometimes (wiping tears from my eye)...


Have a Great SaturDAY!!...ttyl

May 5, 2011

Good (checks time...) Morning...So today was a full day, considering I got in Thursday morning so late(early).  My best friend Tammy has EARNED an Internship with Cargill and is leaving in 10 days to live in MINNESOTA for the summer and so we walked downtown and sat at the eateries, just reminiscing on our collegiate ACHIEVEMENTS (and mistakes)...we were just so glad that we have a solid FRIENDSHIP because it is so HARD to find one now a days.


Today (Thursday) I had a HISTORY exam and THANK GOD (praise break..) it was open notes! So I did well on that and said goodbye to a great professor. I had packed my clothes for the DAY CELEBRATION of the 2011 Graduates that was going on downtown, so I got DRESSED (very nicely might I add) and went downtown. Everyone eventually showed up that had the time to and it was GREAT!! I met some new females just by introducing myself first and we stayed together the WHOLE TIME dancing and laughing and enjoying the sun....(I see why PEOPLE stay in college LONGER than they should...its almost like an ASSISTED LIVING facility...they house you, they feed you, they give you allowance (REFUND) and they have care free events in the DAYTIME #winning)...Chuckles to myself, that Charlie Sheen...ok, BACK to the story...


So I left downtown and came home thinking about how I'm NOT going to be apart of this life in less than 27 DAYS!! (whispering) South Africa, man..(Shaking my head) what have I gotten MYSELF into?? I almost feel like a bride a couple weeks before her wedding...only in this case I'm marrying my FUTURE...(should I sign a PRENUP??)...laughing out loud...South Africa is going to have their HANDS FULL with me...So I'm going to bed, got my LAST exam in the morning..until then...ttyl