Friday, April 14, 2006

And the Clarity!

Tonight I met up with more Germans for a drink, they are studying in Bath on a uni exchange program called Eramus but taking time out to explore Scotland. It's an amazing connection when people meet and 'enlighten' each other on different sides of life, and the world!


Earlier today whilst undergoing my vigorous fitness training, I ended up racing a random Australian at the swimming pool. He's a regular scuba diver so can hold his breath for two lengths, I could only do one and a half and at that point I could feel my muscles aching for oxygen. The air was so sweet afterwards. We take something so powerful for granted! ... Breathe deep, relax and enjoy it!

I've had an amazing week. Contacts that I did not expect have sponsored me for my run, you've truly warmed my heart! Another thing that has stood out was a phone conversation I had with a girl called Martine. She and I were good friends, we shared a love of horse-riding, went to the same junior school, did our two final years at the same high school and even lived on the same street. In 2000 Martine's father was killed in his own farmhouse and soon after that her mother, brother and self had to flee the country for their own safety. Due to emotions we lost contact from then on. I remember seeing a BBC documentary about Zimbabwe in 2002 with her mom being interviewed and I cried. I always wondered if fate would ever let us meet again and on a special day of this week it did! Wow, I was so nervous and excited before ringing her .. only to find out she wasn't home. But she soon called back and we had a long chat. She's just finished her MsC, during which she spent a year in Australia being who she naturally is - a cowgirl! Her uni work has revolved around horses :o) We spoke about how our Doctor said Zim is now a prozac nation and the general Zimbabwean demeanor has changed. She mentioned that she now struggles to let people get emotionally close to her and has noticed this in other Zimbos. Snap, I said. We also ofcourse had the friends catch-up session, which took a while with everyone being scattered and doing varied and interesting things.
Martine and her family have done so well for themselves. I felt an emotion so powerful, so much happiness and admiration for her. Although I didnt expect anything less.

Tonight when explaining my life I told it exactly how it is. My home is in my head, if I ever feel homesick I find myself a quiet place then close my eyes and return to that memory, there's no reality in going home for Festive holidays. Life is a series of moments that need to be treasured, they don't last so make the most of them and don't forget them (I guess that's where my fascination for photography stems from ... hence me buying the camera of my dreams this Saturday).

Thank God, life is so beautiful.

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Growing up in Zimbabwe where homosexuality was outlawed I never quite understood it. Moving to Cape Town, one of the world's gay capitals, I got a wee fright. After living in the UK for a while same sex relationships, along with many other African taboos, became everyday stuff. Still not sense to me though.

After talking to a very interesting and open-minded girl this weekend, I heard a click. Being bisexual herself, she challenged my mental view point and eloquantly asked "why let something so small as the physical form stop you loving a soul?"

I couldn't agree with her more. Well I could but I'm still hetro.

2 Comments:

Blogger ramo said...

That soul thing is really wonderful. But from a different perspective, it may look like an emotional explanation/excuse for one's desires. Anyway, have fun!

9:24 pm  
Blogger Paul Watson said...

It is tragic to think of the wonderful Zimbabwean people closing up, changing their demeanor. Go to any varsity in South Africa and the biggest stories have a Zimbo involved.

You are right about the homosexuality thought though. Coming from Cape Town I have to always remember to avoid that topic when talking to my male Zim cousins.

4:23 pm  

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