Perspective

Here I am at the end of my African journey. Holing up in Accra for my final days and still analyzing and examining everything around me. This has been an interesting journey for me, but one filled with lessons as well.

Opportunities: Everyone is looking for one in this country, but in my case, people look at my skin and see that as an opportunity for themselves. "Give me money." "Take me to the US." "I want to be your friend." Yeah, right, EVERYONE wants to be my new best friend here. Dissappointingly, even the people who came along with my reggae friend family looked at me as an opportunity. Unfortunately for them, I already spent 4 years of my life being the inspiration for someone else and frankly, I'm done with that. I also don't do sponsorship. From what I've seen here, few people are willing to look within themselves and find their own inspiration, instead they're going along waiting for this magical person to come into their lives to sponsor thier business, get them out of the country, pay for their lifestyle within this county...anything and eveything. Maybe no one ever told them that they could do anything they want to do for themselves, but that's been my background and upbrining. In a country where most eveyone is poor, it's hard to not be generous and want to help, but in the end my money was overspent, my kindness was taken for weakness, and I'm going home with some mixed feelings about my experience here. At this point I'm definitely ready to head back to Cali and regroup myself. I'm still inspired to continue my humanitarian mission of creating my own non-profit and doing what I can to help, but this trip has reminded me to be careful who I enlist help from and that too many people TALK the TALK but don't follow through. I'm a do-er.....and I expect people in my life to DO things too!!!

I think a lot of the problem here has to do with perception. When you grow up and see your mother selling oranges on the roadside all day every day...and maybe you don't attend school yourself....and maybe you have to help raise your siblings....and no one every gives you positive reinforcement or feedback or encouragement....then you're going to think that's all your life can amount to. Your mentality doesn't include the possiblity that life can be different. I think the key to changing this country is going to be with the children. They're sill young and impressionable and open to inspiration. From what I see from the adult population, most of them are waiting for someone to come along and drop opporunity in their lap instead of making it for themselves. And that just won't work....if we just keep giving people fish instead of teaching them how to catch it, they're never get ahead for themselves. Modeling and Role Modeling people - you have to build up their own self-esteem, give them the tools to help themselves.

I'll leave it at that for now. I've loved my trip and experience and take full responsibility for letting myself be taken advantage of within this trip although it was disappointing nonetheless. Live and learn....live and learn.