Back at Step One

Here we go again.  Back at step one and saying goodbye.  I have grown a great fondness for my host family over the past two months and although I knew it was coming, this is still really tough.  Me and a few other volunteers who also got attached to their host families have agreed that this feels almost as bad as leaving our families back in America.  Last night my family and I sat together after dinner and exchanged our gifts to one another.  I wasn't expecting to receive anything from my family, but when I went into my room and brought out the gift that I had for my family, my host mother went into her room and came out with one for me. 

For the family gift, I wrote a really nice letter to everyone telling them how much I appreciate and love them for welcoming me into their home with open arms.  My host mother read the letter aloud, and when she got to the part where I said that even though I will be gone they will always be family to me, my sister shed a few tears and my mama just beamed with tears in her eyes.  After the letter, my mother took a good look at her gift, which was a hanging shadow box with the words, "Thank you" inside and a traditional pot with sticks inside.  They all absolutely loved it!  My host mama grabbed me tight and hugged me for what seemed like an eternity.  The gift from my host mom to me was a framed picture of Jesus on the cross.  She is very religious and she knows that I am too so this was a very suiting gift.  She gave me my first picture to hang in my new house!  Woot woot!

This morning was tough when the Peace Corps car came to pick me up with all of my stuff, but things went smoothly.  We all said our goodbyes, gave our last hugs, and then my host mama told me that

she will see me in Kigali for my swear-in ceremony!! Woot woot!! I got so excited when she told me that!  I get to see her one more time before I go to my new site!! Go mee!!  I told my family that I would come back to visit them often and that I was coming with my sister from America to spend Christmas with them.  And in return, they told me that they would like to come and visit me at my site.  It feels good to have built such strong and lasting relationships in such a short time.  My family has been a blessing to me, and I hope that I have been the same for them.  They are the best!  Well, the second best...of course my family in America will always hold the number 1 spot! (-:

Love and Peace Corps,

Dametreea

(Written on 7/17/12 at 9:51 am)