I love Africa, People. Like love love love love looooooove it.

Most everyone I know thinks this is more than odd considering I’m : 1. very white {narrow minded, I say!} and 2. I didn’t realize Africa was its own continent till college. Making most everyone I know question how I even got into college, but come on! Isn’t that an honest mistake? I can’t be expected to know everything, geez.

I’ve had this Africa fascination since I can remember remembering. Naturally, I believe this is because of all my past African lives. The ones where I clearly had to have been some important warrior goddess … or something like that.

Maman and TC tried to convince me from a young age that I would either die if I went to Africa {amazing that one didn’t faze me in the least} or be left with some tribe in the middle of nowhere in the sweltering sun — that one really back fired on them, because I thought that sounded pretty damn awesome. I mean, minus the heat.

One spring evening my junior year in high school TC came home and announced he was going to Africa to talk about lawery banking law things and I about passed out. Africa without me? Not happening.

And not one of my finer moments. I pitched a fit like some three year old about how I had to go because he had taken both the Brothers on work trips and omfg, Africa is one of my homelands! He ended up assigning someone else on his staff to go in his place. I didn’t speak to him for an entire week.

I think I might still be harboring some ill will feelings on that one. But that’s just between us girls. I preface my Africa obsession so you guys will fully understand how I was just beside myself with our dinner guest last night from Ghana.

Ghana! I’m ready to go! Someone get me on a plane, stat! Finally, Africa has found me in the Ohio. It’s about damn time.

The BF and Brother made friends with our new African friend at drumming and I immediately suggested dinner and more drumming.

It’s so refreshing hearing the African perspective. As we were talking about family and using the distinction of brother and sister in law, we were stopped.

No. That is your brother, your sister. We see no difference. We are all brothers and sisters.

It’s a familiar teaching. I doubt it’s the first time any of us have heard that saying. It’s one of the tenants of being, I think. I prefer that to referencing The Bible.

Now if only I can continue to look at everyone like this … because we all are someone’s brother, sister, daughter, son. We all belong to one another.

When I can fully remember this, it’s a lot easier to practice love and compassion. There are no lines and barriers then. We’re all in this together.