I’ve been lucky to travel to many different countries over the past 20 years, and have a zillion amazing memories. But when challenged to select just one for The Mum Blog’s MOMENT IN TIME meme, I kept coming back to this one. 

 

I was 23, living in New Zealand, and was travelling through Africa with my cousin, whose grandmother lived in a tiny rural village near Nairobi, Kenya. 

This particular photo was taken in Soweto, South Africa, and stands out in my memory for several reasons. First was the attention we received: at home I was used to blending in, but that was hard to do with my (then) light blonde hair and pale skin (on safari in the Masai Mara I actually scared a young child, who’d never seen a white person before, and thought I was a ghost!). 

 

Of course, I was aware of the poverty in Africa, but I don’t think you really, truly ‘get it’ until you’ve seen it in real life. These children had so little, yet their smiles were so wide. We were told not to give them money, to give them ballpoint pens instead. You should have seen the utter joy on their faces to receive such a simple gift. 

I’d choose to go back to that moment because that experience helped mould me into a more understanding person, and also because I’d love to see how it impacts me now I’m a parent. 

 

Thanks for the tag, and the walk down Memory Lane, Liz!