Our recovery has been interesting. Looking back, I think that we have gone through all of the stages of grieving post-return. Grieving for the time we spent there, and grieving in our absence. I didn’t think of it that way while going through it, but as I’m starting to emerge out of the fog, I can see that is the case. Even though it is messy and choppy, we are slowly learning more about how our time in Africa has shaped us as we reflect upon the experience we were able to have.
I wish that I could tell you exactly how it affected us, how we think about it now, and how it will influence our future. That would be nice. Realistically though, we are still learning these things ourselves, and to be honest, sometimes we avoid thinking about it because of the good and painful memories alike.
If I could describe our current over-all conditions (although our days vary of course), I would say that we feel like lost, confused people. We have yet to find our place in this little world, and don’t exactly know even where to look. We are occupying our time with the things that we know how to (the named categories above), but when I think about our futures, all I see is a blank slate.
Not only have we been recovering emotionally, but as you all are far too aware of yourselves, life in the states can be complicated. In comparison to Africa, I feel like we have to fill out a form for everything we do!
Call this and that company, pay this fee, fill out your information to pay for a purchase, enter this form to use this website to connect you to another website which is really just a search engine to connect you to a hundred other websites that you have to sign up for individually to enter your information to connect you with jobs in your area that you may or may not qualify for and that may or may not actually exist. Its crazy! So much for being a discreet citizen. I was used to it before, and now we are having to adjust to it all over again.
We came back to a pile of unanswered mail, left-over tax and insurance problems that were supposedly taken care of before we left, and all new issues to tackle on our entrance back into this very well-recorded and well-controlled society. After just having finished reading the Hunger Games trilogy, it makes me wonder….
Aside from our emotional, physical, and technological recoveries, we have been able to travel through NC several times to see my family, Columbia to see friends and family, and we are heading to Charleston this weekend for my cousins wedding!
Right now, we are living in Elliston, VA with Drew’s dad and step-mom, Tree. They have been incredible. They have been very understanding to our ever-changing lifestyle, and have done a great job of taking care of us. We are planning on staying in this area as far as we know, and as we build up some financial credibility, we will start to look for a place of our own.
Now for job-hunting. After submitting approximately 25-30 applications (not including temp agencies) over the last month and a half, I finally was hired last week by Ann Taylor LOFT. Although this isn’t a permanent career choice, I am really grateful for the job and am definitely enjoying it so far (the clothing discounts won’t hurt either!). Drew is looking for jobs in carpentry as well, and we are hoping that something comes to fruition soon.
We have started visiting a few churches and have connected with a couple of Drew’s old friends (yay Carrie and Bennett!), so we feel like slowly, ever so slowly, we will find our bearings soon.
We are grateful for all of you who have done a great job loving us since we have returned….for those of you who have asked great questions and been interested in our time in Africa, and our recovery upon return. We are going to attach some pictures of our goodbyes and the celebration we shared with Seeds of Hope (and have plenty of other pictures we will attach in the future), but please feel free to e-mail us, leave a comment, or call us with any more questions you have about our time there!
Love to all,
Julianna (on behalf of Drew too)
Saying goodbye to Bishop Alexis and his children in Gahini, Rwanda.
Leaders in the diocese (from left to right):
Jered: Secretary of diocese
James: Manager of Seeds of Peace
Drew: Manager of Seeds of Hope
Alfred: Director of Seeds of Peace and Seeds of Hope
Our friend Hope with her daughter Providence. She worked in a little local hardware shop that Drew and I frequented.
Us with our goodbye gifts, made my our Muslim friend from the market, Baraka.
Great friends from church on our last Sunday. The woman to my left didn't speak any English, but joined my class and did so well! She was so diligent, and when I left she couldn't stop crying and thanking me.
My little friends from across the fence. Teaching them how to smile BIG since they never smile in pictures.
The little one, seen above on my hip.
Us with our assistant manager, Francois, on the day we left Nyagatare.
At the Seeds of Hope celebration the night before we left. One friend took me to get my hair done, and another let me borrow their traditional dress (a great honor).
Everyone enjoying the meal.
Drew making his goodbye speech (even the Africans told him to stop talking...it must have been long haha).
Receiving our gift of the Bible in Kinyarwanda from Pastor Bernard and a deacon of the church we attended in Nyagatare.
Giving our second gift (the first being the meal) to Francois, the assistant manager, who was accepting it for all the employees at Seeds of Hope. It was several pictures in a frame of us with the employees.
I am reaching my left arm to touch my right, which is a sign of respect when you shake hands with the elderly, or those above you in status.
Saying goodbye to our World Race friends just a couple days before we flew out in Kigali, Rwanda.
Here we are standing in front of a fun little restaurant started by a Canadian called "Mr. Chips". It was the only burger joint in the country!
We have other pictures of before/after renovations, the town, and other people that we will post sometime over the next month or two. Hope you enjoyed!
