Seeing Things Cleary

Today at Lynedoch I felt THANKFUL. I felt thankful for the beautiful day while arriving to class, thankful for the love that us LSCE students now have for one another, and even thankful for the new car on the train that allowed me to see clearly through the windows on my ride home for once. Many times these windows are too covered in dirt to see through them and the car has been vandalized so that it isn’t as clean. I have never cared much, but today I just felt spoiled when I got to ride in the new train car.

…Those were thoughts written exactly a week ago when I returned home from Lynedoch. Today was another great day, but the weather was hotter and the kids were back so we were teaching them again today. It was great to see them again, but I forgot how much they wore me out. We filled our time well today though, and it is a good thing we were able to because next week is our last week with just our learners. That is hard to believe. It is hard to believe the week went by as fast as it did. I wish I could blog like this every week about my week too. It is nice to share, but it is even nicer to just get it all out. Last Monday when I got home from Lynedoch, Martin told me that Conrad, the DJ at one of the night time spots, passed away. He was so young and it really hit hard with some of the younger people in town and many of the friends I have made. I began to think of people home a lot in this moment and that came back repeatedly throughout the week. I am glad I could hold these people up a bit after this lose, but it didn’t make it easier to watch young people upset because their friend passed away suddenly and had so much life left to live.
I thought a lot about how I don’t have much time left here in South Africa, especially if my weeks continue to fly by as they have. Next weekend we get to begin another long break. I’ll be going home with Martin for the Easter holiday. I guess it is important to point out that Martin is the guy I am dating here in South Africa. I can no longer avoid the fact that I am indeed in a serious relationship, but I also can’t ignore that I will be leaving him come June. It stirs up feelings I haven’t had in quite some time and it is exciting, scary, and strange all at once, but mostly exciting right now. Now that I have even cleared that up, I have let quite a bit out. May I continue to have a productive a week just as I have had a productive day today!

Run my dear
From anything
That may not strengthen
your precious budding wings…

For we have come
here not to take prisoners
Or confine our wondrous spirits,
But to experience ever
and ever more deeply
Our divine courage,
freedom and light
-Hatiz
Poem I received in a letter from Patricia.