we were sitting under the moonlight — brooke bowen jeevan and i — i was playing classic lumineers which made me want to fashion some string lights. I watched for the clouds moving leisurely as i lay my back into the ground that is starting to feel a lot like north carolina. It was a sweet moment with the four of us, just laying out, noticing shooting stars and all doing things in on our worlds, while being in each other’s. When i look up at the moon i remember that ANYWHERE i am, i can look up and see the SAME moon. And it’s a warm glove on cold hands.
it’s a cold drink on a hot day.
for a moment everything seems normal,
living in africa
+ all that comes with it.
we’re just four kids from all over america with different stories and lives and jobs.
and here we are plucked from the familiarity of our routines, together in Malawi, eating beans & greens, sweating, bucket showering, laughing at goats, chasing chickens, navigating markets and dusty roads, acting out the perfect road trip scenarios as a byproduct of delusion…
How did i get here; living this rich of a life?
I don’t dare to question, but we will certainly Praise God!
I’ve stayed in homes with nice flatscreens and big kitchens and beautiful floors and nice bathrooms in zambia. I’ve also seen the villages all over malawi. Ive stayed in a small home with no running water, no flooring, and no mirrors with goats yelling every minute and chickens somehow breaking in to the yard. I’ve seen the squatter camps in south africa and the nice neighborhoods down the road. I’ve seen RURAL and i’ve seen industrialized. Africa has been a lot of what has been depicted and a lot of what hasn’t.
life is this beautiful collision of seriousness and silliness. a wind storm of contrasting experiences, emotions, moments where life needs your full attention, moments where it’s better just to close your eyes and let the road carry you away. I like that. I like that different seasons demand different things. I like that we can be chill but also we can care about important things.
As asia tips around the corner,
reflection is due.
I can’t wait to continue to share my experience and break down Zambia + Malawi with you.
Thanks for always tagging along,
Erin
