The Stories of Ishi & Zumana
Ishi stepped out of the wild in California in the early 1900's. He was the last surviving member of his Yahi tribe, which was hunted and killed one-by-one by the white settlers. When he walked into a village, he was naked. He was hurriedly given a suit, which totally clothed his body. He wore it with comfort, except for the shoes, which he carried in his hands so that he could feel the earth through his feet.
On another occasion, a formal dinner party was given in Ishi's honor. He again was very comfortable as he sat at the head table, formally dressed, eating with utensils that he had never known before. Afterwards, Ishi and his hosts went to the train station in order to travel to another city. As the train approached, Ishi hid behind a big pillar. When asked why he was hiding, Ishi explained that all his life, he considered trains to be great serpents that ate people, because of the way that they snaked-up the valleys belching smoke. The host explained how the trains were intended to be used. Ishi then calmly boarded the train. Astounded, the host then asked how it was that Ishi could so comfortably board the train after believing for so long that it was a serpent. Ishi replied "Well, my life has taught me to be more curious than afraid."
Zumana Traore, AKA Stephen, was born a white male, and grew up and worked all his life in Upstate New York, USA. He enjoyed spending much time on his grandparents country land planting Christmas trees and walking with his grandfather. He enjoyed many privileges of health, education, and leisure. He got married and instantly had 3 incredible step-children, soon followed by a wondrous daughter. All too soon, Zumana's wife died. Using his 3 university degrees, Zumana gained increasing work experience and expertise in several companies, culminating at an international computer company.
Over the last few years, Zumana became more aware of the challenges and problems that the world was confronting. Famine, disease, malnutrition, poor education, extreme poverty, and a host of other issues. He wondered what he might do to help, particularly because he was more and more aware of how lucky he was to have grown up in the US. Zumana searched, and asked questions. Then, he discovered that the Peace Corps was searching for people with his skills to work in many places around the world. Zumana applied to the Peace Corps, and was accepted to a 2 years position in Mali, West Africa. In his mid-fifties now, Zumana sold his house and his car, gave away many of possessions, put the remainder of his possessions in a 10X10 storage room, and prepared for a long trip. He felt like he did the first day of kindergarten, going off into a big unknown. He boarded a big school bus with wings.
Zumana stepped out of the big school bus into a different world. Although he was not physically naked, Zumana felt very exposed and overwhelmed. The sights, smells, odors, sounds, food, housing exceeded anything that he had experienced in his relatively sheltered life. He cried. He lost weight. He thought perhaps, “I cannot do this. Perhaps I should return to the life that I know.” But he persisted. He learned how to eat new food, in new ways, in new environments. Zumana adapted to a new environment more slowly than Ishi did.
Now, Zumana is relatively comfortable living and working in Mali. His day to day life is captured with pictures HERE. He wakes-up, meditates, exercises, does laundry, eats, then goes to work. He helps the poor gain access to money for new businesses and family needs. He supports a small businesses man starting new enterprise. He also supports the local radio station, high school, church, and group of people with handicaps. Zumana shares meals with new friends, and actually enjoys making new friends and learning about an amazing new environment. He feels that he might be making some small contributions, and continues to search for optimal ways to use his skills in the world. A year has gone by at one in the same time incredibly fast, and excruciatingly slow.
Zumana gives thanks to all of his family and friends for their tremendous support.
Thank you.