Hold On, We're Going Home

            My blog has been pretty dormant since I returned to the states, so today, since I have some free time, I figured I’d make a new post. As of today, September 22, I’ve been home from South Africa for exactly two months. Hardly an hour goes by that I don’t think about my nine weeks in that beautiful country; not a day has gone by that I don’t pine to return to the little, loving baboons of CARE, or the strong waters of the Atlantic Ocean around Gansbaai. Everyday I miss waking up before sunrise to pack up the boat for a day out at sea with the great white sharks. Everyday I miss the wild troop of baboons playing on the tin roof of the Mountain Lodge that served as my alarm clock. Not a day goes by that I don’t yearn to be back in South Africa. I already know that I’ll be back there next summer, and it can’t come fast enough. South Africa is the most beautiful, diverse, colorful, wonderful place I’ve ever been, and it’s a place I’d recommend to just about anyone. From my first time in the cage with the sharks to hanging out in the gorgeous city of Cape Town to meeting little Yolo and Darcy down by the river at CARE, I had so many unforgettable experiences in the nine weeks that I was lucky enough to have there.

            Coming back home to Texas, I definitely didn’t feel like that same person that I’d been before I left. Travelling internationally, especially alone like I was, is definitely an incredible learning experience. This summer I got to see how the people of South Africa live, and while there are some similarities, there’s quite a bit that’s different. From the food to the language to just the way people interact, spending time in South Africa helped me learn that not everyone does things the way we do here at home. Travelling to other countries can teach some life lessons that just can’t be learned any other way.

            Though I’ve fallen back into the “normal” mode of being home, I feel like something about me is different than before I left. For one, I’ve definitely become more independent and feel more comfortable being on my own. I mean, if I successfully maneuvered my way through a country I’d never been to, 9,000 miles from home, completely on my own, without having any trouble, I feel pretty good doing stuff around here solo. Maybe the experience of being my own boss made me mature more over the summer- I definitely feel a lot more comfortable getting around airports now! People warned me about going alone, but, knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have done it any other way. Being on my own was part of what made it so much fun.

            I know for sure that I’m going back next summer, hopefully for a little bit longer- eleven weeks is the longest that I can be in the country with just my passport (I’d need to get a visa to stay longer), so I think that’s going to be my goal. I’m not sure yet if I’m going to go back to both of the same projects, or just focus on one. One thing I do know is I’m definitely returning to White Shark Projects- that may have been the best month of my life, and I can’t wait to be out on the boat with those beautiful sharks again! See you next summer, South Africa. This post’s food for thought: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”- Terry Pratchett