I was marvelously blessed to travel to South Africa in September. I'm not sure what I expected, but it felt like going home.
I did not understand the languages (the nation has 11 official tongues!). I did not understand some of the British influenced idioms. But the smiles were universal.
We were greeted with heartwarming exuberance, hugs and....smiles.
A smile, I soon learned, would bridge any language barrier, smooth over any misunderstanding and welcome any stranger.
I wonder why we don't smile more often? Have we become so conditioned to defensive communication that we have forgotten how to be welcoming? Perhaps I will try to be more welcoming. Perhaps I will try to be more inviting.
Perhaps I will try to use an African smile...
I did not understand the languages (the nation has 11 official tongues!). I did not understand some of the British influenced idioms. But the smiles were universal.
We were greeted with heartwarming exuberance, hugs and....smiles.
A smile, I soon learned, would bridge any language barrier, smooth over any misunderstanding and welcome any stranger.
I wonder why we don't smile more often? Have we become so conditioned to defensive communication that we have forgotten how to be welcoming? Perhaps I will try to be more welcoming. Perhaps I will try to be more inviting.
Perhaps I will try to use an African smile...
