Goodbye

Today I officially lose my status as a Peace Corps Volunteer. In just a few hours I will be flying back to the states after not being home for two years. I have very mixed feelings about what to expect and how I feel about leaving. I'm expecting a lot of culture shock. This experience has been the most incredible of my life, and I will never be able to accurately put in words all that has happened to me here. I can't believe it's over, and I'm interested to see where my life will go from here. When I reach the states I will hopefully find a job, preferably in teaching, and go from there. Until then I expect to be a bit of a lost soul.

Thank you so much for all the interest and support in my projects here over the last two years. I feel that some of biggest accomplishments were a result of the help of the people in my life. Thanks also for the interest and for those who have been following my journey. Writing on this blog and getting feedback has definitely allowed me to examine my experience more fully and take more lessons from it.

Thanks again!!

Saying Goodbye to the Village

Saying goodbye to teachers at Matshwi Primary School.
Guess whose?
Saying goodbye to my new host family: Andrew, Salphina, Thapelo, Kholo, and Charmaine
Kholo
Charmaine with her new scarf that I knitted her

Saying goodbye to Delly....it took us a while to stop crying after this picture.
Saying goodbye to Khutso.
Traditional dress #1
Traditional dancing at my farewell function.
Me in traditional dress #2 saying goodbye to one of my teachers: Modjadji

The Playground

Climbing

Playground
Preschool children climbing

Preschool teacher swinging
Me and Shebo

Painting the tires
Installing the equipment
Parents helping install equipment
Painting equipment
Breaking the ground for the equipment

Finally, after a multitude of obstacles to overcome, I completed my last project as a Peace Corps Volunteer: a playground. I was so happy with the results and feel that it is the best project I did during my service. It had so many side effects that I simply wasn't expecting. For one example of many, I have never seen so much parental involvement and interest in the school. My parents kept thanking me for allowing their children to finally be "treated like white children." On my last day at site the kids were allowed to play on the equipment for the first time. Their reactions were classic and wonderful. It's amazing to see them so blissfully happy. Thank you so much for all the support I received regarding this project.

Pictures from trip with Mom and Aunt Joni

Lighthouse at Cape Point
Monkey and I at Kruger National Park.
Mom and I at Table Mountain.
Mom and monkey at Kruger National Park.
My new host family. The parents are in their traditional wedding outfits.

Me at Cape Point
Mom and I at the Cycad nature reserve.
Joni and I at the Cycad Nature Reserve.

Joni and Mom at Kruger National Park.

Me with my youngest host brother.
Mom at the beach.
My two Moms.


Cape Buffalo