Travel Possibility

With dreams, anything is possible.  That is what the accomplishments of the South African runner, Caster Semenya has shown, not only the people of her village, but those around the world.  She grew up, not surrounded by the boutique hotels South Africa has to offer, in fact her house did not even have indoor plumbing or electricity.  She has inspired all those around her by showing what one is able to achieve just simply because they desire it and they work hard for it.

People all around the world, use their environments as excuses sometimes, be it poverty or bad neighborhoods.  In South Africa, some of the youth tend to fall back on their reasons for failure being the effects of apartheid and racism, colonialism and the white population.  These are valid obstacles to overcome, however, Semenya comes from one of the most poverty stricken, corrupt regions of South Africa.  She would run each day on the dirt roads of her town, sometimes without having eaten any food.  She worked hard, she was resilient, and filled with determination and focus.  And the people of her country are noticing just how much she accomplished.

She is teaching people that what one accomplishes in life, is a direct consequence of their inner dreams, thoughts and desires.  She is one woman who is the physical embodiment of the saying, that it does not matter where one comes from, it only matters where one is going.  This is a philosophy that has been written about in the bible, and is part of the teaches of Buddha.  She is inspiring the youth of her country with this ethic.  What is past is past, an ambition or a thought is not wasted if one takes a hold of it.  What is necessary is for all the children of South Africa to have access to opportunities, have access to those who like Semenya, continue to inspire and to lift up the spirits of those who need it.

“OK, I know the way to San Jose,” I sang to Angela as I had just returned from the Ibiza car rentals office and had a map, high lighted, marked and ready to go. “Here ya go,” I said as I handed her the map. Her map reading skills were not the greatest (we once got lost driving from Sydney to Melbourne with her at the navigator spot, and we might have wound up in Perth) but I needed her to look out as I drove the unfamiliar roads of Ibiza and to see a a few sights. We had met a lovely British couple who told us to go to San Jose to get away from the glitz of the Ibiza scene and check out its beautiful church and nice restaurants and, even, shopping, which made Angela’s eyes light up. they said to be sure to sip something cool at Es Raco Verd on their terrace and while away the evening listening to music. These Brits were born sales people, they painted such a nice picture of San Jose we wanted to go right then. They waxed poetic about the tapas, the rustic cobblestone streets, and something called sofrit pages a kind of stewed melange of chorizo, various meats, potatoes, a real hit with these two Londoners, and they said it was nice sitting in the shadow  of an old church that dominates the town’s central square, in a kind off homey rustic sophistication, or so they said. As for us, getting into our car and pulling out to get to San Jose, we were just about salivating thinking about the great village that sits Shangri La like in our minds. However, despite the directions and the map, we still got lost and would up back at the room with a bottle and take out flat bread pizza. There’s always manana to try again.