Being Aisha!

[wonderer]

Sometime ago I was attending a workshop with participants from different African countries.
One of the things I truly hate about workshops are the repeated introductions : almost each new speaker, facilitator or instructor that comes for a session , asks participants to introduce themselves. Then another speaker comes along and starts asking for another round of introductions and “ice breaking” not realizing that the “ice” has been broken, heated, boiled and then vaporized already.
One time at the fourth round of introductions I was so tired of it that when it was my turn I actually said “my name is STILL wonderer and it will be really strange if what I do and where I am from had changed during the last hour since the last introduction.”
Anyway, that morning was the first day of the workshop and it was also the first session, so repeated introduction requests were not a problem yet.
Participants were asked to introduce themselves and then add motivational statement they like to share. One of the participants was a lady from Sudan, she was wearing a colorful dress and a wide smile. ”Aisha” was her name, she explained that in Arabic it literally means (alive), and instead of sharing a motivational quote or statement, she decided to sing a part of a popular song in Sudan. I have to admit my thoughts then were: how does anyone manage be so optimistic and enthusiastic very early in the morning?! I am not a morning person myself, my optimism wakes up about 4 hours after I do, and my enthusiasms takes 3 hours more to be awake.
So you can imagine how bad I felt about my grumpy morning thoughts when hours later Aisha was re-introduced as one of the few Sudanese PLWHIV/AIDS activists . She started sharing her experience after she found out she was HIV+, how most of her family and friends turned their backs to her and cut her off completely when she went public with her condition and how she started advocating for the rights of PLWHIV/AIDS , the stigma associated to it, how her children get taunted in school and even how she had to evacuate her house a number of times when neighbours made it clear they don’t want her around, etc. etc. While she was talking about all of this, and for the rest of the workshop, she kept her bright smile and was always radiating positive energy around her.

I was thinking that almost anyone can be in Aisha’s situation, all it takes is one unlucky exposure to HIV. Or to put it in a more general perspective any life –shattering event can take only seconds to happen. But not everyone can behave this way. I have never seen any person who lives up to her name as she does

She reminded me that being alive is a gift in itself , that having a positive attitude and wanting to make a difference is not a reaction, and that happiness is a decision one has to take every morning.


I sometimes think about her and wonder how bad to be “Aisha”, and I find myself thinking that if I am faced with any unexpected hardship, when those I think will be supportive are the ones who let me down , I hope then I would be able to muster enough courage to be truly “Aisha”.

[emj]

Aisha keeping hope alive

[shinycoin]

Originally Posted by wonderer

Sometime ago I was attending a workshop with participants from different African countries.
One of the things I truly hate about workshops are the repeated introductions : almost each new speaker, facilitator or instructor that comes for a session , asks participants to introduce themselves. Then another speaker comes along and starts asking for another round of introductions and “ice breaking” not realizing that the “ice” has been broken, heated, boiled and then vaporized already.
One time at the fourth round of introductions I was so tired of it that when it was my turn I actually said “my name is STILL wonderer and it will be really strange if what I do and where I am from had changed during the last hour since the last introduction.”
Anyway, that morning was the first day of the workshop and it was also the first session, so repeated introduction requests were not a problem yet.
Participants were asked to introduce themselves and then add motivational statement they like to share. One of the participants was a lady from Sudan, she was wearing a colorful dress and a wide smile. ”Aisha” was her name, she explained that in Arabic it literally means (alive), and instead of sharing a motivational quote or statement, she decided to sing a part of a popular song in Sudan. I have to admit my thoughts then were: how does anyone manage be so optimistic and enthusiastic very early in the morning?! I am not a morning person myself, my optimism wakes up about 4 hours after I do, and my enthusiasms takes 3 hours more to be awake.
So you can imagine how bad I felt about my grumpy morning thoughts when hours later Aisha was re-introduced as one of the few Sudanese PLWHIV/AIDS activists . She started sharing her experience after she found out she was HIV+, how most of her family and friends turned their backs to her and cut her off completely when she went public with her condition and how she started advocating for the rights of PLWHIV/AIDS , the stigma associated to it, how her children get taunted in school and even how she had to evacuate her house a number of times when neighbours made it clear they don’t want her around, etc. etc. While she was talking about all of this, and for the rest of the workshop, she kept her bright smile and was always radiating positive energy around her.

I was thinking that almost anyone can be in Aisha’s situation, all it takes is one unlucky exposure to HIV. Or to put it in a more general perspective any life –shattering event can take only seconds to happen. But not everyone can behave this way. I have never seen any person who lives up to her name as she does

She reminded me that being alive is a gift in itself , that having a positive attitude and wanting to make a difference is not a reaction, and that happiness is a decision one has to take every morning.


I sometimes think about her and wonder how bad to be “Aisha”, and I find myself thinking that if I am faced with any unexpected hardship, when those I think will be supportive are the ones who let me down , I hope then I would be able to muster enough courage to be truly “Aisha”.

thanks for sharing... you should write more often.

of course one may not be able to influence what happens to them, but we sure can influence/determine how we react to it.

A good write up.

[wonderer]

I remembered this today and found both the lyrics and translation online



Lyrics:
Comme si je n'existais pas,
elle est passée à côté de moi
Sans un regard, reine de Saba,
j'ai dit, Aïcha, prends, tout est pour toi

Voici, les perles, les bijoux,
aussi l'or autour de ton cou
Les fruits, biens mûrs au goût de miel,
ma vie, Aicha si tu m'aimes!

J'irai où ton souffle nous mène,
dans les pays d'ivoire et d’ébène
J'effacerais tes larmes, tes peines,
rien n'est trop beau pour une si belle

Aïcha, Aïcha écoute-moi,
Aïcha, Aïcha t'en vas pas,
Aïcha, Aïcha regarde moi,
Aïcha, Aïcha reponds-moi

Je dirais le mots des poèmes,
je jouerais les musiques du ciel,
je prendrais les rayons du soleil,
pour élairer tes yeux de reine

Oooh! Aïcha, Aïcha écoute-moi,
Aïcha, Aïcha t'en vas pas

Elle a dit: "Garde tes trésors,
moi, je vaux mieux que tout ça.
Des barreaux sont des barreaux même en or
Je veux les mêmes droits que toi
Et du respect pour chaque jour,
moi je ne veux que l'amour"


English Translation:
As if I didn't exist
She passed by me
Without one look at me , queen of Saba
I said Aïcha , take , everything is for you
Here are pearls , jewels ,
Also gold around your neck
Ripe fruits with the taste of honey ,
My life , Aïcha if you love me ..

I will go where your breath will take us
To the countries of ivory & ebony
I will erase your tears & your pains
Nothing is too beautiful for such a beautiful one

Aïcha , Aïcha , listen to me
Aïcha , Aïcha , don't walk away
Aïcha , Aïcha , look at me
Aïcha , Aïcha , answer to me

I will recite the words , the poems
I will play the songs of Heaven
I will take the sunbeams
To light up your dream eyes

Aïcha , Aïcha , listen to me
Aïcha , Aïcha , don't walk away
Aïcha , Aïcha , look at me
Aïcha , Aïcha , answer to me

She said me ' Keep your treasures
I'm worth more than all that
Bars are still bars , even if made of gold
I want the same rights as you
Respect everyday
All I want is love '