Transitions

July 21 > From one place to the next… in, out, through the other. My last week in Mozambique was spent with those I love dearly in Beira at KEDESH the boys’ orphanage. The last 3 days I traveled back to Machanga with a new MCC country representative and her 2 daughters (ages 11 and 13). Although the long, bumpy drive was not very pleasant to the new comers, the girls’ center was a day of new experiences for these two white, very blond girls. Eyes were opened wider on both perspectives – the American children as well as the Mozambican girls. It was great sharing my life in the bush with people from a Western culture who know my life-style outside of the bush. They pointed out differences of rural lives and were exited about the same things I am: Gazillions of stars, eating by lantern, singing and dancing to beautiful songs and steps without a radio, sleeping on an estera (canisu floor matt). I led these two white girls around our village and they too became the new article of Machanga.

I am not very fond of goodbyes. I tend to wish that I could just escape the whole fair-well situation and have those I left-behind know and understand how much I appreciated them and will miss them without the tough departure. I had to say my last goodbyes to the girls in Machanga, to the village people and my dear neighbors and friends. I spent my last night at KEDESH (after signing up for university courses and having the power go off moments after I got all my courses chosen, thank goodness just in the nick-of-time.. literally!). They put on a talent show of dancing and singing > then the next day I flew off to South Africa. The whole airport process was unorganized and rushed. My Christmas packages from December 2009 were discovered, delivered, and distributed to me in the airport. I gave most givable things (chocolate and candies) away and deposited my 7-month-late presents in the remaining space of my suitcase. Rush rush! Rapio! Vamos! I hugged the boys and my dear friend Heather goodbye, last minute harassments from the airport officials and hopped on the plane. Tears only began to fall when I put ‘Coldplay’ on the Ipod and the wheels lifted off my Mozambican soil.

My couple days in South Africa were spent with my colleagues who spent their last year in either South Africa or Lesotho. It was great to joke, analyze, reflect, discuss, compare and contrast our last year and just to have people who can understand both worlds with me.

I have just arrived in Akron, PA for the re-entry MCC-SALT retreat. SALT participants from all over the world trickled in throughout the day from all over the world. Although we all connected so well a year ago at the orientation, an awkward presence exists now. Everyone has had such amazing, different experiences and there are no questions or amount of time or proper answers to do each one its’ justice in how that experience played out. We meet again, greet each other and everyone can acknowledge to avoid the questions: “So, how was it?”, “What was your favorite part?”, “Tell me about _______”. There is limited time and limited understanding on both ends. I will need to keep this in mind for when meeting people who are only mildly interested and will loose interest minutes after I start going in depth about my experiences. I was told not to ‘throw all my pearls to the swine’. Be home in Winnipeg the 27th this month. This has been such an experience and I want to say thanks to all who have been keeping in touch, praying, supporting and thinking of me over this year. It really has only strengthened my desire to travel the world more and help those who need it at the same time. The things I have learnt and will miss are uncountable and some even unexplainable. What a life. What a culture. What a place. What an experience. As time goes on the things I long for will become strongly more evident.

Transitions

July 21 > From one place to the next… in, out, through the other. My last week in Mozambique was spent with those I love dearly in Beira at KEDESH the boys’ orphanage. The last 3 days I traveled back to Machanga with a new MCC country representative and her 2 daughters (ages 11 and 13). Although the long, bumpy drive was not very pleasant to the new comers, the girls’ center was a day of new experiences for these two white, very blond girls. Eyes were opened wider on both perspectives – the American children as well as the Mozambican girls. It was great sharing my life in the bush with people from a Western culture who know my life-style outside of the bush. They pointed out differences of rural lives and were exited about the same things I am: Gazillions of stars, eating by lantern, singing and dancing to beautiful songs and steps without a radio, sleeping on an estera (canisu floor matt). I led these two white girls around our village and they too became the new article of Machanga.

I am not very fond of goodbyes. I tend to wish that I could just escape the whole fair-well situation and have those I left-behind know and understand how much I appreciated them and will miss them without the tough departure. I had to say my last goodbyes to the girls in Machanga, to the village people and my dear neighbors and friends. I spent my last night at KEDESH (after signing up for university courses and having the power go off moments after I got all my courses chosen, thank goodness just in the nick-of-time.. literally!). They put on a talent show of dancing and singing > then the next day I flew off to South Africa. The whole airport process was unorganized and rushed. My Christmas packages from December 2009 were discovered, delivered, and distributed to me in the airport. I gave most givable things (chocolate and candies) away and deposited my 7-month-late presents in the remaining space of my suitcase. Rush rush! Rapio! Vamos! I hugged the boys and my dear friend Heather goodbye, last minute harassments from the airport officials and hopped on the plane. Tears only began to fall when I put ‘Coldplay’ on the Ipod and the wheels lifted off my Mozambican soil.

My couple days in South Africa were spent with my colleagues who spent their last year in either South Africa or Lesotho. It was great to joke, analyze, reflect, discuss, compare and contrast our last year and just to have people who can understand both worlds with me.

I have just arrived in Akron, PA for the re-entry MCC-SALT retreat. SALT participants from all over the world trickled in throughout the day from all over the world. Although we all connected so well a year ago at the orientation, an awkward presence exists now. Everyone has had such amazing, different experiences and there are no questions or amount of time or proper answers to do each one its’ justice in how that experience played out. We meet again, greet each other and everyone can acknowledge to avoid the questions: “So, how was it?”, “What was your favorite part?”, “Tell me about _______”. There is limited time and limited understanding on both ends. I will need to keep this in mind for when meeting people who are only mildly interested and will loose interest minutes after I start going in depth about my experiences. I was told not to ‘throw all my pearls to the swine’. Be home in Winnipeg the 27th this month. This has been such an experience and I want to say thanks to all who have been keeping in touch, praying, supporting and thinking of me over this year. It really has only strengthened my desire to travel the world more and help those who need it at the same time. The things I have learnt and will miss are uncountable and some even unexplainable. What a life. What a culture. What a place. What an experience. As time goes on the things I long for will become strongly more evident.

• Things I will miss = ☺ • Things I Wont miss as much ☹
• ☺ Gorgeous sun rises and sun sets
• ☺The ‘ta-ta’s from the little children running after the muzungu • ☹The hisses and whistles for me to talk English with random people (mostly men)
• ☺My morning routines in Machanga (morning run, sweep and wash floor, tea and breakfast…) • ☹Part of the routine - Checking my shoes each morning for creatures, shaking my cloths out for other creepy-crawlies
• ☺The excitement of people when I come into their home and their willingness and happiness to serve • ☹Feeling awkward I could not finish a mountain of rice or xima
• ☺The inventiveness of materials when one cannot afford something else (a bottle of oil used to make and sell traditional drinks, an old hot chocolate container for laundry soap or piggy-bank, de-thread rice sacks for string etc) • ☹The constant garbage mess on the ground b/c there is no garbage system.
• ☺The delicious foods, walking through paths and identifying all the edible foods and leaves in the bush > almost everything is edible • ☹Waiting so long for a meal your stomach feels like it’s eating itself.
• ☺The constant challenge of learning the Chindau dialect • ☹Being left out of conversations/ jokes and look like that clueless, awkward, white chick
• ☺Roosters waking me up, Chickens crossing my path on my morning run, fresh boiled eggs sold on every corner •
•
• ☺The gift of food > being presented with a papaya or a roasted corn on the cob • ☹Being given food when not hungry but are obligated to eat it > charred chicken stomach, fermented-corn-meal drink MAHEU (v. filling).
• ☺Using the excuse of miscommunication / language-barrier when I screw up to cover mistakes • ☹Actually screwing up because of miscommunication
• • ☹Not being understood/ lack of ability to communicate feelings. Language simplifies how I actually feel
• ☺The freedom of song. There is no shame or embarrassment > sing it loud and proud • ☹The 3-hour (plus) church services… and then the singing and dancing to prolong the service afterwards
• ☺The comfort of my mosquito net ‘bubble’ • ☹Setting up my mosquito net each night
• • ☹Having to slip out of my mosquito net to go to the washroom in the middle of the night
• ☺The intense rainstorms! Natural Movie theater • ☹Having to go to the washroom in the middle of the night i.e. outside (pray its not raining out)
• ☺The moonlight so brilliant-bright as I am going to the washroom in the middle of the night • ☹The fear of the night guard seeing me run to the washroom in my ‘knickers’ in the moonlight
• ☺The way I can say “you farted” in three languages and we all laugh at the same bodily function. •
• ☺Climbing exotic fruit trees and eating your reward high up in its strong elephant leg like limbs • ☹The red ants that pinch your fingers and toes when latching in the crotches of the mango and cashew trees
• ☺My friends! Countless amazing people and stories told • ☹People who think they are my friends. The whistles, and hisses to get my attention from afar. My name is NOT your sister.
• ☺The simplicity of life – one does not need much to live a happy healthy life. • ☹Not having to use a plug-outlet-converter every time I want to change something and hoping it is sunny enough to charge the solar panel
• ☺Too much to mention….. •


July 28 > Wow, just got home in the PEG! Everything is straggly familiar as if I had only left yesterday. A few more houses painted, new garden arrangements, same lazy cat ☺. My niece, whom is almost 2 now is walking and talking up a storm> like a new kid in my life. I have had a great initial re-entry here, but have been warned that in some weeks time (perhaps around 6 weeks) I will start feeling the reverse-culture shock.

Now that I am back home, I feel I am going to be bombarded with LOTS. Mom has already scheduled numerous appointments ahead of my arrival, I have various speeches to make (booking opens now!) and people to talk to. Next week I am off to Alberta to be a youth leader for my churches youth-group, going back to the café to work, and starting up full time school at Uni of Winnipeg. Keep me in your mind and prayers as I go through these transitions (as well as finding a good phone plan! Suggestions anyone?). This will be my last blog entry in this particular blog-address, but my next adventures will are not too far away (Japan next summer). I will keep all posted for my next gallivanture.

Cheers

Alexis Goertz




July 28 > Wow, just got home in the PEG! Everything is straggly familiar as if I had only left yesterday. A few more houses painted, new garden arrangements, same lazy cat ☺. My niece, whom is almost 2 now is walking and talking up a storm> like a new kid in my life. I have had a great initial re-entry here, but have been warned that in some weeks time (perhaps around 6 weeks) I will start feeling the reverse-culture shock.

Now that I am back home, I feel I am going to be bombarded with LOTS. Mom has already scheduled numerous appointments ahead of my arrival, I have various speeches to make (booking opens now!) and people to talk to. Next week I am off to Alberta to be a youth leader for my churches youth-group, going back to the café to work, and starting up full time school at Uni of Winnipeg. Keep me in your mind and prayers as I go through these transitions (as well as finding a good phone plan! Suggestions anyone?). This will be my last blog entry in this particular blog-address, but my next adventures will are not too far away (Japan next summer). I will keep all posted for my next gallivanture.

Cheers

Alexis Goertz

Forest Gump goes to outer space

Time has come close to the end. One thing I will miss for sure is the love of simple entertainment. Whether its rocks or sticks, or free music: someone has speakers and BLASTS them to the MAX. The 25th of June was Mozambique’s Independence Day. I had the opportunity to stay with 3 other girls at one of their houses in the bush. When night came, the bush cleared out to move to where the ‘free music’ and action was. One of the local ‘barakas’ was playing music and people of all sorts came. Young to old to VERY old. Even mothers with sleeping babies on their back were dancing as the baby was bobbed to sleep. Old grandmothers stomped feet and held their crooked backs swinging their heads vigorously side to side in delight. I have never knew ‘discos’ existed where ALL generations of ALL types were present at the same time, enjoying the same music.

Then there I was… the only white one in the crowd with a group of children who have never seen a white. Eyes were basically popping out of heads and I had a crew follow my like newborn ducks in unbelief. Some had the courage to run up to me and touch me apparently its good luck. Others believe they will be healed. I wish it were true so I would never have to get vaccines.


Along with SHREK (the big, digitally animated, green ogre), Tom Hanks, AKA Forest (from Forest Gump) is the new favorite. What adventures will Forest be up tonight?! The girls’ watch in fascination as Forest is launched into space (APOLLO 13), then the next day does not speak English and is locked in an airport (THE TERMINAL). The other night Forest (Tom Hanks) had an adventure they all could relate to. CAST AWAY. They keeled over laughing as this mid-aged muzungu (white man) tried to open a coconut by throwing it at a rock wall or biting it, trying to start a fire, cutting-up his feet on sharp ocean shells and being inventive with the FEDEX deliveries he comes across washing up on the shore. They rooted for Forest and his ball-friend Wilson and cheered when he finally escaped the vast island and made it to homeland.

My leaving of Machanga is only becoming a little more real each day as things are being packed, given away and pictures and decorations taken down. my room is feeling empty and vast and I know that there will always be a space in my heart that only machanga can fill. I am leaving ‘um pequeno padaso’, a small piece here. It is the people that are so important. I feel like I am leaving so many relationships at a point where they are growing the strongest. Along with the people, the language. I know that I am going to be submersed back home to a place where Ndau does not exist. I am at a point where the locals know me and simply talk to me in Ndau ONLY. I understand a great deal, but only can properly respond in Portuguese. I only realized this morning how much I understand when I take Ndau verbs and use them in a sentence of Portuguese. Example “Vou kusamba”, where vou is Portuguese: I go and kusamba is Ndau: to take a bath. Or when Tio Injala (Guard) asks “Mopinda Kugogoma kwapi nyamasi?” (You’re going to run where today?) and I respond without realizing he spoke Ndau and I understood. Language is a barrio, but as I am crossing it secrets are being reveled and stories unfolded (mostly traditional stories of the monkey and the rabbit which have absolutely no moral or point but rather to give laughs).

As we wait on dinner in the star lit sky the girls sing out loud in beautiful African song. It brings an ache to my heart and tears to my eyes to think it will be left here as I move on.

This is the time where one goes through the ups and downs of departure. I have always hated being categorized, where a book of scenarios predicts how I am going to feel and act, but obviously a lot of research was put into this research and the culture-shock-roller-coaster has brought me to the part of up’s and down’s before departing for home. Keep my in your thoughts and prayers as I finish off this last month in Moz.