Year 2
Before I launch into my hopes and ambitions for the next year, I should fill you in on how things unfolded over our school year end.
As per usual for a school year end, there was endless award ceremonies, wrap up functions and farewell parties. Each time we bid a teary farewell to a friend who wouldn’t be returning, I felt relief that it wasn’t me. I’m not done with this place, not by a long shot! Thankfully Exams were finished because the girls were consumed with goodbyes ( some permanent , some temporary) Marlo had her 5 best friends leave 😥 That’s the rough part about the international school. When you couple separation anxiety with uncertainty around Canadian reunions, its makes for a really stressful couple of weeks. Wizened international families had warned us that expectations around going home needed to be reigned in if disappointment was to be averted. It was explained that not everyone would be interested in hearing about our adventures and some would hold us at arms length. People change in a year and their lives do to. It was prudent advice …but not so for us. We all had plenty of good catch ups and managed to see most people that we had hoped to, obviously there were some we missed but that will make next year even sweeter.
Seeing friends and family and Hugo was by the far the best part about coming home, in fact that was the only thing that made me feel like I was home. I’ve tried to analyze this a myriad of ways, maybe it’s because I had only lived in the new house 8 months before we left for Africa? Maybe it was because Hugo had bonded so well with his new caretakers that I was no longer needed? Possibly because all my routines had been dismantled . Deep down inside I recognize that “Home” has been redefined for me. Now I think of it as a space where I am comfortable , feel competent in my environment , where I’ve DECIDED I’m putting down roots for a while, and where my people are. There is something about shared experience that has helped me to build this home away from home . My family of course , but also all these new friends that have been uprooted and led to this magical place where we rely on one another to be an extension of our family. To put this in perspective , “what if” Sean and I were in a car accident together here?!? What would happen to our kids?!? Exactly!!! As parents we feel so vulnerable that It becomes really important to “know” some people well and find who you trust and connect with . The incredible part is that it happens so easily and organically when you are all in this experience together.
This american thanksgiving our family had been invited to an annual camp out at themed “Airstream “park. Check it out @ Ol MC’Daddys South Africa. Over years of perfecting, there is a a lamb roast the first night and a full blown Thanksgiving dinner the second. Can’t wait!! The culture here is so much about preparing food slowly over a fire or coals with plenty of visiting…and wine.
Before that however , we are off to Namibia to explore the sand dunes and wide open spaces of this other -worldly country. I’m really excited to visit some remote communities and meet tribes people who are still living much the same way as their ancestors. Contrary to what you may think, thats very hard to find in South Africa anymore.
We have quite a travel line up for our 5 week break at Christmas! First off we head up the Garden route to my favorite spot Plettenberg bay. We will spend a week there hanging out at the beach and exploring all the little towns and trail and tributaries. Then its back to Capetown for a few days over Christmas before flying out to Kenya on the 27th. We are heading back to where the love affair with Africa and international development was made possible by “We”. We is celebrating 25 years of change making and we are thrilled to be joining them for this milestone. While In the Massi Mara we will be checking out the community Bee keeping program made possible through the legacy of my late mother in law , Bea Quinn.
From Kenya we are heading due East to the Seychelles for some Island R&R . We look forward to snorkeling ,swimming and hanging out with turtles. We figured since we are half way up the continent at this point , why not continue on another 6 hours to Dubai. Its not necessarily a place I would travel across the world to see but I am intrigued by it and we have good friends there so Carpe Diem! On a side note, Joelle misses the snow soooo much we figured why not kill one bird with two stones and take her skiing inside the worlds largest mall!?!?!
