open yourself.

Today I had a man ask me about my experience in Africa. He was one of the many people who made a donation to help support me in volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, Global Village Project. I don't talk about my experience much, but when asked I cannot hold back. As I speak, different memories in my mind are triggered, leading one story into the next. Before you know it you've lost interest and I haven't fully completed many of my stories because they get interrupted by the spontaneous trigger of remembering another amazing moment that I experienced on my trip.


When I got home from work, I checked my email and found an email from Global Village asking me about my experience. It is 2:27am. At this point, my day is at its peak. I continue to think about my experience, remembering more and more about my time volunteering with them, the kids, the ceiling tiles made from goat and cow hide, the bartering, the fresh juice, the digging and the moments of exhaustion that were nothing against the joy that came with feeling like a part of a community; you learn their ways, their techniques, their recipes, and their theology.


I was asked to "In a few words, share with us your greatest learning from your trip." As anyone who knows me knows, I struggle a little with summing things up in just "a few words."

It is so important to open yourself up and immerse yourself in different cultures. It is an amazing, eye opening experience. This opportunity allowed me to feel like a part of a community with which I could barely verbally communicate. I saw the beauty in simplicity and how simplicity is a gift if embraced; simplicity can host happiness. There are many ways to live, different doesn't mean bad; we should be embracing the differences, the little things, because that is what makes them special.