I've a fair bit of updating to do, but first I want to express my sorrow and anonymous condolences to the family of an embassy worker who passed away on Saturday. I was in Area Studies class with T at the Foreign Service Institute, and I remember her enthusiasm and passion for learning. She always had a smile on her face and her energy was catching. Even though I didn't know her well, those classes twice a week were enough for me to see that she was intelligent, fiery, determined. Here in Haiti she would stop into the office I worked in and say hello a couple times a week. I was surprised and pleased that she remembered who I was, even though I hadn't seen her since November. She leaves behind her two children and her husband, as well as an entire family of embassy coworkers who grieve for her.
The death of a coworker is startling and tragic, even if you didn't know the person well. It's closer to home and forces you to face reality: we are mortal, we are not indestructible, and sometimes we are lulled into a false sense of security. Oh, but that always happens to other people, we say as we continue along the same paths. There's no way that will happen to me.
But then it does, or it happens to someone you know, and you stumble a bit on your path, forced to change your direction.
There's no way to avoid heartbreak of any kind but for all our stubbornness and occasional naivety, we humans are brave. In spite of the dangers and troubles and woes that surround us, we somehow find the strength to get out of bed and leave our houses instead of crouching under our blankets, afraid to set foot outside for fear of disaster.
We are intrepid. We carry on.
And now on with our regulary scheduled program.
A few weeks ago, my cousin Z came down for a few days, which was beautiful. We went to the beach, the orphanage and to Petionville. We even stopped at a street market to get some art. I found a few geckos, a sea horse and another small frog which I am ridiculously excited about. I really do love the artwork here- it's so colorful and bright.
We also hosted a Monty Python Party, during which we showed Monty PYthon and the Holy Grail. Someone brought coconut cupcakes (see the connection with the coconut? As in, "you've got two 'alves of a coconut and you're banging 'em togethah!") I first saw MP&tHG when I was maybe thirteen, and I remember that my parents told us to cover our eyes at certain parts ("so, Sophie, how does it feel to watch this with your parents?"). Now that I'm an adult, they don't tell me to do that anymore but it's still a bit awkward watching some of those scenes with your parents in the room (one of the drawbacks of electing to spend another year with your parents).
Remember that post on Ile a Vache? Well, i got to write an article for the embassy's online news letter and it was pretty good, if I do say so myself! I loved being able to showcase my writing skills. Even if some "disgruntled readers" (read: jokester neighbors) make goofy comments, cough cough.
Soon that'll end though. I've got about five weeks left here and when I think of how fast the time has gone, I get a little nervous. Can I handle sharing a room? What about my classes? I got my first choices, yes, but how will it feel to enter the academic world again? I know I can do it- if there's one thing this gap year has taught me, it's that I can handle pretty much anything- but I'm worried about the chaos of a new school year. I'm also worried about my mom and how she'll handle being away from me.
I'll tell you a secret though- if you're having trouble adjusting to a new situation, a new job, a new house, a new anything, writing about it helps. I keep a journal on my nightstand by my bed and every night I make myself write down at least one thing that happened during the day and how it made me feel. You won't believe the difference it makes. Give it a go, see how it works.
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