Going Home

For my last weekend in Kenya, I went up to Teso once more to see my host mom Immaculate (who has been taking a government management class for the last two weeks and so has not been home). I traveled with Sarah on Saturday morning. I couldn’t help but feel while on the piki ride from Busia that I was going home and it was such a great feeling. It loved pulling in and seeing Beatrice. Joy, Marian, and Betty (the two youngest daughters and a cousin) were also home for the weekend to see me and go to their neighbor’s funeral. I had a lot of fun getting to know them better and even taught them the soldier boy dance! I was able to go around and visit the neighboring homes to say hi to my friends from the first trip. I was welcomed with a soda and some biscuits at each home. Rebecca gave both Immaculate and I a watermelon. The amount of hospitality in Kenya never ceases to amaze me. Immaculate even said that if I ever come back and visit the homes of all of the women we greeted on the way to church, I would leave with more chickens than I could carry! At the end of a great weekend, I said final goodbyes to Immaculate and everyone in Teso. They sang a song, said a prayer, and thanked me profusely. I couldn’t help but tear up and tried to express my gratitude. While on the piki ride back to Busia, I realized that I now have so many new Kenyan homes, homes with people that I will miss more than I initially realized. I couldn’t help but think of the saying, “don’t cry because its over, smile because it happened.” For the moment at least, I decided I’d smile through the tears.

                My last week of work consisted of continuing to work on the sponsorship program and tying up the loose ends of all of my other projects. Well, that and trying to get as much playing in as possible with the kids. I decided to give the teachers, staff, and the sisters a good meal as a thank you gift. I went over shopping with Sr. Ven and got 6 chickens, 7 cakes, and about 60 drinks. On Tuesday, I had lunch with the teachers and gave the staff their food as well. They were very appreciative, so much so that Sarah heard people talking about “the bash the muzungu who works at Albertos threw the teachers” while getting her hair done at Amalemba the next day. Tuesday evening, I had a farewell dinner with the sisters. They sang a song of thanks, presented me with gifts, and Sr. Mary, Sr. Regina, and Sr. Caro all gave me a short speech of thanks. The extra large card was to represent how thankful they were. I was able to thank them as well, although I’m not sure I could fully express my gratitude, at least not without a huge card. They really have taken me into their community while I have been here and made Divine Providence another home. Hanging out with them is always a great time and I was glad we had my dinner when I still had a few more days.

                Thursday was a day of final goodbyes. After all-school mass in the morning, I went to each of the classrooms and gave every student a pencil and a piece of candy as a thank you gift. I was able to get class pictures as well. I know that what I will doubtlessly miss the most once back in the states will be the lack of kids around me. I have gotten used to always being able to stop whatever I’m doing and just go play.  By the end of a weekend away I’m ready to go back to see them, so I’m a little concerned how leaving will be. I gave hugs to all of the sisters. Sr. Mary said, “for now”, which I really appreciated. I walked through the fields where all of the kids and teachers were playing soccer in their end of term tournament. I had every child wanting to shake my hand to say goodbye so I was almost dragging a group of kids with me towards the gate. It made me smile. I managed to make it to the gate and gave Sr. Caro another hug without starting to cry. Back home I finished packing and had Sarah’s incredible pancakes one last time while waiting for Peter to come pick us up. Very late, but still all too soon, I was forced to say goodbye to the girl who has my companion and go-to girl in almost everything. I still don’t think I fully comprehend that I’m going home and leaving Kenya for good, well at least for now.

                All of the interns met up at Sheywe for dinner and one last night of dancing before our early morning flights. The goodbyes from there were spread out as we headed to Nairobi and spent a day mainly waiting in the horrible traffic and squeezing a few hours in at the National Museum. Each party broke off separately from there and we are now down to 5 as I sit here in Amsterdam.

                I have officially left Kenya. I have just lived abroad for 9 weeks. I have worked from 8-5 everyday like a real job. I have made and carried out projects. I have realized how little I need to be content in life (who needs a toilet?). I have done countless new things. I have met incredible people. I have built great friendships. I have grown as a person. I have faced and overcome challenges.  I have I have learned that despite differences, people are all fundamentally the same. I have learned to appreciate the smallest things in life. I have fallen in love with a new place and new people. I have found a home. I have left Kenya, but a part of my heart remains.