I’m not sure if I ever told you that we lived in Guinea, West
Africa for a couple of years in 1999 and 2000? I loved the people, the feeling
like I was existing in the pages of a National Geographic edition, and discovering
a whole new understanding about how others lived their lives.
Africa for a couple of years in 1999 and 2000? I loved the people, the feeling
like I was existing in the pages of a National Geographic edition, and discovering
a whole new understanding about how others lived their lives.
Coming from a modern country like Canada, I did suffer a bit
of a culture shock but it was all a part and parcel of the adventure for living
in a third-world location like Guinea. The Guineans are wonderfully warm-hearted individuals
who love to laugh. They treat their children well, and while we were there, we
didn’t see any signs of starvation or fighting or any of the worries one might
have if moving to such a faraway place.
of a culture shock but it was all a part and parcel of the adventure for living
in a third-world location like Guinea. The Guineans are wonderfully warm-hearted individuals
who love to laugh. They treat their children well, and while we were there, we
didn’t see any signs of starvation or fighting or any of the worries one might
have if moving to such a faraway place.
But we did see signs
of poverty. I remember driving to a restaurant one dark evening and seeing a
male student crouched under a street lamp studying his textbook. That hit me hard and brought the tears. We met many
who didn’t have electricity and who couldn’t afford to send their children to
school. So when I came across this photo, I just had to share it with all you techies.
of poverty. I remember driving to a restaurant one dark evening and seeing a
male student crouched under a street lamp studying his textbook. That hit me hard and brought the tears. We met many
who didn’t have electricity and who couldn’t afford to send their children to
school. So when I came across this photo, I just had to share it with all you techies.
I wonder if Mark Zuckerberg ever dreamed his invention would
reach these heights.
reach these heights.
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People like us who live in First World countries really have *no clue*, do we? (as I sit here at my large monitor with snacks at hand and an electric blanket on my lap) Thanks for sharing. Living there must have really made you grow as an individual! 🙂
I loved living there, and you are so right when you say I grew as an individual. A person would have to be pretty hard-hearted not to come away with some new insights. Like to this very day – because of the dry season we lived through there and having to conserve water – I still shut off the tap while I brush my teeth.
My favorite memories of the place are about the children – cute as can be. I wrote a story called "Run for Joy" which I'll post on the blog tomorrow just for you xo Mimi