Farewell?

Well as some of you know and many of you probably do not know, my time with the Amy Biehl Foundation has come to an end.  I was on a grant from Omprakash which funded me until the end of June and this past Wednesday was my last official day in the office.  It was pretty surreal and I don't feel like I adequately said goodbye.  You see, it's school holidays now so most of the staff hasn't even been into the office for the last 2 weeks.  I left a rather empty office and a quiet building.

But the people that were there, the core office staff, are some pretty special ladies.  Since it's only been the 4 of us for the last 2 weeks, we've really gotten to know each other on a deeper level.  Cikizwa and I sing in the afternoons, Ilchen and I grab coffee from Kamal (our Somalian friend downstairs), Afiefa and I share sweet treats and Zandi and I trade places as receptionist every time she has to run an errand or two.  It's kind of weird to think about not going back in to ABF everyday, to hear them say my name and to take coffee and sweets orders from them.  It still isn't real.

I guess it will really hit when I go back in a few weeks for my official farewell party with all the staff.  I've now been with ABF for almost a year and these people have become more than coworkers and colleagues, they've become family.  They've received me with open arms, brought me into their lives, their families, their homes, their struggles, their joys and I am all the more richer for that.  They gave me a Xhosa name, they share what they have, they invite me to take courses with them, and they even tried to find me an African man so I wouldn't go home.  They are truly special people.  They're not perfect, and I won't lie, there was plenty of office politics and drama, but they did welcome me and accept me like I was one of their own and for that I am deeply grateful.

As I set off into this next chapter (half marathon in Knysna, South Africa and then up to Mozambique for 8 days) I don't want to forget the education and the love that these people have shown me.  I know now that my family has grown a bit bigger since I left...and includes a lot more people with different colored skin...