I’ve always heard about the famous "Africa blues" and I’ve always wondered how it could be possible for a trip to such a distant land to touch your heart so deeply. Even now, almost a month after our return, I still smell the scents and see the colors of this continent as if I had never left. It's a journey that overwhelms you, shakes you, and completely draws you in. You see stunning colors that are hard to forget, and even when you look at the photos again, you can feel the emotions you experienced when you took them and the moments you lived.

I don’t think I can sum up everything I’ve experienced in just a few lines, but I can say that living in this continent definitely changes the way you see life, at least in part. Of course, you can't expect to change the world by yourself or with a three-week trip, but you know you can give a new meaning to what you will do upon your return. African landscapes leave you with a feeling of peace and wonder at the same time. The vastness of the savannah is breathtaking, and even though the endless red dirt roads are uncomfortable to drive on, they are unforgettable.

On this journey, we met a nation made up of people with customs and traditions different from ours, with complicated habits and stories, and despite the color of our skin being different, we always felt at home. I believe this was the most beautiful feeling of this adventure: thousands of kilometers away from our homeland and loved ones, we never felt like strangers. It was like being embraced by a friend every day, even when the things we saw hurt us or seemed hard to understand, almost impossible.

This country, its people, and my travel companions have entered my heart and will never leave. Now I can say that I, too, have the "Africa blues."

Federica