Independence Day

Thursday July 4th

Ironically I am celebrating the 4^th of July in South Africa this year. This is not the only time that I have celebrated America’s birthday in another country. On Semester at Sea we were docked in St. Petersburg. I had a few shots of Russian Vodka before getting on the ship to have a big American BBQ while floating next to the former Soviet Union. Another 4^th of July I spent while studying in Dublin, Ireland. I drank cider (or was it a pint of Guinness…) at a pub while eating Cheetos.

For the 4^th here I treated my scholars to lollipops from the local shop, some apples, fiber bars and these spicy hot Cheeto type treats that are deliciously addictive yet they stain your fingers for the entire day.

We went around the group and I asked, “What was something that they are truly grateful for living in the United States that they’ve been reminded of while living here?” I also asked, “What is something unique to living here that you really like and has helped you to realize what is really important in life?”

Ironically, what I was grateful for was my rights as a woman. Yes there is still discrimination and unequal treatment of women in the United States. I’m in no way saying that there aren’t issue as far as gender violence and inequality. Gender roles do still exist but it is far less than I see here. From what I’ve seen it is the main, normal expectation for women to cook and to clean. It is expected that they are the bearers and rearers of children. I am grateful that I grew up in a nation where even though I understood from a very young age that I would be treated differently at points because I was a woman, never did I realize until coming here the sheer vast amount of opportunities and support for women to follow their dreams as there is in the United States.

As far as the second question, it has made me realize the value of being present even more so and how important it is to allocate time and space for yourself as well as your friends and family. That the balance is what we should strive for. And that just because we are running around “busy” beyond belief doesn’t make us or our life be of more value than someone who takes their time to enjoy it. That life is to be lived, not mulled over. To savor each moment without looking at your watch or your cell phone for notifications. The peace and simplicity of moments and this lifestyle is something that I have found unique and beautiful.

At night our electricity went out. I had to use my headlamp to finish my nightly bedtime routine. It made me think of how I could only focus on the task I was doing because my headlamp only shone a certain amount of light.

That’s kind of how life is. You can only go by the light you have to see by. If you try to do too much at once, unfocused and scattered, you don’t get very far. And there’s something very relaxing and logical about only focusing on one thing at a time.