Notes from the Road: What I Learned on the Road

Living in Africa and Cambodia these past 10 months has taught me a lot, but it hasn’t always been what I expected to learn.

Before moving here, I’d never actually changed a flat tire, and I’m proud to say that due to the “vintage” state of our car here, I have been forced to learn…in the rain…on multiple occasions. Yes, I know that the jack lives under the passenger seat, and yes I know that the car should probably not be on a hill before your crank it up. I even know where to find the local “fundi” if we need to patch up our spare again…and I know that it should only cost fifty cents for air per tire.

My market-specific Swahili has improved, and now I know how to grocery shop at the local market in 10 minutes flat without leaving with an accidental kilo of garlic behind. I have a tuk-tuk driver on speed dial if I ever need a ride last minute. I know when the papayas outside of our house are ripe and when they should stay on the tree. I know that little caterpillars tend to hang out in broccoli so I’d better triple wash that broccoli before I serve it up to guests. I conquered the bucket shower and the squat toilet and know to always bring a flashlight with me into the bathroom in case of a power outage. I’ve sat in the back of a pick-up truck, fallen off of a motorcycle, eaten a goat, held 100 baby chicks on my lap for 8 hours in a tiny car, slept in a village, fallen into rapids on the Nile River, cried (and laughed) a lot, and lived without nail polish, blonde highlights, and makeup for an entire year.

I’m not sure that any of these things were ever goals of mine, and if it weren’t for Better Lives, I probably would not have done any of those things. But how grateful I am for this year of new, challenging, uncomfortable, crazy experiences and unlikely accomplishments. I hope that I’m coming back to America a little bit stronger, a little more patient, a little more appreciative, and a little less focused on things that aren’t actually that important.

Don’t get me wrong, I cannot wait to get home and paint my nails, drive my car and blast the air conditioning, grocery shop in a grocery store, have hot water showers and functioning internet, and wear shorts when it’s 100 degrees outside. To be honest, I was kind of hoping I’d return a hippy who doesn’t need makeup, nail polish, highlights or nice clothes anymore, but Africa didn’t change me the way I expected.

It did change me in some other ways, though. I think I have a better idea of what’s important. Like trying new things even when they’re scary, saying yes to supporting best friends or significant others when they’ve found their passion and are going after it, smiling if all else fails, saying thank you all the time, trying to learn something new or appreciate a cultural difference even when it seems strange, and not letting things like flat tires get you down.

Contributed by Better Lives volunteer Allison Barns after a year of traveling to assist with Better Lives projects.