Leaving Site...

...was very hard to do. On Friday, July 11th, my office threw me a going away lunch to reflect on our short but full time with one another. There were plenty of laughs and a few tears fell as memories were shared, friendships were solidified, and it was understood by all that "the world is round. Just as we met at one point, we will meet again". I kept that bit of wisdom with me as I began the lengthy process of "closing my service": saying goodbye to friends (therapists, co-workers, interpreters, comedians, dance partners/teachers, tour guides, mothers, fathers, sisters, aunts, etc), writing the necessary reports for Peace Corps, closing out my FNB bank account, and completing all of the final medical check-ups (including the three take home stool samples-homework if you will). Once again, I found myself having to pack for the long trip back home. (Review post entitled: A different kind of packing list...) This time, however, my bag was a little lighter and zipping it was a cinch. The real souvenirs from my Peace Corps experience...my two years living in South Africa...are immeasurable. They won't ever go out of style like a polka dot sweater. They will never fade from my mind like the soles of those leather shoes. I will never worry about leaving them behind. My souvenirs will live eternally in my heart, continuously giving me the strength to grow and follow all of my dreams...

Then

The third grader I was...the little girl who's world instantly expanded (imagine the possibilities) after listening to two Peace Corps Volunteers talk about their two years spent in Morocco. Setting a life-long goal of joining the Peace Corps and living a life of service at home and abroad. (Did they know that in one moment they changed someone's life?)

Now

The woman I have become...lived her Peace Corps dreams.

COS Conference and Last S2S (plus more than one) Meeting

One June 22nd (Sunday), me and the rest of the S2S crew (and much more than one more) attended our last official meeting in Pretoria at a really happenin' Indian spot in Hatfield to catch up with each other, say goodbye to the first of our crew to leave (LaQuita "Mapule" Rogers), amend and second meeting minutes, eat good food, talk about our digestive systems and other bodily functions, have fun, and eat (did I mention that already?)! What a wonderful way to (start) say[ing] goodbye ("Mzanzi fo sho" style) to people who, for the past two years, became your (this is a run-on sentence like no other):

family/friend/support system/accomplices/advocates/"I need to get the hell out of site for a weekend" go-to-person/"If I get caught doing this, I'm gonna get Adsep'd (Administrative Separation-PC kicks you out)" point-person/sms (text messaging) buddy/phone when I can friend/the only person who truly cares to hear about your toilet habits over dinner/shopping buddy/travel mate/and the list goes on and on!

One (you, Dear Reader) might think that this meeting, the COS (Close of Service) Conference), and the process of saying "goodbye", would be a sad sight to see, but rather a celebration- full of laughs, jokes, funny stories, food (great food!), and "goodbyes"...for now. There were actually no good-and-proper goodbyes, because friends like these will be in your life forever...in body and/or in memories to last a lifetime.

Pictures:

1)Brad "Thabo" and Judy
2)Me and Krupa
3)Brenda, LaQuita, Liz and Me
4)Carolyn, Charlene, and Marti & Dave Fine
5)Bree, Krupa, and Brenda
6)Me and Judy (front), Brenda, LaQuita & Liz (background)
7)LaQuita, Liz and Me doing, as Liz and her family call it, "Dad eyes".

Lesotho...in a nutshell

Finally, I got to go on my long-awaited trip to Lesotho (June 13th-16th)...Well Worth The Wait!

If you review the post entitled "Winding Down, Saying Goodbye" (or something like that), I spoke about my plans for the next month or two. Everything is coming together just like I said I would...with one amendment...my last day of work will by this coming up Friday (July 11, 2008).