Paradise Lost

 

 

Swazis are open, friendly. they greet each other with this secret handshake. They look you square in the eye. They ask probing questions. It is their way... they want to understand the way you see the world. They do not look for offense; they always give the benefit of the doubt. Have I ever felt so at home among strangers?

 

Gigi too feels a kinship with the world around her, but perhaps a little differently. It should be said that Gigi believes she communicates with animals. One of the horses in the Bolivian equestrian club once put its head on her shoulder and she took it for a hug. She kept hoping that this horse might feel that same impulse of affection on another one of our weekly visits but it never happened again. Still, her reactions catch me off guard. We heard a chirping noise outside during school one day. I told her, "Gigi, go see if monkeys are outside." Her response? "Those are probably monkeys who came because I was singing. I will go sing to them more.” And out she went.

 

I find myself really enjoying my kids these days in a way that is new to me. This week as we played Scattegories Gigi deftly defended "bees" in response to the category "A Way to Get From Here to There" based on an episode of The Magic Schoolbus. Her logic impressed me! While reading our answers for musical instruments that begin with “B,” we laughed till we cried when we realized Tovi listed "banshees" because he thought that was the name for banjos. 

 

I am thankful for these times of levity. Health issues for both myself and Danny have us planning an early departure from post. And I am utterly heartbroken. I will miss my friends. The language I was beginning to pick up. The views from the valley- I have yet to tire of them. The red, red dirt. The incredible birds- including a bright red one (southern bishop?), the black birds with the orange wing tips (only the royal family of Swaziland can wear its feathers), the guinea fowls, the owl that haunted our neighborhood and the geese that interrupted the peace of a quiet morning of school lessons or a service at church. I will miss our small box of a building at church, comprised mostly of Bandile’s family and the Sithole kids. The acappella worship songs sung too slow but with a sound like it was coming deep from inside their core. The Zulu songs with all the clicks.... The cheeky x clicks or the clucky q clicks or the tongue-smacky c clicks. Zulu and SiSwati are very similar- akin to Spanish and Portuguese. Yeabo. 

Vousile helping me with my Swazi wrap. 

Oluwafunmilayo challenging me to the world's slowest game of scrabble. She's an aspiring photographer.

Cheerleading chit chats with Elysa. 

Dominic’s first forays into youth group. Figuring out who he is.... His own person. A person who sees me washing dishes and hugs me saying, "You’re so dedicated."

 Gigi’s first real crush: "G.M." Guy...and his 7-year-old pledges of undying love on a birthday card or Sunday school craft. Love declarations to the girl who comes to church singing Irish sea shanties...

Put'im inalongboat till he's sober, 

Put'im inalongboat till he's sober,

Put'im inalongboat till he's sober earl-ay in the morning! 

Hide me in a longboat. How can we leave this paradise?