The Story Behind the Title

After college my best friend, Liz, and I travelled to Kenya. We lived in a small rural town called Meru (pictured on the right).

When we first arrived we were welcomed with smiles and open arms. We quickly learned that pronouncing Liz's name was a difficult task and she was soon called Wiz by the locals. I was loving this, the first time in my life an entire community could actually pronounce my name and a seemingly common name like, Liz was difficult. As we began travelling into the very rural areas of the country where no one spoke English, it became clear that Shira was not in fact a unique name and several people we came across presented themselves as Shira.

I figured it was not that my popularity had spread, but it was wishful thinking. It was soon there after that I was informed my name in the local dialect meant, Born on the Side of the Road.

Thus, I begin my new journey in South Africa with the amazing, heart warming, and life changing experiences that I left with in Kenya, knowing that this journey will also bring wonderful memories that will last a life time.