Change the World

30th August, 2013. 7:59

Cape Coast

 

The world doesn't need someone to try and change it, it will evolve no matter what.

We are not made with superhuman qualities to come and "save" the world because it doesn't need saving. The greatest human quality is adaptation. Everyone is able to live with what they have, and if they cannot then maybe in their next life they can.

I'm not going to try and play God, I do not hold anyone's life in the palm of my hand. All we need to do is teach others to be self-sufficient so they can continue when you are gone.

 

I'm not here to save anyone. The only person I'm really here to save is myself, from greed and naivety. I'm here to see what's real and what's not, to experience a culture, learn and keep all the good things and spread that knowledge back home.

So far it has been an amazing experience, but at the same time there have been moments when ive felt cheated and angry. But thats all a part of growing and understanding. My shell is hardening.

 

I realised that my greatest weakness is sympathy and I think my time here has really hardened me because some people try to use you, because you are white and so you must have money, they will try to cheat you. But I've learnt that you must always study a person before you can trust them. I will never forget what my friend Stephen said to me during my first few weeks here. He told me "you have to show them that you are smarter than them" when a couple of kids were trying to persuade me to give money and sign a petition for their fake soccer team. I think this phrase is embedded in my mind and has been useful in many other situations during my time here.

 

The sooner we banish the idea of us white and apparently so fortunate people need to come save the third world, the quicker we may realise that we actually need to learn something from them. From their world. Some of the few I have learnt are: To fight on no matter what, to respect the elderly, to mend instead of throw away and to love with a whole heart.

 

 Travelling around the world really makes me appreciate home, the variety of culture and our open-mindedness. I used to be frustrated by the lack of Australian culture, but now I really value the spectrum of nationalities and accompanying traditions. This world doesn't need changing, we need to learn to point the finger back and realise how we need to grow.

I love you