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Most travelers resort to private drivers, Uber, or taxis when visiting an African country. But the purest treasure is experiencing the grungy, tightly squeezed adventure of Africa's public transit. The experience is much of a caterpillar, bottled up in its cocoon. Each stop en route, you grow fonder of the journey only to spread your wings at your final destination. Throughout the continent, there's a unique name for local transportation — Matatu, Tro Tro, Woro Woro, plus many more. I've traveled 3 hours from Cape Coast to Accra in a Tro Tro. I have tackled Côte D'ivoire's organized chaos from Abidjan to Assinie in a Woro Woro. These vehicles are usually colorful vans with inspirational quotes stickered on the rearview mirrors. The seats are worn down leather that can fold and sometimes fall apart. Somehow these old machines have lasted a lifetime and have carried millions of people from place to place across the continent with speed. Every Tro Tro experience of mine revealed a deeper meaning to life's journey. One exhausting trip 70 miles from Abidjan orchestrated via broken telephone with Woro Woro constructors, showed how important it is to trust life's process. It was there, I understood, it's about the journey, not the destination. The Woro Woro experience makes up key moving parts that I envisioned to represent crucial factors in our decision making and trusting life's process. The Conductor —resembles our higher being/ the universe and to some a Godly figure. On the Tro Tros, this is the upbeat man who yells each stop, hangs out the window, and goes running throughout the main junctions to secure people for his route. The route always varies, but there will always be a breathtaking view of Africa's landscape along the way. The Passengers are a deep reflection of the impact people have in our lives, whether they are with us for a moment creating small talk, or enduring the entire journey to our destination. But, it's the busy junctions and marketplaces that define what it means to hit difficult crossroads in our adult lives. It's here we seek for a sign to set us on the right path to the next Tro Tro home. As the sunset en route back to Abidjan from Assinie, the angst grew in my stomach. Coming from a peaceful white sandy beach with clear blue ocean waters from the Atlantic, my body was at peace. However, I knew my journey back home would be a challenge - exploring the known unknown. For me, this is the characteristic of stepping into adulthood. The first car ride back in the dusk was one of many for that night. I tried to remember all the steps it took me to get to Assinie and retrace those steps to get back home - blueprints. The guidance and tools set by our ancestors paved the way to us finding our most authentic selves, which is our home. At the time, my venture back to Abidjan was beginner French, Google Translate, and a 10% battery life. Halfway home, we hit Bonoua - a town with tall trees, fresh ocean breeze, and wide roads that lead to pockets of busy communities. We exited the first car and entered into what was now night time. Surrounding me was a chaotic junction and market place—constructors shouting their destinations, bargaining, and lots of French dialogue. In moments of uncertainty, all your senses kick in, but the most important one requires nurture, that is intuition. The culture of public transportation in Africa is warm, respectful, and communal. I always acknowledge the elderly who squeeze in the seats next to me on Tros Tro. The odes to those who came before us are so crucial to our journey. At the crossroads, in Bonoua, an elderly woman who sat in my previous car ride stopped her car ride to tell me, "vous allez dans le mauvais sens." Not wholly understanding her language but understanding her gesture, my gut told me to follow. It was time for me to squeeze in the seat next to her and be guided into the next part of my journey home... To be continued.