Hi, My name is Malika and I want to personally welcome you to my new blog on travel and remote work.
I am starting this blog because I haven’t seen many voices depicting what it is really like to travel and live abroad as a black woman with children. This blog will address the whys and hows of traveling with children and working remotely as a black woman……and enjoying every moment!
The first trip I took abroad was in 1987 to Russia and Germany, specifically Moscow and Leningrad and East and West Berlin. It was before Perestroika and an extremely unique experience. I had a blast, a truly amazing time.
I am so glad my father did not listen to the many people who told him not to send his young black daughters to the Soviet Union, for fear of racism, because this trip changed the trajectory of my life.
Since that Day I have been to the submerged continent of New Zealand, 4 continents, 50+ countries and counting and I do not plan on stopping.
At present I live in Sardinia with my son and daughter. We have been living in Sardinia (Sardegna as it’s spelled by the locals) for 5 years. Located south of Corsica and west of Sicily, it is the second largest island in the Mediterranean.
i have wanderlust and i have it bad
A few months ago, I came across a question on tripadvisor.com asking “Why Sardinia is racist towards black people” and I thought …oh no, this just is not true. No more than any other place, that is. And certainly not enough to dissuade people of color to visit. This place is beautiful! Its filled with history, culture, beaches, mountains, farms and superb food!
Upon reading this, I realized that we needed a blog talking about the beauty, joy, and opportunities of traveling as a person of color. I feel a need to provide a different perspective, by sharing my stories and offering my insights. This blog aims to inspire you to question, discover and grow.
Let’s face it racism exist. Race-related violence, discriminatory police profiling, and discrimination in the search for jobs and housing are commonplace. It is both shameful and infuriating that racism based on the color of a person’s skin remains a pervasive epidemic throughout the world.
However it should not keep us dark skinned, melanin rich, folk from experiencing the delightful pleasures that this world has to offer. We need more mothers and woman of color taking the leap to expose ourselves and children to the wonders of the world. And my experience in Sardinia has been wondrous. Especially after I calmed my American expectations and ideologies.
I do not want to generalize and say that all Sardinians are a typical way. I am simply voicing my opinion based on my experiences.
Sardinians tend to be wary of strangers and like to mind their own business. They are traditionally reserved. Centuries of unwelcome guests may have contributed to this.
Sardinian people are known for their proud and mistrustful nature. and share a common trait in their love for their land. They adore their sea, their mountains, their countryside and their traditions. They are also known for their hospitality: guests are sacred and treated with great warmth and respect. The kindness of people, especially in most villages and towns, is heart warming. If somehow a Sardinian does get to know you, and like you, you become someone they look out for.
https://www.afar.com/magazine/new-home-new-hope-how-a-wave-of-refugees-is-reshaping-sardinia
One of my first glances into the complexities of this came after I had been living in Sardinia for just over/under a year …
On the day, I learned of my grandmothers passing, my neighbor Mariella came over with vegetables from her farm. I wasn’t much up for guests, especially ones that I did not know well. I didn’t really want a disjointed fluffy conversation spoken in someone else’s language (at the time, neither of us spoke the others language). I just wanted to be left alone, but she did not leave. She sat with me for almost 4 hours. In the end I found her presence comforting. I was able to share stories about my life and the wonderful person who helped shape me. And I made what was to be one of my first friends.
Signor Salvatore and Mariella on their cherry farm. 
oh my sweet goodness!
Yes, Sardinians can be suspicious of strangers. Yes, they do stare a bit more than we Americans are used to. And yes, they touch my hair a bit more than I am culturally comfortable with but I have come to understand this as a sign of curiosity and admiration.
Like the time I signed up for swim classes in a neighboring village. Upon finishing my class, I went to the showers to clean up. The showers at this particular pool do not have doors or curtains and I must admit i was a bit frazzled when I became aware of this particularity. I am quite a bit more reserved about my body now than I was when I was in my twenties. But I had already paid cash for three months of classes, not to mention, what felt like 2 hours, to navigate the registration due to my then, extremely limited Italian.
So I did what anybody in my situation would do and went with the crowd and followed their lead. I picked a petite signora, 70ish in age, who had been swimming in the lane with me, to slyly watch and follow. I choose my stall, turned my back, turned on the water and began to disrobe as the signora had done. I released my 4c curls from the swim cap and proceed to rinse the chlorine from my hair. At the moment I turn around to rinse the back of my hair, I noticed that the signora that I had been watching had been watching me also. She was standing 1in. from me, with her hands raised to touch my hair, her head looking up because of her 4 foot stature and her eyes at breast height. She was so close I could have breastfed her. I was horrified. Stunned I quickly grabbed my towel and slowly backed away. She merely shrugged and said, “Posso toccarti i capelli? Sono bellissimi.” I responded, “Certo, ma prima posso indossare qualche mutanda?” (May I touch your hair? It is beautiful? Sure, but may I put on some underwear first?)
Needless to say, the next time I returned with two suction cups and a shower curtain.
The Sardinians have a word straniere meaning foreigner or alien. I am a strangier. I am also a community member, neighbor, friend, advocate of and absolute lover of this beautiful island and its people
“Life is short, and it’s up to you to make it sweet.” -Sadie Delany
I would like to say THANK YOU for being here. Please leave a comment below the article if you enjoyed the post or have any questions for me.
