I Dreamed Of Africa

  

She is the Dreamer....

I've made so many changes in my life, and there is so much to catch up on, but suffice it to say I am FINALLY able to realize one of my dreams...

Africa.

Back story:

In 1981 my step-dad came home from work one day and said we were moving to Southern Africa.  This was before the internet and google.  This is when we found out info at the library in books and encyclopedias.

Africa????

I was a 16 year old girl in my sophomore year in high school in California.  The last thing on my mind was moving away from my friends and everything that I knew.  Needless to say I went begrudeggenly.  What choice did I have?

It didn't take me long to fall in love with a country and its people.

Africa is where I also fell in love with U2.

We lived in Maseru, Lesotho.  A landlocked country in Southern Africa.

It was the 80's.  I didn't understand Apartheid.  I was a 16 year old kid who grew up in California and New York.

At first I attended an all girls, Afrikaans speaking, boarding school called Eunice in Bloemfontein, South Africa. ( long story, another post).  Mid year I changed to the school in the same town where my parents were living in Maseru, Lesotho.  Machabeng International High School was where I was going to finish my high school education.

I made many close friends at Machabeng.  Many of whom I have kept contact with via Facebook, and now WhatsAp.

In 1983 I left Maseru, Lesotho with two suit cases and went away to college.  My family was still living in Lesotho.  Unfortunately my step-dads contract ended while I was in school.  I had planned on coming back to Africa to say goodbye to my friends, however my parents came back to the USA before I was able to do so, leaving my heart broken.

A part of my heart has been in Africa ever since.

I have been dreaming of returning to Africa for 32 years.

During the past 3 decades I have been waiting for an opportunity to make a return trip to Lesotho.  A few years ago while looking thru a magazine I saw this photo:

It has been hanging on my refrigerator ever since as a reminder that not only is Africa important to me, but to Bono.  I can't even explain the pride that I have to be a U2 fan, and to know that one of the people I admire most in this world has made a difference in the city where I went to high school in Lesotho.  How random is that??

My dream will be realized.

On Tuesday October 6th, 2015 I begin my journey to mend a place in my heart that has been missing.  I am nervous.  I am excited.  Mostly I am overwhelmed and feel so blessed.

My journey begins now.

P.S.

My favorite all time book: