Bang! She Got Me

I've been shot.. sort of. Yesterday morning I timidly drove behind my mums Jeep to the Regional office where we were to be vaccinated. I knew the day was coming when I would have to allow someone to prick me over and over with needles that were suppose to protect me from all the scary little germs out there. Let me start by saying I am NOT afraid of needles. Not to say I like them but I not going to cry (hopefully) or pass out (once or twice doesn't count). No, I'm going to go in there, sit down, and take it.

I followed as my mum lead me to the traveling clinic in the building. I'm told to sit down and wait... waiting just causes me to think.. and when I think, I get nervous. I start to fidget, my tongue starts to itch and I begin to think this wasn't such a good idea. I can handle the long plane ride, the hot weather, the work that awaits me in Africa, but the needles at home - I've been dreading! I'm used to getting needles. For my wasp allergy I get little needles once a month to build up an immunity. I've tried acupuncture a few times but that tends to result in me fainting. Going into these vaccinations I had nothing but images of massive needles and pain in my head.

We hear our names being called and my eyes go wide. Oh crap, I can't run. Greeting us is a smiling, full-of-energy woman named Beatrix. "Hi! How are you all doing this morning? I see you're going to Kenya! Amazing! I'm going to get you set with everything you need to know - it's going to be wonderful." Pfft. Wonderful. Ya right, sounds like a real joy.

We sit down in her office, a pretty bland room if you ask me, but she continues to smile. How can anyone be smiling so big? Your office is plain, your job can't be that much fun... unless you like causing pain.. then I  worry :|

She clearly sees my skeptical face because she turns to me and says, "Are you afraid of needles?"

"Umm, no not really" I reply. I guess I just have a pretty serious image in my mind of how this is going to go.

"Oh don't you worry for a single second! I'm great at my job and I LOVE my job! I know it sounds funny but wouldn't you rather someone giving you these needles who loves their job? And I'm great, I truly am. Not to brag but I'm the best. Sit back and relax. This will be EASY!"

To be continued ...

Answering the Call

Kidlet here -  or I guess on this blog, I can just be Darcy.

It's hard to believe Africa, which has been calling to me for so long, is finally within reach. I don't know when my passion for change started within me; I just know I always feel it. I always have that feeling that encourages me to make a difference, to find ways to help and to recognize that while I have the ability to help I also have the responsibility to. It's not just about helping either it's about learning. Traveling around the word has been the best classroom and to think I've only scratched the surface.

Two summers ago I attended the Free the Children Leadership Academy. That's when I found absolute clarity. I realized then exactly what I needed to be doing and where I was headed. I met people that within a single week changed my life. Many of these friends I still keep in touch with frequently. Some have drifted farther apart but what I am sure of is that our paths will cross again. That's the amazing thing when you connect with someone beyond the artificial small talk, when you truly get to know someone's insides, you know that you are connected for life.

My Mum taught me something very special about people and spirituality. See, if you asked me, I would say I'm not a religious person though I have great admiration for those who have been able to make religion a positive outlet in their life. Mum has taught me the difference between religion and spirituality and where they meet. I have trouble wrapping my head around "God", you see. I have way too many questions; it just seems all too big. I find the greatest messages I've ever received are through people. Mum told me to look at these people as an "angel" of sorts and take their messages as a lesson. The more you are open to seeing the messages the more you will gain. I'm in the process of figuring out my path and am on a constant journey of learning, teaching, figuring myself out and most importantly figuring out who I want to be because those things are in my hands. And though I stray here and there and make mistakes, I feel ready for whatever comes my way.

Around my wrist I wear a single piece of string. To me this represents the things I am most passionate about. The string stands for my beliefs, for issues I am passionate about and for rights I am willing to fight for. I believe education is the greatest gift, I believe in equality for all people because in my mind we are all one human race. Many of my FTC friends wear a string which has a meaning important to them. There is a story about an ancient tribe and when their village was going to be attacked they all tied a rope around their stomach and attached the other end to a stake in the ground. It represented their bravery and that they would fight for what was theirs or die trying. I've put my stake in the ground and am now ready to fight for what I believe. We are just people, connected by a string, fighting for what we believe.

Africa is calling and I'm answering.