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on John and Dinah with VSO in Namibia (Namibia), 17/Dec/2009 16:03, 34 days ago
Our multi-party send-offWe had no less than 3 goodbye parties with the VSOs in the region. One of them was in Mpungu and a complete surprise organised by Cam and Yvonne. In fact I had planned to blog that weekend but the delight of being suddenly having a bar-b-q and games instead prevented me from apologising to my eager readers! Here are the revellers at our house. Add to that 2 parties with learners and a staff party at the school, several dinners with Cam, Yvonne and Chaz and you begin to get the picture! It was all quite marvelous and we felt very appreciated and even loved.In another league altogether though was the assembly which the learners gave us on our final day at the school, Friday 13th November. It was over an hour long and really emotional. The choir had written songs for the occasion and performed them superbly. Speeches were made and almost everyone had to have a personal goodbye with either a hug or a handshake. After we were meant to go and teach but we were really too drained. Instead we spent the morning giving away things needed to the last minute (stationary, bags etc) and sorting the last bits of packing. Oh and sobbing and wailing along with half the school. Jimmy wrote that 5 litres of tears had been shed that day! We didn't expect to feel so distraught but it was more of a wrench than expected.Back home and more partyingWe got back 4 weeks ago. Since then we have seen quite a bit of our families and reclaimed our house and had all the usual pre-Christmas plans and preparations so it had been a real whirl. I was going to write much more but as time is passing so fast I realise that it wouldn't get done until the New Year. This short account will have to suffice for now - and hopefully I'll get down to a fuller description later. It is really wierd to be here and I don't suppose any time is ideal but the contrast at the moment is even greater. The temperature on our last day in Rundu was 43.8 and now we have snow. We had to go miles (sorry kms) for the most basic items and now we are buying loads (albeit stuff we need and Christmas pressies). We are enjoying it and especially seeing everyone but it is hard not to think of our friends in Namibia and how little festivity will surround their Christmases. We have been to the theatre 3 times, once for Alex's b.day, once a present from them for J's 60th and lastly because Luke got given tickets for a wonderful evening at the Old Vic. We hadn't been at all in Namibia as there are no theatres to go to. I could go on a lot like this but I imagine we will need to stop thinking like this if we wish to remain sane.I keep thinking it was a great experience and we were very lucky to have had it.