%5B1%5D_2.jpg)
“It’s a zebra!!!”
Not hidden behind barred gates or three inch glass but standing directly in front of me. I leaned in close, throwing all caution to the wind with this seemingly-harmless animal, ready for my friend to snap a pic. Whack! The zebra head-butted me right in the eye. Luckily, a swollen eye and a slight headache were the only consequences. But I didn’t care—I had a picture with a zebra!!!
After a 16-hour flight from the States to Jo-berg and a slightly nerve-wracking trip through customs, my host family found me: stringy hair, bloodshot eyes, hunched shoulders from an over-stuffed backpack, one sweaty hand gripping a passport and another rolling a suitcase…. But, outshining it all, a giant smile spread across my face and heart…. because—somehow—this clumsy 15 year-old blonde had made to South Africa!
To have fun with friends and to explore new places were my expectations for the trip.
I was wrong. So wrong.
My eyes were opened to so much more than simply eating exotic food or buying cool souvenirs. While initially my focus was tangible, tourist-y things, a true purpose revealed itself.
It happened in a rural, poor area at a small children’s home. Three young women and I prepared games, songs, crafts, and stories for these kids we knew nothing about. At first, we all stood around, awkwardly waiting for something. “Duck-duck-goose!!!” shrieked a little boy. In mere seconds, this universal game had us sprawled in the grass with laughter. Together. It’s joyful.
And yet, just a few decades earlier, segregation, violence, and bloodshed flooded the streets, destroying the lives of thousands. The past struggle was real and awful, but the present triumph over all discrimination hit me even harder. Now, the people of South Africa smile as they play a neighborhood game of cricket, no separation because of color of skin or of financial background. A meager chapter in my history textbook on apartheid transformed into a dawning realization of the strength and everlasting joy of a nation, a people who love. It’s powerful.
Though we came from millions of different backgrounds, we united as one family with no fears and no shame. What brought us together? Our smiles. Our laughter. Our hearts. Not only did one family open their home to us but they also wrapped their arms around us. Before we even exchanged names, our host had swept us into a giant hug. They showered us with love. We played together, worked together, loved together. It’s real.
“It’s a zebra!!!” soon crumbled away to “it’s a love” so joyful, so powerful, so real that it binds us all together. Like the zebra directly in front of me, love emanated from those around me; I just had to open my heart to see it. As my host mom said, thrills are momentary, but love is infinite.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
1 Reply to “From Zebras To Love”
Comment on this article
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Hola! I’ve been following your weblog for some time now
and finally got the courage to go ahead
and give you a shout out from Atascocita Tx! Just wanted to
mention keep up the great job!
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info.
Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly return.
I Loved the article!
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this post and the rest
of the website is also really good.
Saved as a favorite, I love your blog!
I did a private layover tour from the new airport with realistanbul-tours.com and it worked very well. The new airport is a little bit far from the city center and there is no metro. You can take a taxi and join a walking tour or asked them to pick you and drop you back to the airport too.
Thanks for your publication on the travel industry. I might also like contribute that if you are a senior considering traveling, it can be absolutely imperative that you buy travel cover for older persons. When traveling, older persons are at biggest risk of experiencing a professional medical emergency. Obtaining right insurance policy package to your age group can look after your health and provide you with peace of mind.
Music is really the universal language
Thanks for finally writing about > Best Places to Go Apple
Picking With Your Family < Liked it!
Now in the world, there is a big problem with the coronavirus pandemic. I hope when coronavirus will be controlled then we will traveling around where we want you this day I don’t think so. thank you for sharing an awesome post.
Awesome article.
I really like your post.
you describe every post in great way.
Thanks for sharing..
Ahh what a great article! We love your blog..
Hi, I do believe this is an excellent web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I’m going to come back once again since I bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.
You illustrate some solid arguments.
I am genuinely pleased to glance at this website posts which includes tons of valuable data, thanks for
providing these information.
For some of the countries represented by the International Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Alliance (IFAAA), FARE and our partner organizations have provided helpful travel tip sheets.
Most of the parents with an Autism Spectrum Disorder avoid traveling altogether. Thank you so much for this useful information about traveling with a child with Autism. Thanks for sharing tips, planning, help, and resources for parents.
Good post. I am going through some of these issues as well..
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful article. Many thanks for providing this information.
Wow, there are some incredibly skilled artists
Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience with us. Loved your blog!
I enjoyed reading this post so much! Thanks for sharing this tips
I really like the way you describe the post..
Touche. Great arguments. Keep up the good effort.
Reposting here for reader TravelTrackers:
“Ashville is [full] of mosquitos as are most grass beach areas such as Outer Banks area. I was just there Disney in Orlando has outbreak of West Nile virus in the camping areas. Encourage hotel stays that have sanitization protocols as well as mosquito repellent or lots of garlic in the diet.? Havent had a bite in years”
Reposting here for reader TravelTrackers: “The air and sea museum is in Chantilly 20 miles outside DC.”
Powerful positive words
very nice thanks so much for sharing
This has to be one of my favorite posts! And on top of thats its also very helpful topic for newbies. nice one a lot for the information!
Wonderful line up. We will be linking to this wonderful article on our website. Maintain up the very good writing.
Excellent write-up. I absolutely love this site. Thanks!
Wow…really amazing blog.
I really like the way you describe the post..
Nice post.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience with us. Loved your blog!
Greetings from Idaho! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to browse your website on my iphone during lunch break. I love the info you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my cell phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, very good site!
this is so cool
very informative
Reposted for reader A.P. who shared this with our e-newsletter team:
CAMPING!! We just returned from Lakewood Campground & Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC. All indoor spaces required masks and their retail shields were permanent and well-made. Perks: wristbands for touchless purchases, FREE access to private beach, waterpark, mini golf, paddle boats, etc., controlled entry for guests only, daily trash pickup at site, residence rentals for those who don’t want to ‘Glamp’. They also had a huge fleet of golf carts and bicycles available for rent. We REALLY enjoyed ourselves in our self-contained abode on wheels!!
Hi Kyle,
Nice work! After reading your article I found an outdated link. It’s at the very bottom of the post under the “camping checklist” link. I did some search and found an updated list. May I recommend updating it to https://www.smartcamper.eco/camping-checklist-camping-essentials-list/ . I think this will be a better experience for your readers.
Cheers,
Bob
Thanks for finally writing about > Resources For Family Camping
Vacations < Loved it!
bookmarked!!, I really like your web site!
Awesome website you have here but I was curious if you kew of aany message boards that
cover the same topics tzlked about here? I’d really lik to be a part of group where I
can get responses from other experienced individuals that share the
same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
Bless you!
nice article for camping
Appreciate the recommendation. Will try it out.
the nice written article, thanks for sharing.
Awesome info
Great article, exactly what I needed.
WONDERFUL post. Thanks for sharing.. 🙂
I am not one that comments frequently on blog posts. Nevertheless, this subject as well as your input on it, has made me really feel that I should. I am so impressed with the amount of research you put into it. Absolutely among the very best things I’ve found on the net lately. Thank you.
You need to determine the biggest quantity of campers who will be sharing the tent.
Although it isn’t an important a part of your back country camping
gear, a machete is something that you might consider packing according
to what your location is going. Although your camping accessories
may be somewhat limited, with the outdoor stove you have a pretty
good chance of completing your culinary task.
Outdoor camping Soon? Use These Recommendations To Have The Very best Time. Individuals spanning various ages take pleasure in the enjoyment and fun of camping out. Read on to get some great assistance so you will end up prepared for your experience. Pack further outfits when you are heading camping outdoors. Camping outdoors can get really untidy event. Youngsters are seriously attracted to soil. This means that your young ones as well as their outfits could be very dirty.While this are unable to generally be eliminated, you may have some additional apparel in the event. Do not think twice to bring along excessive information for your kids. Camping outdoors could get really untidy situation. Kids are significantly drawn to dirt. Which means you need to put together to obtain unclean throughout the day. You could possibly not be able to place them thoroughly clean, however, you can pack additional outfits. You should set it up in your house before you go in your outdoor camping journey in case you have purchased a whole new tent when preparing for your personal camping out journey. This helps you to receive the practical experience essential for erecting your tent and make certain there aren’t missing parts.This too assists you to to not be discouraged when you’re trying to set up your tent. Provide a bandanna or a bandanna with you. These can be used a number of things, cloth or even one thing to transport a product in. You should use clothes dryer lint like a basic fabric. Just before your camping outdoors venture, begin getting the lint regarding a month before your vacation from your filtration with your tumble clothes dryer several weeks. Keep a plastic material bag correct near the clothes dryer to produce gathering less difficult. This is an excellent strategy to have kindling completely ready when you’re prepared. Constantly load up enough of the best form.Food poisoning can destroy your nice getaway. Put together all of your current food items correctly and investigation any measures you have to acquire. You need to camping in close proximity to your property when you are not a expert camper. You could encounter things that will require you to reduce your holiday. Alternatively, you could body that you might want to reduce your camping trip quick. You might know there is no need sufficient outfits or meals. There are several unforeseen problems you could encounter the 1st time you are going outdoor camping, so trying to keep the first vacation in close proximity to residence can save plenty of head aches. Reading this post you have to be ready to prepare that camping outdoors journey. Your organizing procedure should remain about the same irrespective of the duration of your trip. Utilize the research and begin planning for your camping outdoors vacation nowadays.
nice explanation of 11 tips, thanks for sharing the information.