5-11 September 2009
Posted By Sika on June 7, 2010
When I got back, we finally had my leaving party from work. There’s a whole ritual that happens when someone gets a gift. The gift-giver or representative of the group who is giving the gift holds the gift up high and dances over to give it to the recipient, where both people observe respect. When I was getting my leaving gift, the batteries on my camera died, and so Esther had to go back and do it all again with the school’s camera.
Gama didn’t really want to give a speech, and I didn’t really want him to, but since he’s Dean of Students, neither of us could avoid it. What he said was nice, though: He said that the students were upset I was leaving, and that they said my office was a place to go not just when they had problems, but also to learn new things. Ferestes, as acting CD, gave one of those classic Malawian speeches that always make me giggle but also wonder what I did wrong. She said it was possible I had offended people or people had offended me, and she hoped I’d forget that and only remember the good stuff. That was so much better than at Jackie’s leaving party (my first exposure to these speeches) where Matron asked every one who may have offended Jackie to stand u and beg forgiveness,
I felt really guilty because I wrote thank you cards to many staff, but ran out before I got to Matron. I told her I’d send a postcard, and she seemed to take that ok.
The present they gave me was a painted bag that says “Malawi.” I really liked it, but Matron didn’t believe me. When she came to tell me how hard she worked to get the function organized, she begged me not to give away the bag. I said, of course I wouldn’t and she said, “You can even use it.” I said, “I know, I am using it” and she said, “No, you really can use it, please don’t give it away.” It was weird all around.
Another day, I had lunch with Kris and Ben, and Ben told me about how Thoko calls him a a lazy boy. But, after she burned Memory’s birthday cake, he has the the perfect response: “At least lazy boys don’t burn birthday cakes.” I had fun organizing my days around seeing all my friends and always pretending I would see them all again so I would never have to say goodbye.
No comments yet.