Guest Post by Nathalie Tekam, 2013 Emerging Leader from Cameroon
I left Cameroon yesterday, on my way to Mountain View for the TechWomen program, and I am taking my third flight after 15 hours of flights and six hours of transits. I am tired. This flight will not really be a pleasure, but “haut les coeurs”! I just entered the United States by Washington DC and only three more hours until I will finally meet the wonderful organizers of the TechWomen program and the awesome other Emerging Leaders.
I did not have enough time to get my book in my hand luggage without disturbing the people behind me, and as I have a window seat, I intend to spend my flight taking pictures for my family. I will try not to sleep. It seems it will be easier for me after if I don’t.
But I met Beverly, an American literature teacher in San Francisco. She is my neighbor on the airplane. We discussed about my country, Cameroon, the United States, our families, the TechWomen program, our jobs, the French language, etc. Did she see that I was already missing my family? Did she try to comfort me? I don’t know. But I know that she shared with me not only her peanuts and almonds. She kind of welcomed me in her country with an African tenderness.
As I am looking at the beautiful clouds below us, I think: as the sky is the same everywhere on earth, we are all together whatever our country. Love, kindness, and sharing are the same everywhere.
This is the first lesson I learned here. And I am grateful for that.
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