Kirsten DeHaan, the daughter of our founder, recently returned from visiting Christel House South Africa. After her experience, she was inspired to write the following:
Christel
House - the modern day 'Out Of Africa'. As seen in the original 1985 movie,
Meryl Streep plays the life of Karen Blixen, a Dane who is yearning for a new
way of life. She decides to marry and become a Baroness. Then to escape it all,
she and her husband purchase a plantation in Africa. The story continues with
Blixen adapting to her old and new life, by endlessly taking on all the duties
of running the plantation. As the movie progresses, you see Blixen's character
strengthen by planting seeds, engineering and constructing new ways of
production, and personally forts off lions, all in the name of protecting and
growing her plantation.
The
story continues in many directions, but perhaps the most impressive component
is Blixen's determination to protect and educate the native people of her
plantation. In her continual strive for betterment, Blixen has dialogues with
the tribal leader about teaching the native children how to read and write.
After many attempts, she was successful. Blixen then builds a school for the
children, and so begins the merging philosophies of tribal leader and
plantation owner. Christel DeHaan and Karen Blixen share many
commonalities. They both refuse to be stereotyped and forge their own destinies
while never giving up. Most importantly, they envision a future by planting
their own seeds in themselves and for others. As continually seen in the
film, Blixen believed in furthering humanity. DeHaan shares the same view,
fighting tirelessly as Blixen did against the status quo and for the right to
live, maintain and build for one's own future. To the modern day 'Out of
Africa,' shall this story to live on.
Labels: Christel DeHaan, South Africa
posted by Christel House Blog @
3:41 PM
