Farewell

This will be my last post from South Africa. Today being Thursday was my last day at Kayamandi High School. I never thought that I would feel so sad to leave a school that I was only at for 6 weeks. I came into today thinking it would just be a normal day and then I would just return to the states.

This will be my last post from South Africa. Today being Thursday was my last day at Kayamandi High School. I never thought that I would feel so sad to leave a school that I was only at for 6 weeks. I came into today thinking it would just be a normal day and then I would just return to the states. That was not the case! Students were thanking us all day and giving us hug after hug after hug after hug. They kept on saying how much they have learned from all of us, and how they will miss us. Before I knew it the day was over and it was time for our farewell party. The farewell party was for a teacher and the 5 of us who came from the states. It was an amazing ceremony because there was a lot of singing and very thoughtful speeches. By the end it started to get very sad. Some of our students even started to cry because we were leaving. I never knew that we meant so much to the students. I have said this many times throughout my blogs but I mean it. I will never forget the learners of Kayamandi, and they have left a permanent imprint in my heart that will never be gone. I do not think I can ever thank Kayamandi High School enough.I wanted to share one thing that a speaker said today at our farewell. She said “Teaching is a great profession. Even though we are not engineers, doctors, or CEOs, we are the ones who produce these people. No one else can say that! We are the producers.” This is so true and should make every teacher proud!

I wanted to end my last post by listing off the things that I will miss most about South Africa:

  • Kayamandi High School!!!!!!!!!
  • AF Louw Primary School
  • Not having a car or a cell phone
  • Walking everywhere
  • The stars in the night
  • The Taylor Gang (my host family)
  • Hearing the national anthem everywhere
  • The gorgeous sunsets
  • Gelato Ice Cream
  • Irish Pubs in South Africa
  • Wine (Pinotage)
  • Mountains surrounding the city
  • Cladious (our transport driver)
  • Ratty and Jemma (host family’s dogs)
  • Indian Ocean
  • Lions, Elephants, Rhinos, and much more
  • Hostels
  • Bungy Jumping
  • Green Market Square
  • Mugg and Bean Coffee Shop
  • Soccer and Rugby
  • Braai (BBQ)
  • Kayamandi Township
  • And much more!

This trip has been a wonderful experience and I cannot wait to bring people back here. South Africa is a beautiful country and is filled with happiness. I feel like I am a little bit South African now and that is a good thing! Thanks for following my blog and I will see you all soon.

WorldPeace