Maybe it is just me but I have always heard “go to Africa, go to the homeland of your ancestors. You will be welcomed with open arms.” I could see that being the case in a touristy spot but in Burkina Faso not so (well not my experience anyway). It maybe that I am in a small village, but I definitely feel like a foreigner.
On our first night in Ouahigouya, we had a welcome party with musicians and dancing. Of course I was in heaven. I danced and danced and danced. No one could have told me it did not look natural. Afterwards a gentleman approached me and said “Welcome home my sister, welcome to Africa.” And then, he tried to sell me some cheap jewelry.
Since then, no one has said anything about my black skin. No one has welcomed me or made me feel any different than the other Caucasian American Peace Corps trainees. We are all “Nasaros” (foreigners). None of us belong. All of us struggle with French and integration. All of us plan to stay for only 2, maybe 3 years- we are all visitors. Its not bad, just different because I’ve never seen myself as anything other than a black girl.
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When I was in Ghana, the children in the village would run up to me and enthusiastically scream "HELLO WHITE LADY!!!" (this was not a one time occurrence). In America we fight because of our blackness, in Africa we fight FOR our blackness. We ain't them, and they know it girl...I SO remember how confused that made me.
takes me back to small days- the mosquito net, the latrine yes we had one, no electricity, the bucket of water to bathe, the heat- u will get accustomed and then it won't feel so gross. you are living my life in reverse and then you can come back and tell pam and monique and shayla they too soft. after a while you won't even think of it. everything will fall into place. credit to you, you are resurrecting old memories. thank you
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