FLORIDA, USA: Africa’s Treasure

FLORIDA, USA: Africa’s Treasure

DSC_0172ed“Hey bro, vipi? How much for these shoes?” I ask the second-hand market vendor.

“Ah! Those, for you, those are $30 U.S.dollars,” he responds with a tone indicating that he’s giving me a deal. He didn’t know I was Tanzanian, maybe because I hadn’t yet spoken more than a few words in Kiswahili. Words that any foreigner who cared to find out would have known.

“$30?! I can get a new pair of shoes in the U.S. for that amount!” I say in return, flabbergasted by the price this man just gave me.

After a few minutes of haggling, going back and forth about the quality of the shoes, and his realization of my nationality, we do not close the sale of these shoes, but commence having a very important conversation about the poverty of Africa.

I will call this man Peter, as I do not recall his name.

As I talked down the price of the shoes, Peter said things like, “You people have money!” and “Come on, you can pay this amount easily.”

When Peter and I started talking (immediately after I decided not to purchase the shoes), I asked him his reasons behind hiking prices up so high for foreigners. He simply said, “Because we are poor here in Tanzania, and in Africa, so I have to try to earn money some way, and you guests have the money.” (more…)

ThinkSayBe

I am a mom amongst some other titles life has fortunately given me. I love photography & the reward of someone being really happy about a photo I took of her/him. I work, I study, I try to pay attention to life. I like writing. I don't understand many things...especially why humans treat each other & other living & inanimate things so vilely sometimes. I like to be an idealist, but when most fails, I do my best to not be a pessimist: Life itself is entirely too beautiful, amazing & inspiring to forget that it is!

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Friday Question: What are the top 3 qualities you want to instill in your children?

This week’s Friday Question comes from World Moms Blog writer DC Blog Mama.  She asked our writers,

“In 15 words or less, what are the top 3 qualities you want to try to instill in your children?”

Check out what some of our World Moms had to say…

Kirsten Jessiman of Ontario, Canada writes:         

“1. How to listen.

2. How to be compassionate.

3. How to share.” (more…)

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World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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