International Travel Opened My Eyes to The Human In Us All

I always felt like the (literal) black sheep growing up. I lived in a predominately white neighborhood, and I was the only black kid in my entire school (at least until my younger siblings aged in). I always felt different and not completely included.

On top of being black, I was also a little weird too, with a sense of humor that wasn’t considered “cool” at the time. To be blunt, white people always made me feel like I was a different form of human. Not necessarily better or worse, but definitely not the same.

It wasn’t until I started traveling the world that it truly sunk in that everyone is just trying to live the best most fulfilling life that they can.

I went on my first international trip to South Africa when I was 22. We had a long layover in Munich Germany so we went to see the city. It was around Christmas time, and the streets were filled with people. There were rows of small huts lined with St. Nicholas ornaments, white-painted pine cones, candy canes, glass ornaments, and everything else needed for a festive holiday.

The smells of sweets and meats floated in the breeze and engulfed me. It was like walking into the North Pole… I’d never seen anything like it!