The Danger of the Single Story...and a little HOPE too!

Where to start? Where to start?

I've been asking myself that a lot over the past week and a half and I've found that I just have so much to process that I don't even know where to begin. So I really haven't. It's probably time though...

I think I found a good starting point this afternoon. I was getting ready to go for a run and as is often the case (I'm about to reveal the depth of my nerdiness...brace yourself) I uploaded a couple of TEDtalk lectures to listen to while I worked out. Yes, I do workout to educational lectures...but that's completely beside the point so keep your teasing to a minimum. Anyway, I came across one that I heard in a class earlier this semester. The course was Democracy, Development, and Conflict in Africa and the lecture was about "The Danger of the Single Story". When I saw the lecture title today, I thought back to that class and to the first time that I saw this clip. I couldn't remember the details of Ms. Adichie's talk, but I did remember that I had really loved the clip. So I decided I'd download it to listen to today. If the lecture had made an impact last semester as part of a class about Africa it could only make an even bigger impact now that I've actually traveled there, right? Right. From the very beginning of her talk, I was once again captivated. And this time, much more than last, I could completely relate to what she was saying. And I think that it will be a great way to begin to relate some of what I thought and felt during my recent trip to Ethiopia.

I'm including the link below. My next couple of posts are going to reflect upon this video, so if you don't watch it - don't blame me for any references that you don't understand. I know that this is a 20 minute lecture, but I promise it is well worth your time. The talk delivers a great point, but more than that: it's very entertaining! When Chimamanda Adichie opens with "I am a storyteller", she really means it!

On another note, it occurred to me in a brilliant moment of revelation (cue eyeroll) that my blog headline is not in English and might not be widely known.

Dum Spiro Spero is Latin and it means "While I breath, I hope."

Fitting, huh? Not just because I'm working for A Glimmer of Hope Foundation, but because hope seems to be pervasive across all of Ethiopia. Even in the depths of suffering and pain, there really are glimmers of hope everywhere. It is overwhelming and inspiring to witness.

HOPEfully that cleared up any questions about the strange language at the top of the page. :)