Amazing Africa

Here in our deliriously hot kitchen, serenaded by the guitar version of my all time favorite Pachelbel’s Canon whilst waiting for the meat of my Batangas version of Caldereta to tenderize a bit… I started pounding on my laptop keyboard… there is nothing more interesting to write about now except my recent trip to… AFRICA.

My trip to Tanzania involved a three-legged flight from Dubai to Addis Ababa- Ethiopia, to Nairobi- Kenya, and finally to Kilimanjaro airport and a 45-minute cab ride to the exact destination in the town of Moshi. At the Dubai International Airport, I was taken aback by a whole community of African people- mostly taller and with much bigger body frames than I, queuing up at the ticket counter. Judging from their baggage packed in cape-cases/sacks (sako) with nylon cords tied at every possible end to form a net all around, some in boxes tightly sealed with cream-colored packing tape or with plastic, I reckoned majority of them are businessmen doing some kind of trading. They must have bought goods from Dubai to sell in shops in their respective home countries. Given the enormity of the baggage they wanted to check-in, most of the passengers had to reopen and repack everything. Anyway, I managed to squeeze my self in and followed the queue before me.

Amidst the rush, chaos and the anxiety of getting checked in earlier than the rest of the crowd, I found comfort at the inquiring look of the Kabayan staff from the next counter. He motioned something to me in the air, as if trying to say something. I didn’t quite catch what his message was, consequently, I just stayed in my queue and had my things checked-in. Just before I left my counter, the Kabayan gently called my attention.

“What will you do in Africa”, he asked.

I smiled wryly and replied, “Meeting friends”.

“Where do you want to sit”, he asked again, half-smiling as if teasing me.

“Just somewhere far from where the men are sitting please”, I replied back.

And there he was, he effortlessly redone my booking. I was upgraded from my seat in the economy to first class cabin. Woohooo… Talk about favor huh!!! Or, simply talk about being Filipinos in a foreign land. I left the ticket counter with the widest grin I could ever make. All my worries about this trip which concerns mainly about me traveling alone and catching malaria, soon faded into oblivion.

I finally arrived in Kilimanjaro International Airport after about 8 hours from embarking the plane in Dubai. I was picked up by Alana Briere and Luke Miller. Thanks to them who patiently waited for me for almost 3 hours at the terminal, otherwise, I wouldn’t have known how to get to the hotel. As we traversed the slopes of the Tanzanian countryside, driving past the corn and sunflower fields, with the sight of the imposing Mt. Kilimanjaro peak seemingly suspended in the clouds before us, here away from the hustle and bustle of the city, I sensed a familiar feeling that carried with it peace into my heart.

The first recollection of my awareness about Africa dates back to the time when news about the famine-stricken areas in Africa (the exact location I couldn’t even recall now) was all over the news. I could still picture in my head the sight of malnourished children in shanty towns, the unforgiving heat of the desert, and the wild animals roaming in the wild, shown on TV. I’ve also read a documentary about Waris, a Somalian woman turned supermodel, her plight as a young girl having to take adult responsibilities and pasturing chores with her family living in the bush. Her story highlighted the issue on female mutilation being done to most young girls in preparation for marriage. It sounded real horrendous I couldn’t even tell if it’s real life scenario or just a fiction.

At any rate, I thought these facts/bits of information broadened my knowledge about a land so far away and so foreign. Never have I, in my wildest dream, thought I could someday set foot on this land known as Africa. More so, be brought into a level of consciousness that I had been shallow in perspective and understanding of what this land is all about all these years.

I was charmed by Africa… its people, culture and the beauty of its nature.

Contrary to the preconceived ideas I had about African people- being aggressive and domineering, especially the men, I found the Tanzanians affable and extra accommodating. In their rustic homes, they wouldn’t entertain guests without sharing a meal or even at least a cup of coffee or tea. They offered the finest utensils, the biggest avocado fruit, probably have even butchered the fattened chickens just to offer decent meals to us.

The children are beautiful. I almost always caught those trusting innocent eyes as I converse or play with the children. They loved being photographed. They like holding our hands and swaying the arms while walking. They exerted effort mumbling English words like “Hello”, “How are you?” They shrieked with joy when being embraced because they feel loved… well that’s what I thought.

There are lots and lots of incredible things, great and small, that I’ve experienced in Tanzania. The highlights would be:

- I learned few phrases in Swahili. Jumbo (welcome)! Asanti Sana (Thank you)! These were two of the first Swahili words I’ve learned while in Tanzania.

- For the first time, I got to see the Milky Way in its clearest view possible. I couldn’t even recall having seen it before.

- I finally knew what the Southern Cross constellation looked like… courtesy of our adopted daddy Robert during our overnight stay at the hotel near Ngoro Ngoro crater.

- I saw thousands of animals including the Big 5 in the wild on a genuine African Safari.

- I was thrilled to have seen a real Baobab tree. Remember the book “The Little Prince”? Baobab trees are the stout-looking trees, usually leafless and with the branches looking like roots turned upside down. Did you get that?

- I had a skirt made for myself by the side walk sewers in the streets of Moshi town. And yes, everything was done in 30 minutes.

- I got to spend time with my friends whom I haven’t met in almost 10 years. Our bonding time made me believe that no matter how far we’ve gone to, no matter how long we haven’t spoken, some things never changed at all. There would always be the signature character each one has, the trivial things we argue about, and… of course, the chikas every night.

- Met amazing group of people, spiritual giants. Africa is a smogashboard of people and culture. Need I say more?

- Open heaven. The experience? Incomparable! I might spoil the testimony so I would rather have it properly written in another article.

- I had an interesting flight back to Dubai.

So, this was the familiar feeling I’ve been having since the day I arrived in Tanzania. I’ve seen pieces of my self in people. Their love for family, the heart to be of help to anyone in need, the fascination for all things unfamiliar, the hunger for more of God in their lives, the appreciation for life and the blessings therein, these and all other things that make our lives worth living. I recognized struggles for equality and recognition. In them, I see the faces of people trying to make ends meet yet living happy lives. In their conversations, I could sense their hopes about every tomorrow coming with a promise that one day, the miracle they’ve been praying for will come to pass somehow. I’ve seen places so similar to my home back in the Philippines. Somehow, all places are in one way or another, the same… only different terrain, different kind of food on the table, different color of the skin, different hairstyle… different native tongue. But deep down, something connects us to everyone. Some things are the same.

Amazing Africa!

Rapt in my thoughts, my brow furrowed in deep contemplation (at least I imagined), I noticed the wafting smell of burned meat in the casserole. Again??? I burned the food for dinner again!! I hope my roommates would be terribly hungry when they come home. I hope I can get away with it this time 

----000----