Light in the Dark Continent

I hope that title pisses you off.
My impression of Africa over the past few years has been of a place to be pitied. Poor Africa. The oppressed, the marginalized, the hungry. What I've found in Ethiopia is a prideful people, with a rich history and a promising future. The other day I was sitting in my host family's house, watching my brother, Addis, watch the BBC World news. They were talking about Africa, Darfur specifically, and they showed pictures of starving people, people with their limbs chopped off and flies on their faces. His face looked pained. He's a recent graduate of Addis Ababa University with a degree in history, and he knows very well that that is not the whole story of Africa. As we celebrated the new millenium on his porch, we talked about a lot of things. Girls, dirty jokes, music, and movies, but most of all we talked about Americans' perception of Africa. He told me that I had a duty to change that perception. I think Addis might be a little confused about the extent of my influence in the states. But his request is one that has stuck with me for the past week or so. So I'm doing my best over the next few months to learn about the proud Ethiopians. To share their story so perhaps one day Addis might see a western news story about the ancient Ethiopian coffee ceremony, or the beautiful dances of the Oromo, or the ancient history found in the city of Harar.

I'm not denying that there is suffering and pain in Africa. Addis himself said that Ethiopians appreciate help from America and the West. But I think they appreciate help, not pity. We, after all, could be blamed for the majority of their problems. So please, all of you. My friends that inspire me daily with your zeal to help the impoverished nations of the world. Ask yourself what it is about that culture which you love. Find something to learn from them. Learn to appreciate the innate beauty in their way of life. Don't help to make yourself feel good. Don't help so your friends will praise you. Learn first. Appreciate first. Then you just might find yourself helping while you're being helped. You might stumble upon a conversation that can change perceptions, good and bad. Or, you just might learn. But that in itself is a beautiful thing.

I'm not a shining light in the dark continent. I'm a humble learner, an awkward sojourner in a country that has plenty to teach me. That's what I'm meant to do for now.

Cluttered room, chirping crickets, strange feelings

I'm now sitting in my bedroom of about thirteen years pondering my trip which will begin in two days and seven hours. I'm not pondering the important things, mind you. I think I'm prepared. I have my traveler's checks, gifts for my host family, brand new duffle bag thing, shots and pills. That should be enough I suppose. What my mind is wondering about is how much will change while I'm gone, and most importantly how much I will change. My family and I went to this ice cream shop around my house run by this Italian guy who apparently has "African Fever" (it took a while to get past translation issues and agree on that term, FYI), and he kept telling me over and over "you will be changed, for the good mind you, but you will be changed." Right now I have no idea what this will mean for me, but I feel like it's something I've been led to for a long time. For about two years the dark mysterious continent has loomed in the back of my mind, a fairytale, somewhere I would love to go, something I would love to explore. And here it is. Two days away. Jeez, I can't really think through it all right now, but the bottom line is this is actually happening, I'm actually going, and, honestly, I think I'm actually prepared for what is in store for me over the next few months. That's really the only preparation that matters.

right?