This isn't my first
time as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I was in Africa from 2008-2010 in a tiny sub-Saharan
country called Lesotho. At time, it was really, really tough. No plumbing, electricity,
very little meat, internet only about once a month…. Isolated, lonely. There
were times I wanted to give up and go home to California… to safe, known
Folsom. But slowly, something happened. I fell in love with the youth, my host
family, my village…and they came to slowly love me. (So I’d like to thinkJ) Lesotho and my little village of Ha Nkalimeng became home. And then I
had to leave. Unexpectedly. My heart
broke just a little…ok, maybe a lot. I would probably never again see the
people I loved and who loved me. So I went home feeling isolated, lonely. For
the next 2 years I struggled to find my place, tried to figure out what to do.
I grieved for the people in Lesotho. And slowly, I began to realize that I
loved the youth and my family (Hi Staffords) and my friends who had seen me and
put up with me through so much and my church and the people in my village of
Folsom. And for some strange reason, they already loved me. Even despite the
fact that I was grieving for another place… another people. A long time ago
they “gave me a solid shelter that I take with me for my entire life wherever I
go.” And then I left. Not unexpectedly, but I left to start anew here in
Azerbaijan. And at times it’s been tough. However I do find myself falling in
love with the youth, my host family, my large village of Sheki….
I’m sure that when I
leave here in 2 years I will grieve the people I leave behind. But its
wonderful… a blessing… to know that I will go back to the people that helped
create that shelter, which I will carry with me wherever I go.
My host mom in Lesotho
My host sister (in white) and neighbors in Lesotho
The amazing family I live with in Folsom
The awesome youth I got to volunteer with.
The youth in Azerbaijan
My host family
Love the pictures! Renee, Rachel and I were just studying Gandhi. We talked about his work in South Africa. "Where is South Africa?" "Oh, it's next to Lesotho." Haha! We know more about Lesotho than any other African country! Have a blessed day with those beautiful people.
ReplyDeleteInteresting posts, thanks for sharing. I'm a writer and working on a book on the Caucasus -- wondering if you wouldn't mind getting in touch with me via email so I could ask you a couple short questions, just fact checking. Thanks!
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