I guess few people know this place--East Africa. One year ago, I luckily had an opportunity to work in Africa. To be frank, that terrifies me at first. The only impression I have on Africa is hot weather, disease, riot which means uncomfort, unhealthy and unsafety. However, I eventually decided to go there with an aim to gain more experience as an English new graduate after considering one month.
The place I lived is like a village in the country in China, although it actually is a medium city. But the difference is that you may see green trees and bushes on both sides of road. Most of the vegetation are cashew and mango trees under the bule sky. With the feeling of freshness, I thought everything in here is interesting.
In the camp I lived, there are many mango trees, which are full of big mangos on them when at October. All of a sudden, rain comes, then leaves and mangos lay on the whole ground. It is such a picturesque scenery I have ever seen.
One thing I cannot forget is lobsters and crabs. Mandela, the former president of South Africa once said, one of the things that lingers on his mind at his late years is lobsters of this place. I simply agrees on him. After leaving this place, I realize that I may not have such delicious dish outside of Africa.
I witnessed in person that women walked through the earth road with heavy things on their head, one or two children held in their hands and another child on their back. If you may picture this, it would make you laugh. And at the meantime, I feel happy as a Chinese woman.
People here are very poor except for a few relatively rich guys. They call us boss at most of the time. However, the residents seem always happy with similes on their face. On weekends, they are never willing to work, even if three times of salary paid to them. They go to some place like a large playground, playing football; Christian go to the church; and they get together in bar, drinking, singing and dancing.
One night after dinner, I went to a house of my local friend. He is not as poor as others. I saw his mother, father, two sisters and one little brother. They looked so happy to meet me. And I bought them fruit and drinks. His house is fenced up by some coarse walls without painting. No mention to any furniture, so they all laid down on the carpet. I saw a stove in the center of the yard, but out of courtesy, I could not tell what was in it. Even today, I cannot understand why they always look happy living in that kind of situation.
I like the kids there despite most of my friend cannot agree with me. I cannot deny that I have sympathy on these poor little kids. Therefore, I often gave biscuits, chocolates, fruit and juices to them. As a result, children knew me and what a surprise, they spoke my English name when passing the yard.
I feel lucky to experience these in my life when a young girl. It enriches my life before I grow older. In addition to gain work experience, I have seen a total difference country, people’s living condition in there and their culture. I’m a nostalgic person inherently and this short period in Africa will live in mind all the way.
