I arrived with a group of 38 Americans on a rainy cloudly
day, road a bus with the entire group all the way to the training facility
looking out through fogged windows hardly being able to make out the new
country I would be living in for what turned out to be exactly 2 years & 2
months. We all come together but in the
end we all leaving on our own. The
journey in between was where we became
new friends and worked together. But the
PC always and I mean ALWAYS had an end And today was that day for me.
So I started typing this on the plane from Swaziland to Joberg
but finished it on the way to London but in the same day.
On the way out today know totally knowing exactly where I
was and where I was going but on the same highway as that bus ride, I took a
taxi to the airport by myself with less baggage (both literally and also
mentally) then I came with. It was a
beautiful bright clear and hot day . In most likely the exact same plane since
Swaziland basically has the same plane that just flies back and forth to Joberg
8 times a day, I left. Before I left I
SMS (texting) good byes to the people left in country that meant the most to me
during my service. With names like
Dennis, Liz, Sabelo, Sherlie, Titi, Brian, Jenn, Joseph, Mike & Gail and the Movie Theater Manager Sanele.
As I leave it leaves only 7 Group 8 PCV’s remaining
official, there is one former Group 8 member who is living in Swaziland for the
foreseeable future. Who is not part of
those 7. My good friend Liz leaves in September
and will the leave the 6 remaining for the next year Group 8ers. It is now the responsibility of Group 9 to
lead the Group 10 PCV’s and the constant rotation of Peace Corps just keeps
continuing.
I know I made my mark both with people especially Dennis,
Titi & Sabelo & with the Social
Centers I helped improve. I feel as if
throughout my entire service God was controlling the timing, I worked hard, I
did the best I could but there were so many times when just amazing timing
happen that was so out of my control that it just had to be God. I am blessed and as I now type this on the
tiny 50 person plane, I look down at a tiny country trying to figure out how to
transition to the modern world and yet keep their heritage. This I am sure is a world wide issue. And an
even more important reason for the Peace Corps and us Americans to keep
bringing with us our technology and knowledge and spreading it to parts of the
world that need it. If countries don’t
actively try to keep up, even if they are hopelessly behind, the world will
move on and stop supporting these
countries.
Swaziland is trying.
They have the struggle of being run by a absolute monarchy. Until that is solved its will be interesting
to follow the news of the country, if it can be found in America.
And now after landing in Joberg and hiring a tour guide to
drive me around and to the Apartide Museum,
which is fantastic and is one of those places that proves that humans want to
be able to make their own decisions. It
doesn’t matter the color or sex or sexual orientation. Freedom & the rights of the people are what every
group of people strives for. One of
these days Swazi’s will find their voice make the serious stand that Mandela
lead against the white rulers. I was so
glad I made the trip to see the museum. I feel now like I have really seen a
lot of South Africa from Cape Town to Durbin to Joburg to Kruger. The only part I missed is the far north area
where the Kalahari Desert is located.
People asked when I would return, I seriously doubt anytime soon but I
would come back to see that desert.
So I am now typing this on the plane to London with a stop
over in Dubai, a country I never been to and hope I can come back visit. But the real designation is London.
A city I have only been in the airport. So more stories to come.
Time in airplane: 45min Swaziland to Joberg, 8 Joberg to
Dubai, 7 Dubai to London
Time in Airport: 3 hours Swaziland, 4 ½ Joberg.
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