Beloved Adventure

As I waved my beloved country farewell, I stepped across into the wilderness that is known as Africa. Africa, with its red soil deeply planted in blood, sweat and tears. To the white man, Africa has always been a wilderness. But the black man has always called it home. Shame filled my heart. Had I really been living in South Africa all my life, only to find out that it is indeed part of Africa? South Africa is Africa. As an 11-year-old, I had surveyed the class map at school, trying to locate my country. To my shock I realized that it was part of Africa – no, a vital part of Africa, with Nelson Mandela – our national father – carrying the torch. The past was beckoning to me; it was telling me a story. A story of loss, grief and regret. A story of war, terrorism and apartheid... The greatest adventure of my life was waiting for me – right there in the past...