So I've been here for all of 3 days, coming from the heart of the Arabian desert, to visit my family and, my home.
Oh to breathe in Africa!
The obvious parody that exists between my South Africa life and my Middle East life, is too much not to repeatedly exclaim, "Over there we shop with our bags in the trolley", "We forget our keys outside the door every other day", "We leave our cars running so it can stay cool when we go into malls/restaurants" and other such blasphemy's. I am finding it hard to switch into paranoia mode, lock my doors, clutch my bag, look over my shoulder every minute and worst of all, not drive alone after dark!
Now that that is out of the way, lets move on to the more positive. I am enjoying every second of being here, of being surrounded by all things familiar, of being respected and treated as no less than an African (including being expected to bribe the customs official), regardless of my ethnicity, which is quite an issue in my new home, with people too often asking, "but where are you really from?" as they cannot understand how I, all light skinned and hijab clad, can possibly claim to be African!
To be born in a land is to forever be bound to it, not by ties of obligation, but by those of affection, for a land which brought you up. To move away from that land, is to live with feelings of guilt, at having abandoned what gave you life. Everyday, questions are asked, and answers are unanswered, "how can I change my country?", "how can I help if I'm so far away?", "Have I forsaken my responsibility?", "Everyone else lives with the crime, why cant I?"
On being away and coming home, I realize that every country, not just African countries, are challenged by changing times, but for as long as people remain true to the commitment for peace and development, hope is not lost. To come back, and see both icredible development and heart-wrenching desolation, is to know I am home.
Oh to breathe in Africa!
The obvious parody that exists between my South Africa life and my Middle East life, is too much not to repeatedly exclaim, "Over there we shop with our bags in the trolley", "We forget our keys outside the door every other day", "We leave our cars running so it can stay cool when we go into malls/restaurants" and other such blasphemy's. I am finding it hard to switch into paranoia mode, lock my doors, clutch my bag, look over my shoulder every minute and worst of all, not drive alone after dark!
Now that that is out of the way, lets move on to the more positive. I am enjoying every second of being here, of being surrounded by all things familiar, of being respected and treated as no less than an African (including being expected to bribe the customs official), regardless of my ethnicity, which is quite an issue in my new home, with people too often asking, "but where are you really from?" as they cannot understand how I, all light skinned and hijab clad, can possibly claim to be African!
To be born in a land is to forever be bound to it, not by ties of obligation, but by those of affection, for a land which brought you up. To move away from that land, is to live with feelings of guilt, at having abandoned what gave you life. Everyday, questions are asked, and answers are unanswered, "how can I change my country?", "how can I help if I'm so far away?", "Have I forsaken my responsibility?", "Everyone else lives with the crime, why cant I?"
On being away and coming home, I realize that every country, not just African countries, are challenged by changing times, but for as long as people remain true to the commitment for peace and development, hope is not lost. To come back, and see both icredible development and heart-wrenching desolation, is to know I am home.
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2 comments:
Indeed Safs, home lives within us wherever we may go. You make a pertinent point, every country has its fair share of challenges. Enjoy the African air!
but South Africa offers a lot more variety of life which i am sure you will learn to love soon
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