Two Years

June 1, 2012 I arrived in Mozambique. Exactly two years later, I was part of the Orientation group welcoming a new group of trainees to Mozambique: Moz 22. Just a few days after I met them at the airport, I traveled with them to Namaacha, their new home for the next two months. Little did I know that it was also become my second home. Along the ride, I responded to their eager questions and acute observations. I had flashbacks to my own first trip from Maputo to Namaacha. I remember clutching my Portuguese cheat sheet with white knuckles praying for just a few words to sink in. I remember how I had packed Imodium in my purse just in case… how I wore a long skirt as they said we had to be culturally appropriate and not show my knees… how I worried what the first night with my host family would be like…how I was intimidated by how much Portuguese my new friends already knew. I remember looking out over the grassy savannah thinking how the trees reminded me of the ones from Lion King. I remember hating thinking that, making such a generalization about Africa.  And now I know that road between Namaacha and Maputo better than I could have ever imagined. 

Since that weekend I have spent the past month on the road between Chicumbane, Namaacha and Maputo. I have been working as a PCV Tech Trainer planning and facilitating technical sessions during Moz 22’s training in Namaacha. I have just started my new position as the National Malaria Coordinator. And I am still wrapping up my work and life in Chicumbane.  I never imagined I would be this busy in Peace Corps. My stuff is spread out between three houses. But, so it goes.

Upon returning to Chicumbane last week, I was met with the usual greetings upon returning home after a week or two, “You disappeared” “Where have you been?” “You got fat” “We thought you left without saying good-bye” I couldn’t deny any of their remarks. I had disappeared. I probably did put on a few pounds. And now I just have two weeks to say good-bye to my life of the past two years. I am in total denial. But, one day at a time. I have started to go through my things setting aside what I want to take with me, leave for the next volunteer and give away to my friends here. I have more transitioned my thoughts to be “what can I do to wrap up the work I am doing” as opposed to “what other project can I dive into”. I have started to plan how I am going to say good-bye. 

Good-byes have never been my thing and this time is no different. If anything, all of this travel and work back and forth has made me realize that yes, I am glad I decided to extend for another year. When I decided to extend, I knew I wasn’t ready to leave Moz and this past month has really confirmed that. Since I am not leaving Mozambique just yet, but rather just moving four hours down the road to the big city, I have decided it is not so much good-bye, as it is “until next time.”