What comes to mind when you think of “Africa”?Maybe a beautiful savanna extending out into an unending horizon.
Or a colorless world of death in the heat of the desert.
Or an almost sacred jungle clustered with trees, not allowing for any intervention from humankind.

Maybe what comes to mind is something more realistic.Like people heavily wounded from long unending wars and conflicts.
Or people so skinny from the on-going poverty.
Or the wailing and screaming of children suffering from starvation.

All of these things are most definitely a true reality of the African continent.
However, that’ s not everything.

As the name suggests, the Central African Republic locates itself in the Centre of Africa.
Surrounded by six neighboring countries and no ocean, the ever abundant greenery and bright red earth is supported by two large rivers, making the land flourish with color.

The life and vitality of this land almost makes one forget there is an on-going war.
That was my first impression of the Central African Republic as someone who has reported on other African countries over many years,Taking two full days to fly from Japan to report in this country, I was immediately sucked in to the fascination of this land.

My initial purpose of reporting this country in the midst of war was to report on the people and country hurt from this civil war.
The actual situation was horrific beyond imagination, but what really captivated my heart were the people striving to live each day with vigour despite of everything around them.
Those with a sorrowful past were smiling with hope for a better tomorrow.
Small children, while occasionally quarreling with their siblings, were working happily together to help out with chores.

After spending much time with these people in this land, the brightly shining sun, the hot air stroking your cheeks, the cool shade made by the trees, the roaring flow of the river, all started to seem to have meaning.
It made me ashamed for initially wanting to focus just on reporting the dark conditions of this country.

Even in the midst of a civil war, the Central African Republic has smiles and its beautiful moments.No matter how far of land it may be, no matter how difficult it may be to understand their reason for war, they too have an everyday just as we do.

We may have our variances in language, culture, and everyday scenery, but look beyond that and you can see the enriched people of this country, living everyday just as we do.