As my time here draws to a close, I have been reflecting quite a bit on how much things have changed for me, both in Kenya and back at home in America (or should I say the “states” so I get used to saying that now).
When I first moved to my community of Mumias, anytime I would walk to town the word “Mzungu” (meaning white person) would be called out to me. Now when I walk through town I often hear the word “webo” - hopefully spelled correctly. After several months of hearing that I finally asked a friend what that word means. I was told it means “girl of our tribe” in the local language of Luhya. I heard this and a slow smile crept over my face. Finally after putting in my time of nearly 2 years, the town of Mumias views me as a local. I find this to be a good feat because Mumias isn’t a tiny village that is easy to integrate into. It’s a fairly good size town with many different people everyday.
I also think back to when I first started to teach. I still remember the first day of teaching classes, as I walked towards the door of the classroom it felt as if my heart was going to jump out of my chest. My hands couldn’t stop shaking (which isn’t exactly what you want when you have to teach using sign language). It would take an entire class or two… or three for me to get the kids to understand what I wanted to happen. But just last week I had taught my last life skills class and the topic was healthy relationships. The students brainstormed a list of all the different types of relationships and were able to list so many. Then they made up dramas within 5 minutes that portrayed different healthy and unhealthy relationships. I couldn’t stop smiling the entire time I watched them present their dramas. 2 years ago, they wouldn’t have been able to do that…. But now they can and they do even better than expected.
My first 5 terms of teaching at my school, I would wonder how much influence I really had in being here. My thoughts have finally been answered this last term. Almost everyday the past month the students ask and confirm the date that I will be leaving Mumias. They beg and plead for me to stay and continue to teach them until they graduate. They tell me that when they leave school at the end of the term I better hide because they will be crying knowing I won’t be here when they return. The other teachers have told me how they have noticed how much the students enjoy my teaching and that I will be sadly missed when gone. Sometimes you’re never told how much you are affecting someone’s life. I am lucky enough to have been told.
However, as happy as I am to know how I have made an impact on my students… they have made an impact on me 10 times larger which I can not put into words. As I write, tears fall down my cheeks knowing that I will be leaving them soon.
It is such a bittersweet leaving my community. I am truly excited to come back to the States and see my friends and family again. But the thought of leaving my girls makes my heart start to pound just as it did my first day of teaching as I took my steps towards the classroom. It’s interesting how things do change.
Kenya… it’s been amazing, and I will see you once again someday. But until then, America get ready because I’m coming back!
