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The point of these travels was never to "find myself", I guess I've always felt pretty found. It was also not to find adventures; adventures can be found anywhere. It was more of a case of not knowing what else to do. I knew I didn't want to study yet, homecare work didn't challenge me and I had nowhere really to live (I love you mum and dad, but Buckfastleigh?). I guess my main goal was to get some work experience and skip winter while I was at it. So off I headed to Africa, a continent I could afford to volunteer in and a place I'd always fancied. I was also aware that the opportunity of having 14 months to do whatever you like, wherever you like, doesn't come around often. I had freedom barely even restricted by society's rules, because the societies I was in, changed. It's a very freeing feeling flying halfway across the world for the hell of it. (Dear Environment, I am sorry! I will do my best to redeem myself in the years to come).
So after working at a baby home in Tanzania, a guesthouse office/reception in Vietnam, teaching, building and gardening in Uganda and performing, organising, leading and teaching on IYC Spain, I joined the Camphill here in Botswana for a month. Life here feels normal. I goto work, have evenings and weekends off and have time to update my Facebook status. I've seen very few tourists, if any, so I forget I'm "travelling". As far as I'm aware I'm a black lady living in Botswana. Each morning I'm greeted with endless enthusiastic hugs and smiles from the students, and life here has always felt routine. The students are very able and independent, so apart from the occasional lesson planning, teaching sports and putting together portfolios documenting assessment evidence, I can't be of much benefit. I have learnt a lot though, and I've enjoyed teaching casual lunch time classic dance lessons, so it's certainly been beneficial for myself.
However, althought it's familiar in set up, it is still a new place, a new job, new friends, faces, names and language. And Setswana names are certainly not as simple as Sam, Tom and Jess. No, I have to learn Kesegofetse, Kebaabetswe, Ponatshego and Goitsemang! (+ 50 others that are completely foreign sounding) It seems most words and names are 3 syllables or more and none shorten their names. Beautiful, but difficult. I am very fond of the people here and feel very relaxed within Camphill, but I am also glad this is my last project for a few months. I am becoming overrun with so much "new" and am thoroughly looking forward to some "good old". I have realised after 8 months of travelling, that I am not African, but a British girl after all. I like my home comforts of electricity, internet, showers and a washing machine. I also quite like a good pub!
I set out to get work experience, and work experience I have gained, so Botswana and Camphill are a lovely and satisfying end to that chapter. It is enough now. Now it is time to relax for a few months before I start again. Now is the time to visit friends already made and enjoy the company of my loved ones.
N.B: That does still include Africa. My blogs aren't finished yet!
- comments
ebba Always nice to read your blog!
Wilburg Its good to know about your reflexions and plans. Still there are open questions - maybe even for yourself, but you will find out sooner or later. In any case you have seen many parts of the world I have never been to and will never get to, and back to England or Europe you will always know there is more to it on this globe - more different ways to live and more different ways to be human. i have just finished reading a book from Ayaan Hirsi Ali about the situation of women in the islamic world where she comes from (somailia) now living in the USA.