Thinking about arriving home fills me with such joy! Sometimes the excitement is almost unbearable—thoughts of seeing many of you, real conversations, being an inconspicuous presence in public places, drinking milk, baking, regular internet access, and the Christmas season are just a few of the things that are already making smile!
But coming home also means that I have to leave a lot behind—new friendships, a relaxed and mostly stress-free schedule, cheap and delicious fruit, warmth that lets me wear shorts and sandals, beautiful landscape and vegetation, the Xhosa culture. South Africa is a wonderful place to live. Leaving is also hard when I’m just starting to understand some of the problems here and see all of the work that needs to be done. I’m finally getting a small grasp on the language, and people in Itipini are much friendlier towards me and some even know my name now! In my experience, two essential components of mission work have become clear: relationships and consistency. Relationships of trust must to be built, and it needs to be clear that there is an interest in 2-way learning and not an imposition of opinions. Consistency is important because change can only happen in small stages over the long term, and individuals need to have an invested interest to support locals in their efforts until a level of sustainability is reached. My leaving after only 3 months goes against my belief of effective mission work—my relationships have just barely gotten off the ground, and I’m breaking consistency in abandoning the opportunity to support local projects. So in this sense, I’m not ready to leave because I’m leaving behind a lot of unfinished work. That said, I realize that no matter how long someone stays, there is more work to be done. And thankfully, there are individuals committed to their work who remain in Mthatha beyond my stay who I greatly admire and will continue to make a difference in my absence.
On a lighter note, I’ve compiled a list of things that you can do for me to make me feel more at home and remind me of South Africa in my adjustment back to Canada:
- stare at me
- play with my hair and pet my arms
- ask me for money
- get strangers to propose to me on the street
- break all the rules of the road, and be sure to honk a lot
- release stray animals in the streets, particularly dogs, pigs, goats, sheep and cows.
- shut off the water for at least a day every couple of weeks
- carry things on your head
- if I’m driving, ask me for a ride
- establish an ant colony in my kitchen
- have me bandage any cuts or scrapes you have
- speak in a language I can’t understand, and throw in a couple of clicks every so often for a good measure
Again, I can’t wait to be home! Leaving South Africa is hard, but I’m confident that it will be worth it!
5 comments:
You have had such an amazing experience; it will be hard to leave. Such mixed feelings. Well, blessings to you as you prepare to go home. Once we get back to Canada, I'll do my best to help you feel back in South Africa by asking you for money! It's the least we can do!
Claire! I'm so excited for you to be home. You can be sure I will do my best to ask you for a ride, ask for money and get you to bandage all my scrapes. After all what are roomates for? You may also be able to convince me to release random animals in the street but I would prefer that no one would turn off our water!
And Here I had this great plan to turn off your water to welcome you home. I can't wait to here about all your adventures in person (I have been reading this as well, and I'm always excited when you update). Tell Emily to deal with not having any water - besides, if she needs water, she can get snow from outside to melt.
I can't believe you're coming home so soon!!! Too bad I'm not there anymore. But, I'll just have to wait a few extra weeks and then you'll be here!
I'll do my best to speak to you only in Spanish, Claire ;) Wow, home so soon - and what a good place to be in (mentally, that is). Wanting home, yet also wanting to stay. I'M convinced that´s a good place to be, even if it might feel awkward. (But that's me - the never-satisfied po-mo). I am very curious as to what your re-entry will be like.
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