From the war zone to a Woman

by Regina Kamanda (Australia)

A leap into the unknown Liberia

Coming into a country where you never thought existed almost came as a dream. From stepping out of a plane for the first time, experiencing safety in seatbelts, knowing that there’s more to life compared to what you’ve known, felt, tasted and smelt your whole life. The taste of foreign food became a delight. Having to start from scratch when it came to learning a new language, being different in a country where your kind is less; trying to fit into a population where your colour is seen as a threat over beauty. Life becomes a challenge and teaches you to be stronger, wiser, to grow as an individual in your own skin. You start feeling beautiful when you see more of your kind, learning more about yourself and knowing your self worth as a being. Becoming someone you never imagined even existed, leading to building new friendships, foundations on the outskirts of this ‘strange’ world. This new place becomes less of a holiday and more of a home. Experiencing the life of education and how devoted people are to see you succeed. Seeing others not as devoted as you let their education go to waste which encourages you to push harder. Finding love in the smallest thing; water, sunshine and rises as these things gives us light and life. Your eyes become open to so many opportunities you never dreamt off because it all becomes available and is right in front of you, your dreams become reality. You find love and passion in the most simple things; music. You grow into a woman and the world becomes different. You have insight of your new home, you’ve settled and have your small friendship group and people you trust to lean on if ever in trouble. You become open to the world you live in yet confused on where your life is headed but you’re guided by hope and pray wisdom and truth is the way to achieving your destiny... whatever that may be. - written from experience.