Time to Move On

Hello Everyone! It’s hard to believe that this update talks about the last time I was at site-the last 2.5 weeks as a volunteer in Gengeston. It was an eventful few weeks!

When it came time to head from the city to the village for my last time there, we experienced the worst ride I’ve had here in Suriname. The wagi was filled to the max and already running late. Once we got about 10 minutes out of the city, the van began to run funny; you could feel there was a problem. It started to overheat, so all 12 of us piled out of the wagi to wait on the side of the road while the driver attempted to fix it. Then we piled back in, only to stop again less than a minute up the road, and pile out. This went on probably half a dozen times before the driver realized he wasn’t going to be able to fix the car. During this time, all of us passengers are sitting on the side of the road, in the sun, trying to ration out our bottle of water bc who knew how long until we were going to find another ride, an obviously it’s really hot here! About four hours of sitting on the road and trying to wave down rides, we were able to find a ride back to the city with another volunteer and her father who were heading to the city (Hello Cooks!) from a stay at a tourist camp. What a long day – we all just wanted to get somewhere to get out of the heat and sun- and some water! But, throughout it all I just kept thinking- this is my last trip to site ever, so it doesn’t matter how badly it goes.

I spent some time visiting other volunteer’s sites for the last time. At my friend Jack’s we spent the afternoon working on his lathe where he helped me to turn a project to take home. We wanted to do something simple, so we decided on an egg. He constructed the lathe himself and has made several pieces of furniture, rolling pins and candle holders on it. Quite impressive. Even though I spent most of the time watching-it’s hard on your calves when you’re pumping it to turn the lathe-it was a really enjoyable afternoon. It was strange to visit villages for the last time, to walk the trail between them for the last time.

One of the things I have been wanting to do is see some monkeys up close. You know there are everywhere here, but it’s difficult for me to see them without my glasses (which I haven’t worn since I first got here), so I made a point to bring them to site. My friend Saba took Johanna and I out in his boat at dusk in search of them, but unfortunately we didn’t see any. The next morning, I got a call from him who said to meet him at the river. A family of monkeys was swinging around right outside the village! They were still a little ways away, but we could clearly make them out, them swinging from tree to tree with their long tails.

We had a meeting in regards to the last project we were working on: latrines. The men working on them were able to finish the three before I left. It was a simple project, and unfortunately we weren’t able to build as many as we would have liked, but the village will definitely benefit from them. We placed them in locations close to the elderly villagers, giving them a closer place to use the restroom, since many have major difficulties walking.

I spent a lot of time with the villagers I’d become closest to, going to their grounds to bring back wood (yes-carrying it on my head), visiting their work grounds where they cut wood, and just sitting with them at night chatting. I was trying to cram so much into the little time I had left there. I had so many conversations about America, what I would do there, when I would come back, what kind of work I would do, the family I would one day have (and at their request must bring to the village to meet them). There were so many time we would be talking about the future and it would hit me: this is it, this is the end, and who know if I would see these people again. The elderly would tell me when I visit in 5 years or so they would be gone, they would ‘lose life’ and I would tell them of course they would still be here! Yet deep down knowing this would probably be our final goodbye. I held back tears several times, which is very difficult to do!

So clearly the last two weeks were an emotional roller coaster, but I don’t think it really hit me until I was having my going away party, 3 days before I left. The day of the festivities, other volunteers came to my site to help me celebrate. Even though there was a group of us prepared to do the cooking, my friends in the village wouldn’t hear of it. They cooked everything (minus the popcorn) over wood fires in the shelter next to my house, preparing huge batches of beans, rice, chicken and noodles. It was a busy and exciting afternoon with women from all over the village stopping by to help. The party began later that night when my counterpart arrive with gigantic speakers, and as soon as he put the music on everyone was dancing. Handing out the food to a whole village was a bit stressful-forming lines wasn’t really working so everyone was just crowding around thrusting their dishes. The whole party had a really good feel to it, yet it still had sad undertones. Friends were giving me going away gift and we took so many pictures throughout the night. Everyone danced and had a good time, telling me the next day what a good party it had been. It was a huge success! Saturday was spent recouperating from the night before and packing up my house, which was a much bigger project than I had thought. Some of the kids helped me clean, in exchange for books, toys and candy that I was giving away. Giving away an entire house was quite the process. I wanted to be sure everyone got something and tried to keep things fair, but towards the end I just wanted all the stuff out!

Sunday was my last day at site and it started with church. The preacher gave a really nice speech about me, saying how much I had accomplished over the 2 years and how grateful the village was. After, the women’s organization presented me with a fancy kosu and thanked me again. It was such a nice service and very thoughtful-I was crying for most of it!

Later that day, I walked around the village saying goodbye and spending time with the people I had grown so close to and become so interested in. There was still more things from my house to give away, so I spent the afternoon handing things out. The women’s org cooked a lunch for me of rice and meat, so I group of us gathered to eat together. I was amazed at how helpful the village was, helping to clean my house, wash my dishes, and clean out my Durotank. Everyone was stopping by to bring more going away gifts and say goodbye; there were people constantly in my house the last day. I spent the evening at my neighbors house sitting on the front stoop in the dark and talking. (The village ran out of oil again-my last night there!). It was a really special time, my friends letting me cry-but telling me I didn’t need to be crying bc we would see each other again. The sweetest part was when little Herman fell asleep on my lap. It was so sad to think about how much I’ve grown to care for these kids and how I was uncertain of when I would see them again. I headed off to bed with my neighbor calling after me “Dumi weki lobi” or “sleep well love”.

The next morning, I woke up early for one last run which ended up being the best and longest one I’ve had here. I decided to take a turn in the path that I normally don’t venture past because it’s not cut very clearly, and I am so thankful I did. The path curved around to run along the river, with a huge tree as a bridge to cross the creek. It was beautiful. I then went back home and cleaned up before I made my last walk around the village. I handed out kosus to my favorite women and gave Johnny Walker to my counterpart and my friend Saba-they love the Red Label and it’s pricey here. It felt so surreal for my time to literally be ending. When it was time to go, the women carried my things to the river and then sat on the bank to wave good bye. I gave Herman and Teddy kisses goodbye, and had long hugs with Lizbeth and the older women. A boat of women passing by waved farewell, and the school kids lined up on the river bank to shout good bye. It was so difficult, yet a group of friends were with me in my boat, one with her arm around my shoulders the whole time. After we arrived to Atjoni, Peace Corps was there with a truck to take me to the city. We all gave hugs and said goodbye, promising to call and stay in touch, and them thanking me for helping them and I thanked them for helping me as well. I turned and saw them waving from the rearview mirror. The time had come to start the next chapter of my life, but this was one I would hold dearly and never forget. I'd spent alot of time listening to Tom Petty and found some of his lyrics to be very fitting and listened to them as I recounded the past 2 year adventure:

"It's time to move on, time to get going
What lies ahead, I have no way of knowing
But under my feet, baby the grass is growng
It's time to move on, it's time to get going
Broken skyline, movin' through the airport
She's an honest defector
Conscientious objector
Now her own protector
Broken skyline, which way to love land
Which way to something better
Which way to forgiveness
Which way do I go"