Landing Gear
Month 1 (Week 1-2)
I’m sitting down to write this while in an absolutely lovely space. Mentally, emotionally, physically it has been an incredible day. It is with concerted effort that I sat down to write this now because there are ups and downs as expected when making a big change in your life. Well, what feels like a big change. The miles go by, the landscape changes (though not all that drastically when it's CO->NMB), and your ears begin to prick and tingle as the words change from the familiar and everyday hum into a rich tapestry of new phonetics. At this point I know how to say “good morning (goeie more), my Africaans is shit (my Afrikaans is kak), and thank you (dankie). You can get surprisingly far with these though they are definitely not quick on the draw yet.
The anxieties of new have quickly been quieted by the simple fact that humans are beautiful no matter where you are. My host family, my cohort, my PC instructors, and the people of Namibia have made me feel love in times when my brain is clouded by anxieties and the worries we all carry with us. Whether it’s crying over whatsapp while the familiarity of a friend's voice comes through the distance or hugging a new brother deeply and feeling their love while entering a beautiful new relationship I have been continually reminded that community transcends distance cultures and time. I had a video chat with one of my family back home today and seeing Sam’s face superimposed over the small icon of my genuine smile was an incredible glance into a mirror of happiness. We talked about plans, and friends, and what our lives are currently like and I am just struck by how blessed I am to have the most diverse, lovely family I ever have had in my life.
It is incredible how wonderful it has been to leave my phone behind, or sit at a cafe and talk about nothing and everything, or walking through a market where I obviously stick out like the oversized goofy American schmuck I am, happy to be in a place that is going to stretch me, and challenge my perceptions of the world. Sitting and listening to the stories and experiences of others while working on bringing myself humbly to the table has been an incredible practice which I am beyond excited to have room to grow in. I am not going to make these posts or entries long because if you have wandered to this site you most likely know me, which means you know that I am already getting antsy sitting still to compose this short note of what is going on in my world. I want to end it with a sincere thank you to each and every one of you reading this for the love you have sent me off on this journey with, and for every single text, call, voice memo, meme or thought you sent me on the moon.
