Imprints of Africa

As you can see from the picture below, the equatorial sun has imprinted sandal straps onto my feet. Also visible in the photo are new toenails on both big toes. The right toenail finally dropped off in Mid-March, three months after leaving Kilimanjaro. Asians in Africa have left their imprint on my palm. At a Sikh Indian wedding luncheon last Friday, Priti, a 21-year-old architecture student who works part-time in her father's business, drew this henna pattern on my hand. Africa has a way of seeping into a person and leaving its mark.

The marks are not always so visible.