Since returning to the states after almost two years on "The Dark Continent," I've felt attractive again. That is, attractive in the sense of no longer exuding the scent of toxic bug spray every night and sweating profusely from every pore, two disadvantages of living in malaria-riddled sub-Saharan Africa.
While living in Ghana my "essential beauty tool" I couldn't leave the house without was a handkerchief. Oh, yes, I had quite the mighty collection of sweat rags. Actually, I wouldn't even call my sweat rags a beauty tool - they were more like a basic work supply. I could survive a day at work without one, but I wouldn't have been in my element. My sweat rags granted me the ability to concentrate, while also helping Ghanaians to take me more seriously. Because nothing in one's physical appearance gives away "I'm not from West Africa and will always be an outsider" more than dripping in sweat over peeling burnt skin inflamed by mosquito bites.
Now that I am back home in the U.S., I cannot say I would readily revert back to constantly looking moist and feeling slippery. I do miss the exotic inconvenience of every bit of exposed skin being covered in red dust and dirt at the end of my days; yet, adapt as I tried, it still didn't fit my standards of "pretty" or even "comfortable."
I spent this recent New Year's Eve in my hometown, Omaha, Nebraska. It was the first big event I've been to since being back in America for two months. To my delight, besides hours of sweaty high-energy dancing, no outside interference converted my appearance. Not heat, rain, humidity, mosquitos or sickness. I took a laughable amount of time to get ready for the evening, but I enjoyed every minute.
I'm grateful for my year-and-a-half hiatus from hair products and tools, heels, perfume, make-up, fancy dresses and other beauty enhancers. Although I have a limitless tolerance for discomfort; for instance, squatting on a ledge to urinate into a hole in the ground in a doorless, ceilingless public urinal under the scorching sun, I realized I'm still a girly girl in the end. I guess some things never change – every once in a while it's fun to try (really hard) to look extra pretty. Oh, so pretty.
Happy 2012!
