CIB (Cait in Botswana)

Today is April 15th - Happy Tax Day! While I'm sure few are feeling excited this wonderful day - on this side of the hemisphere a different kind of excitement is definitely brewing. In 43 days I will begin flying home, to the other land that I love, America. Less than 6 weeks and I will be back in the U.S. of A.! Whoa!

Life has really been about wrapping up and beginning to move forward for the past few weeks. Mid-March the entire Bots 7 group gathered for one last time for our Close of Service (COS) Conference. It was very much a surreal experience to realize that this was the beginning of the end! I have also been busy wrapping up projects and trying to pass off continuing projects to community members.

On Monday I went down to Gaborone for my second time to experience one of my favorite things here - greeting the new volunteers! Yup, the Bots 9 group arrived in country on Monday! Amidst the excitement I had a few moments to ponder the fact that this was me --- TWO years ago. I still remember the feelings of anxiety, excitement, exhaustion and chaos as I entered into a country that was so foreign to me.

Two years later I won't say that I have it all down - I certainly don't, but I have come a long way. My Setswana is not perfect but I can communicate fairly well and I can understand others even better. In two years I have made new friends, gained lots of new experiences, been on many a cramped bus, eaten many a strange thing and laughed many a times.

I keep looking around my house knowing full well that the time to pack is rapidly approaching. I have been trying sort stuff out little by little, but so far have been unable to make the commitment to actually start putting things in suitcases.

I will say, for now, my focus is on leaving here - not so much getting there. I'm trying to prepare myself for the tears, the sadness and the evitable joy that comes with finishing such a journey.

During our COS conference we all took turns drawing and answering questions that we might get from people back home once we return. My question was perfect. "So, what was it really like?"

My answer? "It was all at once some of the best experiences of my entire life and some of the worst. I had some of my happiest moments and some of my saddest. But, given the chance, I would do it all over again."