Integrated

One week ago, I was preparing to fly home to Namibia. Home, home is now Namibia. I referred to Namibia as ‘home’ countless times during my visit to the USA. Every time, it caught me by surprise because as much as I consider the USA home and as much as I enjoyed time with my family, I knew I was away. I was not home.

Peace Corps talks a lot about integrating into our community. They teach us that the more we integrate into our community, then our service will be that much more effective and enjoyable. My time away from my community in Otjiwarongo made me realize that I have fully integrated into my community. I missed matrone, I missed ‘my’ babies, I missed my teacher friends and my learners. I missed my daily walk, often with one of my housemates. I missed relaxing in my hammock and talking to folks as they walked by.

I was humbled by my housemate and hostel girls greeting me before I even got out of the car. They did not know when I would arrive, so they were keenly watching for me. They all gave me big hugs, carried my luggage to my room, saying, “Ms. Bishop, we missed you”. “We worried you would not come back”. “Miss, I am so happy you are here”. “Miss, don’t go any more”.

When my service is complete, I will return to my family and friends in the USA. I will renew my home there, but until then and forever after, Otjiwarongo, Namibia will also have a place in my heart called home.

Some notes about the video…Many of these are just photos not video and not necessarily in order. I didn’t take video or photos when I was with my sister, Vickie. I was able to attend Sal’s rehearsal and wedding on July 4 and 5, then I was with Vickie until she died on July 21 (the day I was supposed to return to Namibia), attended the funeral on July 26, took a road trip with my niece to see other family in Georgia, and finally back to Philadelphia to fly ‘home’ to Namibia on August 4. Oh yeah, I was treated for asthmatic bronchitis while in the USA, thus the photo of me with a nebulizer.