South Africa and Ghana

Leaving on Saturday to go back to Africa to do some research with a professor on the impact of HIV on family structure in South African villages. We will be conducting our research in a number of small villages near Kruger Park, north of Johannesburg. The research is a pilot study on the impact of the loss of a family member on the family's structure and operation, especially in terms of gender and generational effects. Such a great opportunity to decide if this kind of thing is what I want to do for the rest of my life. A little tense about leaving...all of the usual anxiousness and excitement...and still not packed in the least.

Going to see a friend in Frankfurt on the way over...it's been years since I saw Amy and I can't wait to meet baby Brian.

Also bought a ticket to Ghana to visit friends and Solomon's grave...should be interesting to be back...much different now but hopefully still the wonderful place I remember. Planning a trip to Havui and maybe Kokrobite and of course some Africana dancing too. Luckily I will have my laptop and wont run out of space for pictures :)

Lots of things going on these next few days...Hopefully things will all come together tomorrow and Saturday and I will get there safe and sound.

More to come from South Africa.

Solomon

My friend and brother Solomon has died. This is one of the hardest things that I have ever been through in my life. In traveling with Africana, his taxi cab got struck a pole, putting him into a coma and eventually ending his life. I can not explain the grief that this brings me and the entire Africana family. I can not explain how it feels to be in the United States going through the actions of day to day life and know that my loved ones are suffering so much across the world. I can not explain this feeling of helplessness.

Solomon was a great dancer and a wonderful human being. He had a warm and gentle smile that put everyone at ease and lit up a room. I was lucky to spend the time with him that I did, both in the village and at the Green Turtle lodge. I was truly blessed to have known him and he has changed my life. My favorite memory of Solomon is when we went to the village and we were sitting around telling stories by the candles. The obrunis did not have many stories to share so we rotated around the circle, going from person to person to create the plot. I was sitting next to Solomon and he would always take the story and twist it in a way that I did not know what to say or how to carry the story forward. And then, he would look me right in the eyes, smile, and say "and then..."

Solomon had a spirit that I can not put into words. A happy easygoing, spirit, that loved his life and his friends. Now, it is his friends that must pull together to say goodbye. I wish that I could be in Ghana now. I wish that I could see his beautiful smile one more time.