May 4th

May 4, 2014

I wish I could tell stories like my mother. For any of my English teachers, or really any person reading this blog, I wish my ability to convey what I see, hear and feel on a daily basis was better. There are some truly amazing things I have experienced since stepping on African soil, yet, most of the time when I try to write it down I can’t do it any justice and for this, I apologize.

Tonight I experienced one of those times when I was overcome with awe. I had just finished up my bafa and headed outside to watch my sisters and amayi prepare dinner. Usually we will sit around and laugh at this and that, but tonight was all about the singing. I was sitting on the dirt floor of our kitchen watching my two sisters singing and dancing to traditional African songs. Both my sisters have beautiful voices, but my amayi is amazing. I am always trying to get her to sing more but she will just laugh and shy away. Tonight though, she sat behind me cooking and harmonizing perfectly with my sisters. I sat there with one of the twins in my lap, the other leaning against me at my side, watching as they danced, lit by the flickering flames from the kitchen. Their back drop was the milky way, and their shadows danced against the wall from the moonlight. It was truly magical. I want to bottle up that moment and keep it with me forever.