I started off 2019, the very first day, with one of the most incredible days of my life, and it happened because I was committed to saying YES. Last year, around this time, I was offered a position to direct a school in a rural Maasai village near Mt. Kilimanjaro, working towards educational attainment for young children---as my dad pointed out, you say YES! How could you not? Think about it. You only live once. I know that is a phrase but really take a second to think about it. You. only. live. once. Why would you not do exactly what you want to do?
So before this post gets too philosophical or deep, I'm here to explain when I took a last minute cheap flight back to Zanzibar during a break from directing a school, I knew I wanted to go somewhere new, so I went to a part of Zanzibar that I hadn't explored yet. I went on a walk along the beach on the East African island of Zanzibar. On this island, usually tourists or foreigners called "Mzungus" (I've come to respond to this as if it was my name). Mzungus get a lot of attention all over Tanzania, and Kenya where Swahili is also spoken. There is a whole tourist industry set up throughout the country, so of course, I go approached to "go on a boat to Mnemba island". I'm used to saying no to these offers, like the gobs and gobs of Maasai men and women selling jewelry along the beach or busy roads of Tanzania. Sometimes I even try to use my limited Maasai language skills to try and see how Maasai they really are. Out of habit, I initially said no. But this is exactly what I wanted. So, I turned around and said "Actually, I think I might". He then pressed and said "Well, is that a yes or no dada (sister)?" and I said, "YES".
After the spur of the moment, serendipitous decision, I quickly got myself together, grabbed sunscreen and met back at the same spot to voyage to Mnemba Island, which was in view from the beach. Today was New Year's Day, and my time was all my own. I had no exhausting work and no schedule. When I got back I was greeted by about around 10 young Zanzibari captains that were around the age of eight. They prepared the boat, gave me a plastic bag to protect my Tanzanian phone, and off we went on our voyage to the island on the horizon! Already glad I said YES!
Zanzibar is so bright. Extremely bright. I can only describe the entire island as magical-from Stonetown to the beaches, it's all got this magic. At first we went through aqua clear water along the Northeastern coastline made of rock. It then transformed into a deep dark navy blue (see what I did there). Before I knew it, we arrived to the northern part of this small island, the exact beach in which Bill and Melinda Gates are to have made the decision to form the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. As if the ride over wasn't amazing enough, I immediately saw how this place could inspire such a decision. The water was so clear and there were so many types of colorful fish swimming around as if they were butterflies. I couldn't wait to get in, and when I was offered a snorkel, you best believe I said YES!
There's sometimes places that you encounter that are just so beautiful that it's totally, overwhelming. Just completely surrendering to the moment and what the world has in store for you, but also proceeding carefully to pay attention to it all so that you're sure to capture every piece of it into your memory. I honestly don't know how long I was out there, but the my little private boat captain was beckoning me (pulling, convincing,) back to head back to the bigger main island of Zanzibar. We realized we were both hungry so the boat made a stop at the fish market on the way, he bought a live Red Snapper fish for me, threw it into the bottom of the boat. He then brought it for his mom or sister to go prepare into the most delicious, flavorful, and fresh meal of my life of coconut fish curry. Say YES!
"If we wait until we are ready, we will be waiting for the rest of our lives"
