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I miss South Africa already
13 March 2006 -
I am not said to be very emotional by nature, but there was something that moved
me when I got my stamp exiting the border post at Vioolsdrif. I don’t know what
it was, but it surely had something to do with leaving this great nation behind
and maybe a bit to do with the hospitable customs officers that I knew possessed
the very thing that I have appreciated so much in South Africa. The smile in
people faces, people listening and the people’s ability to be happy even though
life is sad, THAT I am sure will be greatly missed.
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It’s not that easy to leave all what I have gained these
last three years, that be my fantastic friends, experiences and work. I will
surely miss all my colleagues that I have had the pleasure to meet and know and
also leaving behind a fantastic and secure job with SAHIMS and OCHA’s work
environment will surely be missed. I am sure if they knew about this they would
just laugh, but hiding my “emotional true me” has been a difficult task at Idion
House or White House, as I think they changed the name into now. It was a
competition in finding a suitable name for the UN building and I sent my
suggestion to the committee as I think “The White House” would be the best name
describing this humanitarian working place. We all know that the vast continent
of Africa has been very fortunate to have so many knowledgeable white people
working for “the good of Africa’s black population”, so why not the White House?
I am also suffering from acute spending misbehavior, as I have had to learn how
NOT to throw away money in all direction on useless and unpractical objects and
artifacts. NOT giving too much tips, continue walking if I see something that
either smells good or taste good and ignore the coffee shops and expensive
restaurants. Stop inviting friends, stop partying, eat my breakfast at home and
buy groceries as if I really can consume the whole lot. This is something that I
should have started doing years ago or better, decades ago. You might ask me,
what’s the worth living when you have to do this? Now I really have to look at
every penny and try to be as cheap as a good Swede on holiday in Norway (sorry
Jenny). I should actually bring along an accountant, preferably a good looking
one that didn’t take up much space, but then again I would loose my freedom and
flexibility, so let me try on my own and see how far my savings will take me.
One thing that I am sure of though is that I will be back. If South Africa likes
it or not, I will return with my Betsy to meet up with my friends and see how
much their kids have grown in three years time. Wow Unami, you will be a big
girl by then! But I am sure you will remember Betsy, even if she should look a
bit tired and worn out by then. Or as some friends of mine from Feiring in
Norway put it, the kids might have moved out and I should visit the old age home
to come and greet them there. Don’t worry, it is only three years time and time
fly as we know, before you considered changing your shower curtains or finding a
new husband, I will be standing there in the middle of the crowd as if nothing
had happened.
I just hope that I am not the only one that will work hard to keep the good
friendships from dying and emails from Melidah and Pafrey is always as receiving
a gift, and messages in my guestbook, like the one received the other day from
Josee made me feel specially good. It is as if I am still among friends, even if
its only virtually it keeps me smiling. A simple and short message becomes more
important as I move myself deeper into Africa and especially when I am traveling
alone. So keep them coming, you all know it is well perceived even if it is an
angry email from Telkom telling me to settle my account, I take it as a friendly
gesture and of course I would pay, if I only was able to.
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