Coming to Africa.

So for the past two weeks, I’ve had a visitor in my South African home. My Mom! Yep, my wonderful mom came all the way from the US of A to see her youngest daughter (who is not so young anymore)…me. It was so good to have her here. I dragged her all over this country. We took a bus, a public taxi (called a kombi), an airplane, a lift from someone who was a friend of a friend, rented a car, walked, took the gautrain (like a subway) and even hitchhiked (sorry, mom, I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone but, really, everyone needs to hitchhike in their lifetime)? 

She got to see my village, meet some of my amazing South African friends and spend some time with my host family. The kids in my community loved her up just like they do me. Holding onto her hands and treating her like a celebrity. I’m sure it was a bit overwhelming (because it definitely has been for me at times).  She even got to teach (well, it was kind of teaching?) at the primary school. 

We also visited Kruger Park where she was like the “giraffe whisperer.” I've never seen so many giraffes at once. It was insane (they are her favorite animal though so I guess it was meant to be)? The Indian Ocean was beautiful and we even spotted some Southern Right whales (not her favourite part of her trip due to a little sea sickness) but even then it was still so wonderful to have her here with me.  Even if we were just hanging out watching TV (yes, I got to watch TV which was a perk of the vacation for me along with taking long showers and washing my clothes...in a washing machine)!!  

I must say, though, that I was a bit?  Out of sorts? I was talking about this phenomenon with a couple of volunteers after she left (I cried and cried as she was getting on the plane). I was sharing this feeling with other volunteers about how wonderful it was to have my mom here but it was also a bit strange. Like I didn’t always know how to act?  Luckily, I wasn’t crazy. At least they all said they felt the same way when they had their families come to visit. Having your family here is amazing but I think we’ve all come to be so independent and self-sufficient that sometimes it’s strange to have someone from home here? Also, as a volunteer, you have all of this time to try to get used to another culture and our families don't get that time.  They are just immersed in this strange world of ours?   

So, mom, I loved every minute of your visit and if I wasn’t myself completely myself just know that I am the same person with just a little bit of Africa in my heart. :)  I love and miss you.  Already.  And it's only been 4 days since you left.  Oh, and I'm working on putting up some of the pictures.  Keep checking back!