idiosyncrasies of me: Study Abroad, Volunteer, Intern, Teach and Jobs Ab...

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Little Princes

Yesterday I finished reading Little Princes, a book I learned about on The Nate Show.

Two years ago, Charlie and I were approached by a man by the name of Babu Bob in the Hartford Airport the day after my brother's wedding.  Until then I had not know that Mt. Kilimanjaro was in Africa.  Since then I have not been able to shake this feeling that I am supposed to go to Africa.

Having just read Eat Pray Love only reaffirmed this need to follow signs and instincts.

You see Babu Bob runs an orphanage in Africa, on Mt. Kilimanjaro.  In the exchange that could have not lasted more than a few minutes he handed off his card - Orphans of Kilimanjaro - and extended an invitation to us both to Tanzania, to stay at the orphanage.

Now I am sure that this must set off all sorts of warning signs in people's heads - but not mine.  Sure I would have to be more than a little reassured that the deal was legit.  I have done some research, made a few contacts, and still the idea lingers.

Go to Africa.

I am not the type of person to just go to Africa.  I mean it is not logical.  I am a single mom.  I have a house, and a dog, and ... a life.  A life here in the United States with plenty of complications right here - in the United States.  But still I feel this urge - telling me...go to Africa.

So what am I doing instead?  In May I am taking my son to Alaska.  But whenever I try to say, "We're going to Alaska."  My mind wants to say, "We're going to Africa."

For reasons I can not explain, I am being to drawn to Africa.

How does this relate to Little Princes?  It doesn't, not really except for the fact that the man who wrote Little Princes volunteered in an orphanage in Nepal which led him to his life's work.  His story moved me.  It filled me with love and hope and just kept making me think of Africa.

Was my chance encounter with Babu Bob part of a fundraising campaign or could it have been a nudge in the right direction?

After reading Little Princes, again I really, REALLY need my next great read.

altraversiamo

I may have just finished one of the best books ever.  What, do you ask, have I just read?  Well, if you are an American - chances are you have already read it, or seen it, or rented it, or know exactly which book I am speaking of just by the mere mention of the Italian word in the title at the beginning of this blog entry.

But just in case you are - let's call it - even less up to date than I am, the title I am talking about is Eat Pray Love.  It is a spiritual memoir by Elizabeth Glibert.  Or as we - her friends like to call her - Liz or Liss.  (I may be using the term "friend" loosely.)

Granted I may have liked this book so much in part because it is of the genres I most enjoy to read.  Memoirs and spirituality.