December

Well, I can't believe it is already a week into December. Tika's Birthday is tomorrow...a quick birthday shout out to my 18 year old sis!

So much has happened in my time here. I am given to understand that once I go home, the muttle of thoughts and experiences that I have gathered here will begin to unravel. It will be awhile before I can really get my head around my life at Buduburam.

Already, my thoughts are turning towards home and the fact that I will be leaving here.

The internet on camp was horrible for a week and a half and now I am finally getting around to posting again.

Finally, we are having some balance after the big turnover at the end of November. The new volunteers are great. The two women living in our house are lovely. Now, it is only four of us in Guest House #1, Simon, Anna (from New Zealand), Stacy (from Georgia) and I. Our house is feeling really comfortable again, which is very important for the mental well being of the IVs who live there. The other house got two new people as well, Matt and Amanda. Both are nice as well.

I've been pleased with the discovery that my life and heart can expand to include more people. I believe that I have made a couple of good friends here. A few that I plan to stay in regular contact with and several that I would love to see again, someday, should our paths cross in the future. I have been lucky to meet so many great people from around the world. The IVs have been a huge part of my experience and have defined the tone for each month. The cast and energy changes each month.

The organization I am working with continues to incure frustration. But that is the way it goes. Everything is starting to slow way down because of exams. The school will close on Friday and the CBW office will close on the 22nd. I think that the IVs are going to be on camp for christmas eve night and Christmas day. I think we might have a big sleepover at ABs and then wake up and breakfast together. Then we will split up to our different local folks who we would like to celebrate with. Then, I think, we will head out and party Christmas night. Sounds good to me.

I just set up a week of individual tutoring with my two girls. HIV/AIDS will only go through next week, craft day will continue...did I tell you about craft day?

I have been helping out Hattie with craft day two mornings a week and one afternoon a week. The kids come and get to make a craft. It is so much fun. The kids get to have some positive attention and a creative outlet.

The last week here will basically be a week of vacation because the whole organization will be shut down.

Ok a quick run down:

I am feeling much better than I was during my last post.

I am coming home soon. I'm excited to see Joshua and my friends. Having said that, I am extremely nervous about reverse culture shock and the weirdness of saying goodbye to the people I have met, worked and lived with at Buduburam.

I am not looking forward to the question, "How was Africa?". How on earth am I to answer that? The scope of what has happened here in the last 3 months will not fit convienently into a few sentances. As long as the person asking the question really wants to know and has some time on their hands, that is fine. Otherwise, I suppose I will just say (as suggested by a fellow volunteer), "Great, how was home?".

At lunch time when I got back to my house Anna was out front dancing with a group of little kids. I dropped my bag in the house, changed my shirt and headed out to join the fun. So great! Asa, the little boy from next door was outside along with Blessing, Jerry and a bunch of other kids. Matt was giving piggy back rides and having races. Those moments, where there is a simple joy in playing with the kids and a feeling of internal quiet, are treasured. Those moments sustain me and I think us as a group.

Oh! The debate society, that I am so proud of, is having it's first official debate on Friday. The subject? Whether or not the refugees should move back to Liberia.

Next post, look for stories about 8 of us IVs spending the night in a rainforest, doing the highest canopy walk in Africa (where we got to see monkeys!), swimming in the ocean and busting a move at MD's house warming party. I also visited an old slave trading fort in Elmina.