Wow what a month. This month has been so very impactful. So very transforming. I’ve had the privilege of getting to work with children with disabilities. It’s been so rewarding and cool to help them out however that may look. Also this journey of the world race is at the halfway mark which is unreal, what?!
With that being said I keep replaying what one of my friends asked me: what is it like being the minority now that you’re not in the U.S?
In every single country our group being mostly Americans (one Canadian) we have stood out amongst the people we have lived with. They have made that very clear.
Month 1- Dominican Republic. We lived up in the mountains in a small town. People would say as we walked by: americano.
Month 2- Haiti. We lived in the desert for about a week then moved up to the mountains again. We would be called blanc (white).
Month 3- South Africa. We got to live in the city and were called malungu (white).
Month 4- Botswana. We lived in a remote village. They also called us malungu (white).
Month 5- Zambia. We again got to live in a village which fun fact: was right by this really cool market where we could get food, clothes tons of stuff. Everyone would call us muzungu (white).
Month 6- India. We have gotten to live both in the city and more remotely in a small town. It has been so very cool. The kids that we work with and some adults call us sista. I haven’t heard them straight up call us white here.
That being said in most of the countries we have visited it’s been a little uncomfortable to stand out. To get the stares and for people to straight up call you white. It’s weird. It’s a bit odd. It just doesn’t feel right.
This month has been very interesting because it’s been the first month where I have felt like a celebrity. Like literally walking down the street, shopping at the mall, going to the beach, etc. people take our picture. They will literally whip out their phones and just take our picture. Also they love love love taking selfies with us. They will even hold out their babies for us to hold and will then take our photos with them.
With all that being said it’s been weird to feel almost like an alien in the place I’m residing in. Like yes my skin may be lighter than yours but we are all people at the end of the day. I hate that we label people and view people differently because of the color of our skin.
Being on this adventure it has opened my eyes to just how similar we all are as people. We are all image bearers of God. We all have the same desires and needs. We are all created uniquely and beautifully to reflect His glory.
Once you sit down with a person and get to know them you begin to see just how similar we all are. Despite the color of our skin, a disability or special need we may have, we are all the same.
