A common theme has been brought up in many of the class discussions we've had throughout our time here, and that is the theme of happiness. The people of this country have an extremely noticeable amount of happiness in their lives that could only be felt by actually interacting with them. Whether it be the elderly woman sitting on the steps of a home in the townships, or a child splashing in the dirty water of a nearby puddle, happiness is something these people are definitely not lacking.
I think the reason we are in such awe of this obvious abundance of joy these people possess, is because at home, we tend to associate happiness with money and success. How many of us can honestly say that we love the work that we do? How many of us can say that if we had the option to do something we genuinely enjoy and not get paid, or do something mediocre and get exceedingly paid, that we would pick the first option? To be honest, I can say that before coming here I was definitely one of the people who would pick the latter. Everything in our society is so money driven that we forget about the things that truly put a smile on our face. We neglect the people we love, and reject the simplicity of sitting down with a cup of tea and reflecting on the day.
The people are simple. Not regarding the depth of their intelligence, but with regards to the expectations in their lives. They are truly content in their lives. They make the best of the situations they are faced with and hold their heads high. The amount of pride these people hold for their communities is truly amazing.
This genuine appreciation for life and the ability to happy with the simple things, is something I most definitely intend to take home with me from this experience. Since I have come here, my stress level has dropped dramatically and my spirit has lifted to places I have never been before. I can whole-heartedly say that this experience has given me a gift that I intend to keep on giving... the gift of true happiness :)
