Saying Bye

Braai with the teachers!

On Friday I said good-bye to my students and a few of the teachers.  The teachers I said good-bye to on Friday was not that difficult as I did not spend a lot of time with them. We did have a little braai at the school with all the teachers for a good-bye for Jonas and I.  He leaves tomorrow (the 29th).

Lihle and I

With my students I had been telling them for about a month giving them warning that I was leaving. Though I know they did not really understand what I was really meaning by that. Friday I was mentioning again to them that I was actually leaving and I had my one student Lihle look and me and start crying asking me “Miss, who will teach me?” This was difficult for me because I honestly told them that I did not know. I know Alision (the new SALTer) is coming but that would not be for a while and she wanted to know like for next week. I asked Lihle not to cry because if she cried I would and sure enough she did. The rest of the students were then confused about what was happening because we were both crying. I then herd one of the other boys start talking and telling the other students to cry as well. So sure enough 3 of my other students started crying…not knowing why they were crying! Ha it was actually funny but sad at the same time. Especially because the kids were laughing while having these tears down their faces. I realized then who were the fake criers! Ha!

Nokubonga and Me

I spent that day just trying to take in moments with them. I am sure they might have been board most of the day as some of those moments they were just sitting at the table talking and I sat there too just talking with them.

My weekend was spent with a whole variety of people. I had two of my students come and spend time with me. Lihle and Lincoln both live on the farm so they came to see me. The rest of my time was either with myself packing in my room or with teachers. 

Siya, Nokubonga and I

Friday evening was spent with Lihle which was a surprise. She showed up with her mom in the evening and while her mom went to the church service Lihle hangout with me. Her and I watched some of Cinderella and the Lion King. She could not decide which movie she wanted. After supper I watch a movie with Philile, Skhumbuzo, Siyabonga and Admire. Later in the evening I was able to have a phone call with Tyla. This was so nice as I had just needed my best friend to talk to and she just happened to be close to her phone and not working when I texted her to talk.

Me and the guys (and a random old
man!)

Saturday was also a good day, but different then what I was expecting too. I had to say bye to Skhumbuzo in the morning because he had to go into PMB for the rest of the weekend. The rest of the morning there was really nothing going on. I spent it in my room packing as I was not sure where people were and what they were doing. Then after lunch Lihle came back for a second visit. This was good but saying bye to her was really sad. She first told me I am not going home. Her mom came and got her and at first she was playfully saying she was not leaving then all of a sudden she just started to cry knowing I was actually leaving. Her mom then picked her up and she cried as they walked away and she kept turing and looking to see if I was still there. Saturday evening I watched a movie with Esnath, Philile and Nokubonga.

Saying good-bye (for now)

Sunday ended up being pretty perfect! I went to the Zulu service and of course they made me say good-bye, which was okay because there are only like 20ish people. After lunch we took some pictures with some of the guys. Sunday lunches at the beginning of my term were mostly with Nigel and Trish, we had not had many lunches with them for a while but on the last two weekends we did. It was a nice lunch and a good way to end the term. The best part of my Sunday though was after lunch all of us from the farm all sat up by the shop out in the sun (trying to warm up a bit) and just hanging out. I just kept thinking I am so very blessed! Those people that were there were Esnath, Philile, Nokubonga, Admire, Siyabonga (the tall one), Siyabonga (the short one), Jonas, Lincoln (my student) and his mom. We were just missing Skhumbuzo who had left earlier. I am not sure if any of you read this, but I am so very blessed by each one of you and I hope you know how terribly blessed I am by each one of you!!!

Picking out lunch from one of the gardens!

Once James and Joan showed up I ran to my room to get my things with Lincoln, who once we got to my room asked me “Miss, are you going on an airplane?” I told him I was. He then proceeded to tell me “Me too Miss!” I just kind of smiled. Thinking he did not actually understand. But when I went to go and put my backpack in the car before I gave everyone a hug good-bye, he was ready to get in the car too. It did not take him long to realize what was happening after that. He too got very up-set.

Birthday supper for James and one of our partners

Saying good-bye to everyone was hard, but because I know I am coming back it was not as difficult as I was thinking it would be. I cried more leading up to this week of saying bye.

I also had to say good-bye to Lily kids and volunteers. Which again was good but because it had almost been a month since I had been there I had been okay with saying bye knowing I was going to be back soon.

After saying bye we were in PMB for a day and a bit then we headed to Swaziland for a bit. There we met the partners MCC works with and also had some relaxing time. Where we stayed was in a game park so we often woke up with some kind of buck, warthogs or zebras outside our doors! We have now just arrived in Johannesburg where we will spend the rest of our time in South Africa. Tomorrow James and Joan head off to Canada and we will say good-bye to them. We are spending this week with Pros touring around Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Until next time… Make sure to behave otherwise your supervisors might feed you to the crocs! :)