deartraveller

My dear Érica,

What wondrous two weeks you had! It's astounding to realize how much you have learned in such a short period of time with people that have such striking differences from us but that actually helped us out throug History. And did you knew that the different colours that the Taj Mahal gains through out the day represent the different moods of women? I really must go there soon.

But speaking about colour ... do you remember all the times you mocked at me because of whiteness ? Well ... you can't mocke me anymore, because here in AFRICA the heat, despite killing me slowly, is giving me a tan almost as dusky as the owners of some of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen.

That's right, Africa! It's only the second most populous continent, right behind Asia, with a thousand millions of people, but as you can imagine a very crowded and unexpected one. When I first arrive to Tanzania ( Suaíli speaking ), through lake Tanganica, because I have Uganda and Quenia up north and Mozambique down at south, I thought I would stop my journey right here.

I didn´t had the smallest idea but the word "vudu" was brought by our nation from here! And also words like "zombie", so guess where did I entered as soon as I set foot here ? In a vudu ceremony where everybody was dressed looking a lot like zombies of course. I'm sending you some of the pictures, don't worry. I think you would have liked it, it was a lot more real then the ones we saw on that tv serie about some different cults.

I also found out that Tanzania is home for some of the most ancient human settlements, like fossils from the first human beings, found closed to the "Throat of Olduvai", up north, a place also known as the Cradle of Humankind. I visited and I absolutely loved it!

 Last but not least, the Kilimanjaro is one of the most breathtaking natural monuments I've ever seen. I can now agree with the "Lion King" is version of it. On my way to see it more closely I noticed that here food has had many influences, mainly from Europe, but natural products, vegetables and tropical fruit, that we both love, are the most found.

Missing you a lot, dancing around a fire and learning more about this amazing country that has conquered me ( and has left new varities of English to develop all over the globe. I guess both languages had influenced each other mutually too ... funny right ? ), I'll be here for one more week, waiting to read more about your next adventure.

Love,

Sara

 P.S.: I hope you bought a sari, they have the most amazing colours!  

Dear Sara,

                I’ve only been travelling for two weeks now and I couldn’t be enjoying it more! I’m so thrilled! I’ve met wonderful people and learned so much already. Yesterday I arrived to a new country. It’s in South Asia, it’s the seventh largest country by area, the second most populous country with over 1.2 billion people and the most populous democracy in the world. Can you guess it? I’m in India!

                There are so many interesting places to visit here! This is such a beautiful country! Besides, the Indian culture it’s so different than ours that it makes it even more captivating. I’ve visited several monuments already and I was truly fascinated. The monuments of India are a living testimony which pulls us back to the particular era in which they were built, so they are considered a real treasure and are preserved with great importance. The one I liked the most was definitely the Taj Mahal in Agra, a palace that is just breathtaking! Set against the blue skyline, it looks like a mirage in a desert. How I wish you were here to see it! It was built by the emperor Shah Jahan as a tribute to his wife so it is considered one of the most beautiful love gestures in the whole world.

                Today I came with some friends to explore the interior of the country, and right in the middle of the jungle there was a tribe that actually lives here! They are so friendly. Only a few of them speak English but they invited us to have dinner with them, because it is their tradition to share a meal with the visitors. While we were having dinner, I asked if they could teach me some of their words and what they mean. My accent was not perfect so I caused a few laughs. Then, the chief told us some things none of us knew: he said that several words we use everyday come from their language. Words like yoga and bungalow. I had no idea! When the English started expanding their territory, in order to build their empire, they came to India for the spices, the natural resources and to expand Christianity, but they ended up taking more than they expected: new words. With the English settlement and the creation of the Eastern Indian Company, the inhabitants needed to learn the language if they wanted to participate in trade and political affairs, so English became the second language of the country and both languages influenced each other mutually.

                Do you know where the word “khaki” (meaning dust-colored in Indian) comes from? The British Army used to wear bright maroon-colored jackets which made them standout targets in battle. Then an Indian soldier suggested “Why don’t you wear khaki?” The British tried the suggestion and discovered that the casualty rate did go down because khaki blended with the landscape, making them no longer visible targets. The British adopted the suggestion for worldwide forces and the word joined the English language in 1837. I also learned that the word cashmere was named after the Indian State of Kashmir. Isn’t it wonderful how the Indian culture influenced ours this much?

                Well, I hope you’re loving your journey as much as I am! I miss you like crazy!

                Love,

                Érica.

                Dear Sara,

                Guess what I’m going to do the next two years! I’m going to travel all around the world! It’s sort of a gap year. I believe I need to take some time to myself, a break from the real world. Since next year I was supposed to go to college and, as you know, I’m a bit confused about what area to choose, I think these next years are going to work wonders for me and my future. I’m going to find myself and learn more about the world in order to discover what I really love to do! I’m really going to miss you but I will write you whenever I can, telling you where I’m at.

                With love, 

                Érica.

                Dear Érica,

                No way! I couldn´t believe it when I read your letter! I’m also going to take a year off from college. My bags are already at the front door and my mother has already given me a huge bag with all sorts of pills and lotions to protect me from mosquito bites.

I hope to meet you somewhere around the world, hopefully in some warm and sunny place. I’ll write you too, whenever I have news.

P.S.: I’m so excited!

               Love,

               Sara.