The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind, but I am finally back in the United States! As I expected, saying goodbye to the home I had found in Honduras was really tough. In Nueva Suyapa I had four wonderful and somewhat exhausting despedidas (farewell parties)-- put on by my co-workers at school, my church, my closest friends, and my host family. These parties were a lot of fun, but they were also pretty emotional for me because I had the opportunity to hear how much I had meant to these people during the past year, as well as the opportunity to share how much they had meant to me. I can honestly say that I did not want to leave the community of people that I had found in Suyapa, and I especially was dreading saying my final goodbyes to my host parents, grandma, and siblings. Although it seemed like the week of goodbyes would never end, of course it did and I found myself on the bus heading toward San Pedro Sula for my final days with my MCC Honduras team. Those few days in San Pedro were really meaningful and important for me to process some of the experiences I had just had, and the time that lay ahead for me. In San Pedro they had another despedida for Mike, Christa, and I (the 1-year workers) as well as Virgil and Kathy Troyer who were leaving Honduras after having worked there for 4 years. It was really hard to say goodbye to these people, as well as the rest of the team who will be staying a while longer, because they have truly been my support system and some of my best friends this year.
After a few days of great food, fellowship, and swimming the three of us SALTers headed to Akron, PA for re-entry retreat with the other SALTers returning from countries all around the world. To be honest I was not super excited about this part of the process; I felt like I was done saying goodbye and I was ready to go home. But it turned out that the four days spent there was more helpful and refreshing than I ever expected. First of all, it gave me a chance to re-connect and spend quality time with some of my best friends from Bethel who had also done SALT in other countries-- Alison (Zambia), Rachel (Costa Rica), and Ben (Kenya). It was also amazing to hear stories about the crazy and awesome experiences everyone had had during the past year. Some were so different from what I experienced, but many were not that far off. It was amazing and very unique to be in a place where I felt I had a connection with each and every person, and where I felt like I was understood. I wasn't sure I would feel that in the U.S.
From Akron I flew to Kansas, where I am now. The past week I have had a great time relaxing and re-connecting with the friends I have here, especially my amazing Bethel modmates. It has also been awesome to spend time with my boyfriend, Sam. I'm getting spoiled and it's great! :)
Although it feels good to be in my home country, it is hard and feels a little strange. There were small initial shocks like so many white people (this really was my first shock), everything in English, drinking fountains, flush toilets, and grocery stores with an abundance of everything. Sinks with running water and drinking out of the tap still makes me feel kind of uncomfortable, but I think I will appreciate it so much more now. There are also little things that have changed since I was here last. People here have had experiences that have changed them here in the States, just like I have in Honduras. People have moved, people have gotten married, people have died, and babies have been born. It's amazing and exciting how much can happen in just one year. One thing that has been on my mind this week is that I don't want to forget. I don't want to get so absorbed in North American culture that I forget what it felt like to live on my little street by the bus terminal in Nueva Suyapa, to take public transportation everywhere or to be comfortable living simply and in community with my neighbors. I hope I can remember what it felt like to eat mangoes with my host mom on the front steps and to read to my little brothers at night. I will miss a lot of things and places in Honduras, but most of all I will miss the people. The people I would talk to on the street, my co-workers, the people at church, my Danish friends, my gringo friends, and most of all my host family. I had a chance to call them from Skype the other day, and it was so good to talk to Dona Juanita, Hector, and Paolo! I found out that I have not lost my Spanish yet (thankfully!) but it was hard knowing they are so far away. But I am still hopeful that someday I will be able to go back, either to live or to visit. That is comforting to me.
Here is a short video called The Danger of a Single Story that we watched during Orientation, and that I recently re-watched. I liked it the first time I watched it, but watching it after this year really hit home even more. It put into words a lot of things I have been thinking about but was unable to say, especially about how it is so important to get to know people before making assumptions about them. I think we all make assumptions whether we mean to or not, even if it means "feeling sorry" for people who live in poverty. I have realized that these are the people we should be taking notes from in a lot of ways rather than feeling like we need to help or save them. This video also made me think about how the U.S. only sees a single story of Honduras through the media-- the violent, corrupt, and dangerous side. Those things do exist, but there is SO much more to the country, and so many beautiful places and people. I am so thankful that I got to see many sides of the story of Honduras. Anyway, if you have 19 minutes to spare check it out: The Danger of a Single Story.
Tomorrow I get on a place for California. I can't wait to see my family and friends there! I will be cooking for the Fall camps at Keola through October, and then the plan is to move back to Kansas for awhile. We will see where life takes me from there.
I want to thank you all so much for your interest and friendship and prayers this past year. I have appreciated the support I have felt during this journey more than I can say-- it was what got me through the hard days. I hope to see and talk with all of you soon.
Bendiciones y abrazos.
Keila
Nueva Suyapa
Nueva Suyapa
