Ghana, Africa.

It’s striking how music and movies can reflect phases and emotions in our lives. Songs specifically are such beautiful pieces of art and it amazes me how well I can connect with every lyric of a certain song.

My summer so far has been eye opening and there is only one song that can simply reflect upon it: Khaabon Ke Parinday from the Hindi movie: Zindagi Milege Na Dobara. The Bollywood film is a coming-of-age story about three friends who decide to live every moment to the fullest and to appreciate the simplest pleasures in life. The film title literally translates to “ We Won’t Get Life Back Again.” As the years go by, my undergraduate education is winding down. I’ve experienced many ups and many downs and so far have just been bogged down by exams, college drama and the very notorious + draining pre-med curriculum. This is the first summer where I’ve just realized how important it is to just to “sieze the day” and indulge in experiences that will shape your character, influence your views and impact the rest of your life.

Here is the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cscdqZUdgCk&playnext=1&list=PL7BF46599033C201A

Hindi Lyrics to Khaabon Ke Parinday:

Roshni mili, ab raah mein hai ek dilkashi si barsi
Har khushi mili , ab zindagi pe hai zindagi si barsi
Ab jeena hum ne seekha hai, yaad hai kal, aaya tha wo pal
Jisme jaadoo aisa tha, hum ho gaye jaise naye
Woh kal jaane kaisa tha, kahe yeh dil ki jaa udhar hi tu
Jahan bhi leke jaaye aarzoo, oho, ab toh...
Jo bhi ho so ho..

English Translation:

(I) got light and a realization…
now such a opportunity has rained in my path,
got every happiness, now a life (liveliness) has rained upon life,
now I have learnt to live,
I remember yesterday, when that moment came,
which had such magic,
I became like-new,
how was that yesterday,
heart says go that way only
wherever your wish takes you,
now,whatever happens..

I’ve been absorbing every moment of this summer, every ray of sunshine, appreciating every laugh and finally after a whole year of waiting… I get to participate in an experience that will truly “teach me how to live.”

Accra and Tamale, Ghana. Summer 2011. The day has finally come. Today, I’m sitting in the Detroit airport as I write this entry. I will finally am leaving the U.S. to go to Africa. For the past year, I’ve been working with a non-profit organization: Unite for Sight. Unite for Sight, is a global eye organization that helps remove barriers to eye care locally and in third world countries abroad. So, after spending time with the Saint Louis University Unite for Sight Chapter, I decided that I just had to get involved directly and help eliminate blindness. I will be in Ghana for twenty days and in the next few days, I will not only blog about the beautiful country of Ghana, but also the work and research that I will be doing with the Crystal Eye Clinic in Accra and the Tamale Eye Teaching Hospital in the Northern Region of Ghana. I will also tell you more about the generous work that Unite for Sight does!

So, stayed tuned and just always remember: Carpe Diem – “Sieze the Day.”