I bless the rains down in Africa,
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had”
Not long after arriving in the U.S., we booked our first big concert: Journey. An 80s kid’s dream. We were super excited, nostalgic and all those things. The best part…the opening act was Toto.
When they played “Africa,” something cracked open. My heart truly belongs to Africa. Surrounded by thousands of Americans singing along to a song that, for me, carried a lifetime of meaning.
Since then, we’ve made concerts part of our adventure. Depeche Mode. Live. Simple Minds. Shania Twain. We plan the next show over dinner with friends who’ve also become our family here- fellow music lovers, fellow immigrants, fellow memory-makers.
We missed Def Leppard recently due to sad circumstances, but I’ve promised myself I’ll make that one happen… and if it doesn’t, my fellow music loving friends have promised a Def Leppard, wine and dancing on the tables evening!
Life in the USA is a conundrum in many ways. There’s a constant tug on your heart for the people, places, and little things you miss. I don’t believe that feeling ever truly goes away. But if you’re willing to open yourself up, to lean into the new and unfamiliar, this place offers more than just a fresh start, it offers unforgettable moments.
There’s magic in saying yes to things you’ve never done before. In standing under a sky filled with music. In hearing a familiar song in a foreign land and feeling it settle deep in your soul. You don’t stop missing home… but you do start building something beautiful in the in-between.
