For many years I have dreamt of buying a place in Mauritius.
And the same day I wrote this piece, my childhood friend who is so in tune with this dream sent me a video of a friend of her’s who was at the time, in Mauritius. And my smile was huge, spreading across my face because my dream was not dead. And even if the excitement of it ebbs, my friends are present to remind me to dream on :)
I want to visit Mauritius!
A place from where I will watch the waters rise and ebb,
…from where I will easily run barefooted on the sandy beaches
…from where I would capture note-card-worthy moments
A place with scenic views from the balcony extending from my room, from where I will wake up each morning to the chirping of the birds and a declaration that all of creation declares the majesty of the creator, God.
Mauritius was the place of my dreams. Still is, just waiting for the cheque to come through so I can pay for the apartment, the one with the perfect view of the fringing coral reefs, and nature's protection from the sea.
I want to visit Venice and Kigali. Venice to ride on boats and have long walks across the city free of motor vehicles. The latter for the history it holds, though painful. I want to feel the air that rests on the city that formed the backdrop for the Hotel Rwanda movie. I want to take it all in.
As early as a 7year old I knew I wanted to go to Uganda. Not to visit but to live there. The tales of Idi Amin or the current situation of many an African country haven’t affected that longing. Sometime soon I know. Now I even have extra reasons as friends from Nigeria and the US have moved there to call it home albeit temporarily.
So Uganda, here I come.
As a 6th-grade teacher, I led my students in exploring Asia as part of our Social studies content. It was COVID year and many tech tools and sites were freely available. Because of this my students and I had the privilege of 3-D tourist simulations using an edu tool, Nearpod that was simply a brilliant innovation. And that is when I fell in love with the history and beauty that is Jeju Island. I walked the streets and coasts of Japan from the comfort of my room, leading my students on a tour of the way of life of the people. Planting my feet on those grounds is still yet to come. But when?
As I think of these places, I try to imagine what daytime and nighttime would look like. Each place with its own backdrop of sunrise and sunset. With these the words of Loius Armstrong filter in…
I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Oh, the places I would go. Oh, the sights to be seen!!
I do not know when or how these visits will come to be. But when I do get to visit, the pictures of a roaming adventurer will tell tales of sojourn in God’s wonderful world.
