GIFTS

During our week day ride and walk to school, we chat about the serious issues that concern us. Everyday different topics arise. The state of the world and the state of our world. We bring our different perspectives, my African, her European and her American. It is always a rich melee.

We dissect and garnish the stories like dishes, we embellish facts and dress them up with our cultural take. It’s a short fifteen minute drive to school (in the same morning taxi) and a five to fifteen minute walk from the gate to our classes. Sometimes the walk is longer.

Yesterday, we were talking about all that is happening in the world. I shared the destruction of beautiful places and spoke about one of the countries being bombed. My description and passion was great, suddenly American and European queried,

“When did you travel there?”

I sniggered and confessed.

“I have never been there! “

And we all burst out laughing. My description was so good they thought I had visited. I promised to share photos my friend had taken of the place, (that is where she comes from) before the place turned to rubble.

At this time, I am truly grateful for photographs. They showed an extraordinary setting, I was right.