A letter to Rocky

It has been a long time and as I sit here drinking a bottle of very good South African wine I am reminded of you (Rocky) and my fabulous experience in South Africa. I am writing to you to tell you that Africa made such a HUGE implace on my life, I only realised how much once I was home for a few months.

I had such a difficult time adjusting to the Canadian way again - dealing with idiots that just did not quite get what I was doing in Africa. It is hard being back and, having had so many cool experience, trying to tell people what you accomplished, saw, heard, felt and touched. Not many "get it".

I miss Africa soooooooo much. Never before in my life have I felt so free, uninhibited, alive and good - I feel I can breathe again. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality, your fun, your zest for life, and your laid-back South Africa ways. You always seemed to understand what I was going through, whether or not you said anything was beside the point - I felt a really nice bond between us.

I liked getting up in the morning and having shitty SA coffee with you, making you breakfast, having interesting conversations, laughing and picking up Pumla and Jack, driving them home, your fabulous smile and your amazing volunteer program. I look through photos I have and am so pleased with everything. Sure there are things that need fine tuning, but I had a GREAT TIME!!!!!

I did what I needed to do and did what I felt was necessary, and am sure I made an impact. A library is a pretty amazing thing to put together and, uyes, I accomplished all I had set out to do. YIPPEE!!! Thank you for letting me have the opportunity to do this. I am very grateful. Africa has my soul, I am indebted - I feel at home.

click here to go back to volunteers diary