Phone Home

I finally spoke with my friend Tameeka today. We spent a couple of hours on the phone talking about my experience in Egypt and Ethiopia. I love talking with her because she challenges my thinking and overall is a very knowledgeable person.

While on Facebook I decided to see if my brothers were on and they were. My 15 y.o. brothers are no longer my babies. I just hope they stay focused in high school. I spoke with my mom about my Serenity. I've had a hard time speaking with her while in Turkey. I hope things will change when I come back. I love Serenity as if she were my own child. Serenity has helped me change in so many ways and it would be heart breaking not to be able to see her like I used to when I get back.

Finally I spoke with my God Mom Esther and God Brother Bernard today. Speaking with them was a reminder of how home is where the heart is. Every year I have Thanksgiving dinner with them. This year I called in for dinner from Rome but things were not the same. (Man I miss the food and falling asleep at the dinner table.)I say that to say this. I have become a young adult and ventured off into the world to find and create myself. Along the way I have lost many friends and family which often times have left me feeling lonely. Speaking with them made me realize that I am not alone. That my family is proud and I am doing the right thing.

I don't know about your family and friends but mine are real 24/7 or as they say in Turkey 7/24. They never beat around the bush and they do not stroke egos. They are anything but phony. They do not judge me based on assumptions because they take the time out to ask questions. Lately, I have been feeling as though people have jumped to conclusions because I am in the simplest of terms complex. I speak when I have to. I ask questions when I need to. Lastly, I am blessed to have the opportunity to go abroad on the weekends and see other countries. My eyes are not only soaking in knowledge for myself but information for all the people I know from home who have not been able to see what I have.

Remaining humble.

Salaam