Descriptive Essay : My Summer

When I began reading Chapter 1 of “Mistaking Africa,” it reminded me of our first class meeting. Professor Crowley asked us to do the same exercise Curtis Keim talks about in the text. Professor Crowley asked us what comes to mind when we think about Africa. It is a great exercise and allow us to express our perceptions of Africa. Even in class, it took me time to think about what comes to mind when I hear the word Africa, because I have not really heard much about it besides the common misconceptions: “Africa is a primitive place, full of trouble and wild animals, and in need of our help” (5). I frequently see the UNICEF commercial with Alyssa Milano, who asks her viewers how it would feel to be able to save a child’s life for fifty cents a day. The commercial precedes to play really depressing music and shows a slideshow of undernourished children, who fend for themselves in

The setting of this short story is in Timbuktu. Timbuktu city in the western African country of Mali. Timbuktu was added to the

On a “Trip to Congo” Sir Richard F. Burton writes a story during his exploration to the Yellalla or Cataracts of the Congo leaving some detail insights of the customs and behavior of the African communities. He only gives his point of view from an imperialist position and sometimes denigrates and diminishes the people and their culture. Even though Burton had a translator throughout his trip the language barrier prohibits interaction with the communities and the ability to empathize with the natives. Interaction and understanding is the key to appreciate their behaviors, instead Burton

When Idi Amin’s policies are forcing Asians to leave Uganda, Mina’s father Jay asks his lifelong native Ugandan friend Okelo, “Where should I go? Where should I go? This is my home” (Nair). Okelo replies, “Not any more, Jay. Africa is for Africans—black Africans” (Nair). Although the pain of being forced to leave Uganda so that its indigenous people can regain control of the economy is massive for Jay, it is this remark by his closest friend that devastates him, because what it tells him is that he does not belong in Uganda. He is not wanted, not accepted—not even by his best friend.

“The power is in the balance: we are our injuries, as much as we are our successes” (Kingsolver Pg 255. ) This tells us that we have to maintain balance in our lives, we are responsible for our actions and the consequences that follow; we are the ones that determine whether our actions can help us to achieve our goals or throw us in a hole. “It’s frightening when things you love appear suddenly changed from what you have always known”, (Kingsolver Pg 116. ) As a period of time passes after the family arrives in the Congo the family appears to have a striking realization that this missionary trip is not at luxurious as the visions dancing in their minds. Before the family relocated to the congo we believe them to have a normal life of running water, plentiful food, and protection. However, once they reach the congo there was not a lot of clean water, they had to hunt for their own food, and the stories of the ants ravaging everyone still gives a

One of hardest parts of helping the people was not being to provide everything the people needed or watching young children die of malaria and starvation. There were robberies and the outbreak of the Somali War in 1992 that caused an increase in violence between tribes. Even when talking about the low points, they are not detrimental, just bumps in the journey. The time spent in Kenya is not scared by these, but rather revealed the Kenyans personalities. She explained they were filled with kindness and hospitality, always helping each other. For people having so little, they were so giving she explained. “If a grandma down the road needed help, a family would send a child to go take care of her,” giving an example of the unfathomable kindness. Through these trials, it showed Henrietta how to “reach out to others and be aware of their needs.” It was through the trying times that a greater appreciation was generated for the Kenyans.

Katherine Dettwyler has been teaching and studying anthropology since about 1973. During this time, Dettwyler sets out to Mali, Africa to study the people of this area in a first hand look to just see how bad life is for them. She left behind her whole life, such as: family, friends, and her teaching career, so that she could help these people in need. She saw this opportunity as a place where she could learn many things and to help those who needed her. Dettwyler faced many challenges when she decided to go to Mali to study and she also learned many new and interesting things.

“Remembering My Childhood on the Continent of Africa” is a juxtaposition of author David Sedaris’s experiences growing up in North Carolina and his friend Hugh’s experiences growing up in various places in the continent of Africa. In this satirical piece, Sedaris’s jealousy is obvious of his friend’s exotic upbringing in Africa, but Hugh experiences tragic events during his childhood in Africa, such as seeing a man hanging from a telephone pole and living apart from his family for an extended amount of time. His jealousy is used to teach readers that everyone longs for another lifestyle that is different from his own even if they have moments of danger and gloom, but people need to appreciate what they already have. Sedaris humorously describes

In Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing, discovering and exploring, the obvious and hidden, traumas and their subsequent effects on each generation is one of the most compelling parts of her highly acclaimed first novel. Set on Ghana’s Gold Coast in the 1700s, two sisters, who have never met, create generations of descendants who experience traumas continuously. Some generations experience the first hand the effects of slavery and the African slave trade, while others deal with the repercussions of belonging to a tribe of Africans that sold humans into slavery. Because the experience of trauma is continuous, the descendants of both sister, Esi and Effia, are never fully able to heal. Instead, the consequences of war, rape, kidnapping, violence and death are explored in the three hundred years since birth of the sisters. Past and current traumas shape the identities of each generation. Gysai’s narrative tells and retells the violent histories of both families in an attempt to help heal trauma that still remains imbedded in many Africans, and African Americas.

In his article, Houtondji offers a general and overarching criticism of aspects of life in modern Africa. Instead of focusing on the more commonly addressed important issues, such as violence, hunger, and disease, he draws attention to problems that seem petty. Though they appear to be secondary to the bigger issues, they are actually symptoms of the much deeper problems, problems that stymie the transition of Africa, as a whole, into modernity. One of Houtondji’s examples provides a description of a

I interviewed Eloise, a 19-year-old girl who has finished high school, and has decided to travel to development countries to help others. She is an adventurous, ambitious, brave, compassionate and faithful person who wants to make a change in other people’s life with her faith and kindness. The purpose of this interview was to hear about her interesting adventure and gain valuable experience from that journey. Through this interview I aimed to obtain many precious experiences as I could, to help me decide whether going through this journey is worth of my time or I should do something better with my time.

It was a gorgeous summer day. the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the world was at peace on the seemingly carefree sunday afternoon. church had just ended and the children ran fast and free ready to play. They ran two and twelve towards the town’s lake to go swimming, in order to ward off the heat of the noon sun. They stampeded through town bumping over numerous people and even one another to reach the cool blue waves. The menacing multitude took a sharp turn from the street to an old dusty road. The trees shook in the evening breeze and swayed slightly further when the children hurried by. Dust faintly clouded out the light that poured over the path. Finally they reached the dock and began to take off and swap clothes. The boys took off their shirts and pants and swam in their underwear, while the girls chose to go behind some nearby bushes.and exchange out their attire. When everyone was in they started to splash one another while laughing and shouting. A few of them dived under the water to search for fish and other sea life. When they came back, up two of them had seaweed, one held a starfish, and two others had a crab holding it by both sides. It was getting a little later in the day, but the kids were not quite yet ready to leave their fun to rest. They decided to play hide and seek even though the sun was beginning to make its descent behind the green curtains that were the distant hills. One child counted while everyone hid and waited. As he counted out

American poet, Maya Angelou once said about the country of Ghana, “While the rest of the world has been improving technology, Ghana has been improving the quality of man’s humanity to a man.” The people of Ghana live their lives for people and not the gathering of possessions. The culture of this country is significantly different than most nations because of the location. The country of Ghana is located in the western part of Africa, off the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. While the country may be small in terms of land, its impact on the world and in my life is immense. This past summer I spent sixteen days at The House of Hope orphanage located in Ghana. This home takes in children of all ages that are no longer receiving the care that they

My parents and I happily trudged out of our chilled condo room, weighed down by various beach supplies. We made our way to the elevator, slowly but surely exiting the maze we call our condo hallways. As we glided down, floor after floor, we finally reached the parking garage. We stepped out of the elevator feeling a mix of humidity and heat immediately cling to our tan bodies. We exited the garage to find a beautiful scene. Birds were flying overhead as there were sun rays beating down against white, hot sand. We crossed the bridge that held shoes and scattered shells. After we did so, we pressed our feet against the white sand that belonged to Destin, Florida. The sight was even more alluring than I had ever imagined.

The warm breeze of the ocean air flies past my face. The heat of the yellow sun was sizzling, beating down against my skin, tanning and burning it within seconds. Beach goers were crowded around in all directions. Seagulls gliding past the groups of people, scouting for dropped or forgotten food to eat. Their little footprints marking a trail in the sand all over the place, going in a million different directions, searching for their next meal. I take in the exquisiteness of it all, the blue-green waves crashing into the sandy shore, making white foam and bubbles wash into the sea, little boys and girls that are digging in the bright white sand running away from the small waves before they get wet. The beach is a stunning place to be; there's just something about the ocean waves and the sand between my toes that makes me just want to stay there forever.