Friends and Family,
I lie here on my bed in my small room in a farm in the middle of rural South Africa. I have lied in this bed many nights thinking about when I would be coming home to see all of you and to get some renewed energy before coming back for a new session of Forward students in January. However, as I lie in my bed this time, thoughts of an African Christmas run through my mind.
After many conversations with my family I have decided to cancel my trip home. Many reasons on why I should come home and why I should stay have run through my mind literally on an hourly basis. Obviously the thoughts of coming home surround seeing me family and my friends; that is truly the only reason to come home. On the other hand is the reality of leaving Africa. This is not an easy task as those of you who have been here know. The realities of this place do not leave your mind when your plane lands back in the west. Personally the adjustment period for me back home is not a short one. I am a bitter man when I return and do not want to bring that bitterness back to all of you; Especially since my time at home is so short and my attitude usually takes longer then three weeks to adjust back home.
In addition, I do not want to say goodbye once again. When I said goodbye in July it was one of the hardest things I have had to do. It took me a good month and a half to adjust over here and I cannot do that again. I was very depressed during that time and cannot imagine going through that one more time. Even as I talked to my parents and the realization of me staying was forming, it was hard to say goodbye once again. It that was difficult, I cannot imagine another face to face goodbye.
At the time I had booked my flight, the thoughts of being home were consuming my mind. The thoughts of playing some hockey with the boys, going for a hike with my dad, seeing a concert with my sister, going for coffee with my mom, and spending Christmas celebrations and visiting all of you. I was thinking about this so much I almost forgot that wouldn’t last and I we be coming back here again.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Africa; it is my home. The difficulty is I have two families, two sets of friends, and two homes. This is my home for now and I need to be here to be healthy enough to come back to Canada when the time is right.
I miss all of you more then you will know. And although my parents keep telling me that they are fine because they are all together, I feel like I owe all of you an apology. I know that some of us have made plans and for that I apologize.
I can’t wait to see you in the spring and remember; you can always come visit me here!!!
I would love to hear from you!
Thanks for all of your continuous support and prayers,
Dan
P.S. I have posted an album of pics on facebook.
I lie here on my bed in my small room in a farm in the middle of rural South Africa. I have lied in this bed many nights thinking about when I would be coming home to see all of you and to get some renewed energy before coming back for a new session of Forward students in January. However, as I lie in my bed this time, thoughts of an African Christmas run through my mind.
After many conversations with my family I have decided to cancel my trip home. Many reasons on why I should come home and why I should stay have run through my mind literally on an hourly basis. Obviously the thoughts of coming home surround seeing me family and my friends; that is truly the only reason to come home. On the other hand is the reality of leaving Africa. This is not an easy task as those of you who have been here know. The realities of this place do not leave your mind when your plane lands back in the west. Personally the adjustment period for me back home is not a short one. I am a bitter man when I return and do not want to bring that bitterness back to all of you; Especially since my time at home is so short and my attitude usually takes longer then three weeks to adjust back home.
In addition, I do not want to say goodbye once again. When I said goodbye in July it was one of the hardest things I have had to do. It took me a good month and a half to adjust over here and I cannot do that again. I was very depressed during that time and cannot imagine going through that one more time. Even as I talked to my parents and the realization of me staying was forming, it was hard to say goodbye once again. It that was difficult, I cannot imagine another face to face goodbye.
At the time I had booked my flight, the thoughts of being home were consuming my mind. The thoughts of playing some hockey with the boys, going for a hike with my dad, seeing a concert with my sister, going for coffee with my mom, and spending Christmas celebrations and visiting all of you. I was thinking about this so much I almost forgot that wouldn’t last and I we be coming back here again.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Africa; it is my home. The difficulty is I have two families, two sets of friends, and two homes. This is my home for now and I need to be here to be healthy enough to come back to Canada when the time is right.
I miss all of you more then you will know. And although my parents keep telling me that they are fine because they are all together, I feel like I owe all of you an apology. I know that some of us have made plans and for that I apologize.
I can’t wait to see you in the spring and remember; you can always come visit me here!!!
I would love to hear from you!
Thanks for all of your continuous support and prayers,
Dan
P.S. I have posted an album of pics on facebook.
2 comments:
Hey Dude: You're a good man. Sometimes I think you're too hard on yourself.
You are doing good things. Thanks for that.
See you soon.
Hey man, we'll miss you over Xmas.
Looks like I will probably be in Africa in March, maybe I'll see you then.
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