This past year has been a year
of many exciting firsts, both good and challenging. One positive first, was taking
a mini-vacation solo. I recently
ventured down the eastern coast to the lovely city of Charleston, SC. Traveling
has the amazing ability to broaden your mind, open you to new cultures and completely
transform you. I spent three days immersing myself in the rich, albeit,
difficult at times, history of Charleston; from the battle worn brick walls of
Fort Sumter to the slave trade market and cobbled stoned streets of the city. My
soul was moved, at times my heart broken, for the right reasons, and my desire
to travel more intensely amplified. I came away fortified with a deeper knowledge
of our nation’s history and a renewed respect and admiration for our fore
sisters and brothers. You can’t walk through the entrance arch of Fort Sumter and not feel a pang in your heart. The average age of the men at Fort Sumter was 25, and as young as 18. They were sons, brothers, fathers, and husbands, enlisted as soldiers, armed with artillery and patriotic zeal, embarking on a war that would be brutally won by the North. It was humbling to stand at the Fort’s center and know that this was the birthplace of the Civil War and that Abraham Lincoln once walked these very grounds.
I also took what is known as the Gullah Tour. Gullah is the language the slaves spoke, and is still used among several Charleston communities. Our tour guide, Alphonso, was a lively character as he shared his incredible knowledge of Charleston as well as its role in the slave trade. You could feel the history of the city come alive as he spoke. There was deep emotion felt by all when we came upon what was known as the “slave markets” and “whipping house”. There were tears from some and a collective quiet respect and reverence as we feebly attempted to understand the atrocities that took place on those grounds. It made us uncomfortable in a way we needed to be, and you would be void of a soul if you didn’t leave changed for the better.
I returned from Charleston schooled with its rich history and a love for the Charleston people, both past and present. I also felt a twinge of pride in having embarked on this journey alone. There were many moments I would have liked to have shared with a friend or special someone; however, the solitude gave me the freedom to prove that I could successfully travel solo. It afforded me time for much needed reflection as well as discover more about myself and undiscovered interests and aspirations… One of which is to certainly travel more.
Now, where to next?
