Friday, July 9, 2010

And i'm out...

This post was written 10 days before I left Malawi. I arrived stateside on June 29th, 2010.

"As I wrap up these next 10 days, I can't help but contemplate each moment when it happens. I think more deeply about how funny life can be at times, how in a year i'll be looking at the same moon but from a different perspective, how those that have brought me comfort and laughter will be thousands of miles away, and how I think too much about the moment and trying to appreciate it that i'm not actually in the moment and living it." Blog entry September 16, 2008

It has taken me sometime to figure out what I should say in this last email as a volunteer and still i'm not really sure how to capture this moment in words. I can't say that I'm exactly thrilled about leaving my friends...family...communitiy... Malawi...Africa... but I know that this next step, grad school, is the right step for allowing me to come back. I have 10 or so days left here and i'm trying my best to just be here. Physically i'm here, but mentally i'm all over the place. I'm thinking about the fact I have about 30 days in between the time I leave Malawi, arrive home and the time I need to move to DC. I'm thinking about finding a job, one that will allow me the flexibility of being back in Africa next summer for practical experience in my field and so I can spend time with my friends here. I realized that teaching will most likely be the route I take, although, being in front of students in a classroom everyday I have learned is not the right fit for me (I love education but i'm more of a planner/coordinator as opposed to a frontman).Either way, I need a job and well, trying to apply for jobs from here is not the easiest. As I have told my mother I will deal with all those America issues when i'm actually there.

I haven't emailed any updates in awhile and I apologize if you have been patiently waiting for one. I wanted to save all my juicy stories for one last email, and of course to keep you waiting to build up excitement for it. I figured I will take some time to share with you what I have been up to these past couple of months before sharing some other non-work related thoughts.

Kasitu CDSS
I spent term two at my school teaching. With the passing of the head it only made sense that I took English back over until we could figure out a feasible plan forward. I worked hand in hand with two of my fellow teachers who agreed to take on English after I left in coming up with lesson notes for the remainder of the school year. I caught my form four up on the literature they would need to know for their exams that begin in July. I reorganized the library so that its easier for students to navigate through the books and easier to keep it clean and orderly. I help orient our new madam who arrived at the beginning of May which included an overnight in my home with her and her one month son(which was interesting in itself at the beginning). The goodbyes were sad and a bit overwhelming. I love my community and felt like part of a larger family despite some of the issues that were present.

Site Development
I am the 3rd volunteer at my site and unless deemed necessary another volunteer will not be replacing me at the school. But i've enjoyed living in Kasitu and figured someone else would as well, so I assisted my health center in coming up with a job description and finding suitable housing for a volunteer. The volunteer will find no shortage of public health related things to do in my village and its right on the lake which is another advantage. Plus, my MA(medical assistant or doctor) and his wife the nurse are wonderful and have the cutest baby Faith. My HSAs(Health Surveillance Assistants) are dedicated to their work and I believe that all these folks will contribute to a great work environment for a volunteer. I pray that it works out because they worked hard in coming up with everything to accommodate a volunteer.

Sisters in Senga
Sisters in Senga was amazing! It was nice to see all the girls I have met at previous camps and to hear about what they are up to now. The girls loved being at the lake and it felt great being able to provide the girls with an experience they will always remember. The road getting there was a bit rough, but in the end it was all worth it. Thank you to you for your support(both emotionally and financially) the girls thank you too! It was a great way to cap off my Peace Corps experience and just reaffirmed the type of work I want to do. The morning as the girls were leaving my girl Charity came up to me with a huge smile and simply said "thanks i'll never forget what you have done for me", hearing that has helped confirm that I truly have made a difference...even if it was just for one person, because that one person makes all the work truly worth it. I broke down into tears but has to quickly get myself together to send the girls off. Truly, it was a magical, unforgettable, experience.


My thoughts...
During my time here, I have tried to do my best in keeping up communication with you all on my experience and my transformation. If you need a reminder you can always go to my blog and re-read what I have written. I'm speechless at the moment because i'm not sure where to start in sharing my thoughts. I'm in love. In more ways then one, with myself, with this country, with the people, with my work, and the list goes on. I thought this was just a passing feeling that came about because i'm living abroad but i'm pretty sure that being here, not necessarily Malawi, is the right fit for me. The sense of community and family that is present here is something that I have yet to experience elsewhere, even though i'm open to exploring other areas i'm pretty sure Africa just might be the place for me. There's something beautiful about life here despite some of the obstacles that can be found. My community and friends have been a great support for me and just as it was hard for me to say goodbye when leaving the states, its the same now. I'm well aware that no one will quite understand my experience here and probably won't care to hear much about it when i'm stateside and that's ok. I know I have changed, I know that things I may have found interesting before may not be so interesting now. I'm changed and i'm sure you will notice and if you don't like the changes that's okay, life goes on.


yes it does...i'm moving forward one step at a time.