HOLY COW! It has been such a long time since I have updated this. Never fear, this is not because things have become stagnant. Rather, it is quite the opposite. Things have been…chaotic and absolutely wacky to say the least. Many many changes have occurred since my last post, the most recent and most significant of which would be that I have left Banani. Sometimes life will switch things up for you and you have got to be willing to go with the flow. “Be unrestrained as the wind,” right?
So, now I have been given a great opportunity for service elsewhere and I am quite exited to see where this new adventure takes me. I still have my Nshima though! So my tummy is happy.
I’ll give a little tid bit of what I have been up to since whenever my last blog post was.
Basically, all the youth had a frustrating time with their girls last term. Not because we didn’t love them or anything, but we get tired and they get wild! So, it was definitely a fun ride last term. Hahahaha! I let one of my girls paint on me with nail polish and she put some around my eye.
HOLY TALITO THE BURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One of my dumber moments in life but it is one of my favorite memories. The frantic fanning of my face, the look of shock on the girls face, the mad scramble to the bathroom, and the cool relief of water/tissue/nail polish remover. So funny.
Even though they can drive you mad, these girls are just so amazing. I have never met a more creative bunch than them. Especially grade 10. They are so freaking awesome! They never left me with a dull moment.
By the way, it really sucks to use past tense when talking about them.
Anyway, they also have this tradition for birthdays…get you soaking wet. On my birthday, I hid in the dining hall till ten minutes after quiet time when they can’t pull any shenanigans. SAFE!
Not for long. The next night, one of my grade 8’s (now grade 9) came to the grade 10 dorm and said I was needed urgently. The youth who is actually her dorm mum was sitting maybe 2 feet away from me, so I was confused as to why she didn’t go. She had kept asking if I had my phone or camera, which I didn’t cuz I still didn’t trust my girls. So I went with her and we were running to the grade 9 dorms and then she slowed when she got to the back of it and then I saw a bunch of girls with buckets in their hands and smirks on their faces…
I tried to run, but it was too late. I was soaked in an instant! They kept it coming too! These are the kind of girls who will kick you when you’re down. They are RELENTLESS.
I was so cold, but I loved it. I love them so much. I miss my grade 8’s. I should stop calling them that. They’re in grade 9 now. But for real, I love that group of girls so much!
The youth tried to organize March Performance, but there were so many sport activities and such that the girls had no time to practice and we couldn’t set a date. Organization at Banani does not exist. This is Africa .
Nothing against Africa of course, I’m just saying the definition of time is flexibility. Haha! For example: “I’m coming now now” means “I’m coming in a few hours”
I think it’s hysterical. Sometimes frustrating, but funny.
Oh! And the second to last day before April break, I helped out at the primary and they were having races! I kept score. It’s fun to watch all the little grade 1’s and 2’s race each other. Including in sacks. There was one kid, Glody, who is in grade 7. He won everything. I am not even kidding. Whenever it was him against other people, I eventually just started to give his team the highest point possible cause I knew he would win. And he did. He was quite humble about it, though, which impressed me even more!
Now, as dear to me as these girls are, I was happy that April break came. I needed a rest! Ha! Thinking back, I laugh at that now because April was not a relaxing month.
Anyway, a couple of the boys from last year (Humphrey, Shuton, and other boys I have never seen) came back from St. Paul
For a bit, then he went to Humphrey’s team cause he was alone. Good kid.
I seriously enjoyed playing basketball my last month. Nura and I played against Humphrey and Quddus a lot. I got in shape real quick. Humphrey, as I said, is extremely athletic but he hadn’t played basketball much so I thought Nura and I had a pretty good chance. He said he was scared to play against me cause of what another boy was saying. I told him it was like the rap off…I talk big, but my walk is…pitiful. He said he had started playing basketball at his school this term. Really, I was dumb enough to think Nura and I had the advantage.
FAIL. Complete FAIL. Yeah, I don’t care if he just started, he could outrun us alone. Ugh! Yeah, he had no reason to be scared. None at all. BUT! It was good competition and Nura and I beat him and Quddus a couple times. It was so entertaining. Those will indeed be cherished memories.
A little girl, Rosie, told me we were pole’s (pole-ay) meaning she’s like my close little sister and I am her close big sister…or something like that. I love Rosie! She is really smart too. She wanted me to teach her how to swim, but I was afraid I would just make her drown. I held her a lot. Haha! But she is still alive, so there!
The National Convention was held at the Institute. Getting ready for the election of the National Spiritual Assembly! I met the father to one of my girls. I was so happy! She always talks about him and I just want to meet all her family and visit her all the time, so I think I am off to a good start. We sold a lot of books too and ate some good food. Banani food isn’t bad, it’s just repetitive.
We also celebrated Shadon’s birthday in Lusaka France
When a cake smells like nail polish remover and tastes like nail polish remover, it’s pretty much a guarantee that it has alcohol in it. Haha! It was pretty amusing. It tasted disgusting and I don’t understand how people like that, but it was so gross and it made the whole scene that much better.
So, that has been a little of what has been going on. The last few days there were mainly spent packing, saying goodbyes, and playing basketball.
I cannot describe how painful it was to leave so suddenly and have to say goodbye to all the wonderful people I met there. Unfortunately, I was not able to say goodbye to my girls and that, alone, breaks my heart. Whenever I thought about leaving in June, it hurt so much and I knew it would be tough for me. Heck, leaving Africa will be so incredibly difficult. But now, having to leave earlier than expected and leave behind those amazing souls that have so greatly touched me and influenced me, I realize that this is one of the hardest things I’ll ever have to do.
For everything I have been through, the challenges faced, the friendships formed, the learning and growth I experienced, the setbacks and triumphs, I regret nothing. Though it saddens me to end this part of the journey for now, I eagerly look forward to what lays in store for me next. I have absolute faith that all this is necessary and all will be well. I am ever thankful for everything and everyone and the the beloved youth, who were (are) my family and my support system. FAM JAM JUSTICE LEAGUE!
I learned a lot these past 8 months and I am so grateful for this experience and wouldn’t change a thing. All my love and prayers to those beautiful people who have come to mean the world to me. I am excited for when our paths cross again.
‘I swear by My life!’ Baha’u’llah assures us. ‘Nothing save that which profiteth them can befall My loved ones.’
