La Sonya

I've been telling stories on here for awhile, since I first found out I was going to Tchad in 2007. Now here I am back on the African continent writing stories about starting an orphanage. Here's my 500th story. I walked to visit a friend and took a trail through the village. I went to Arusha town yesterday in a crowded dala dala (bus). I ate ugali with my hands (very similar to Tchadian buile). Today I washed my clothes by hand outside, I drew water from the well and I talked to a neighbor kid in English while he talked to me in Kiswahili. All these things are special. The funny thing is they make me miss home. You might be thinking my American home with my family and friends that I grew up with, worked with, and went on adventures with. That, however, is not who I was missing the most. I am missing my Tchadian family, mi famil. Because it was those wonderful people who taught me how to be an African, they taught me to draw water from a well, bathe from a bucket, eat with my ...

I'm trying to sleep but I can’t seem to find it. My mind just keeps running instead. Perhaps I’ve just got to much on my mind. I’ve been thinking lots about my future and what I’ll be doing in five years. I’ve got dreams. My waking dreams entail many things. I’m not trying to be picky with God, I’ll go where ever He sends me but I just have things I would like in my life. I would like a home or a flat. A place to call my own. A place where friends can come over and veg on my couch, or students can come and feel as if they were at home. A place that people can come to and feel safe and welcome. I would like a job that challenges me. Something that keeps me thinking on new ways to do something. I want a job that keeps me busy and active. No desk for me please. I want to be challenged to get people motivated, inspired, empowered and to find new ways to show them that they are not alone. I want a job that offers me freedom to think, plan, create and explore. I want to try new ideas t...