A Universal Love of Country Music:)?

On my way to the Dar Es Salaam airport last night I was being driven by a young college student, Evans, who was originally from Kenya and was now studying business in Dar. I was sitting there feeling an intense awkward silence between our somewhat disconnected questions like:

Me: So do you have a big Family?

Evans: I have 8 brothers and sisters.

Me: Really that is interesting…

Evans: Do you like Africa?

Me: Yes I love it here

Evans: Cool

Me: What do you study?

Evans: Business

Evans: Do you live in Nairobi

Me: No, I live in New York, have you been?

Evans: no, but I would like to go..

After a long series of back and forth like this, I was ready to give up because even the air conditioning could not stop me from sweating as the heat poured in the window of our car and drained my energy. So I asked Evans to turn on the radio and his face lit up… Do you like music he asked?

Me: Absolutely…

And so we talked and talked for the rest of the trip as we tapped our hands and feet to the rhythm of the radio. He told me how he loved regae and I told him of my secret (ok maybe not so secret) love for country music. Which Evans also loves because he can listen to it every Sunday morning from 7am – 12pm on the radio station while he is waking up. And we found this lovely connection, .

No, not a remarkable story but a story of a fun connection. And perhaps the universal appeal of country music…just wanted to share.