If you follow me on instagram you may have known that I left Botswana for a few weeks to return to America. My mom wasn’t well and it was imperative that I return to spend time with her.
I am happy to report that she is much better. She returned to work while I was home and never have I seen someone be surrounded by so much love! I drove her to work while I was back and the first day she returned was amazing. Everyone was so happy to she her and so worried that she wasn’t coming back.
Everyone stopped to say hello and hug as we made our way to her unit of the hospital. I’ve never seen someone consumed by such lovely words, well wishes and celebration. The only thing I could compare it too is being in the room when a baby is born. The happiness that flows through the air reminded me of what I saw with my mom. I am so happy she is better.
Leaving home was really sad this time as opposed to almost a year ago when I left for staging. But I know my big sister and little brother will take care of her.
It was good being back in America. I ate so much and happily gained six squishy pounds. I read a ton of books and also chopped off my hair.
I read some and skimmed some…
In Botswana bathing with a bucket is one thing. But washing my hair was just becoming a hassle. I did some research and decided that a tapered cut would suffice. I just went down to my local barber, showed him photos and he buzzed away.
I smiled the whole time!
My hair was damaged anyway. The salt water at my Peace Corps site has been doing a number on my skin and tresses.
Here are photos of the cut and the next day.
Taped Cut!
Tapered cut wash n go
After two weeks it had completely grown out and I went back to cut the sides down lower.
A LOT LOWER!
I love it!
Taped Cut sides shaved lower
And just incase you didn’t know what my hair looked like before the cut, here are two photos.
BEDA Spain days
First day of school, BEDA Spain. My natural hair.
Back in Botswana I am happy my house wasn’t overrun by insects. I am quite the neat freak though so that would have been crazy. I don’t know why I feel so unattached from my site. Maybe it is because I am still trying to get projects up and going. It’s truly been difficult here…le sigh!
But it makes for a better story, no?
I left Botswana last month with just a backpack and returned this week with a suitcase. Filled to the brim with food and beauty products haha. What can I say!
It’s winter now here but where I live up north isn’t really that cold. On Monday I left the house really early to go food shopping. My kitchen was empty! On the way back to the bus terminal with multiple grocery bags in tow I was hit in the chest, rather hardly, by some crazy man. I would describe him as a “crack head” (pop culture definition) or a “mad man”.
That shit hurt!
I stopped for a second ready to yell and swing back but I decided to just keep walking.
Everyone around me just kept walking and staring at me. No one even asked if I was alright.
That’s the thing about the bystander effect…it’s real.
Anyway, I am fine. But I couldn’t help but wonder if that was a sign from GOD to show I shouldn’t have come back to Botswana.
Well my mother says I OVER ANALYZE EVERYTHING…she’s right.
That’s the thing about mommy’s…they always are!
Well I’m gonna hop off to bed now. I’ve had a pretty uneventful day of doing laundry, meal prepping and finishing my unpacking.
I hope you are all well.
Until next time.
Gosiame.
🙂