Yesterday, I found myself quite introspective. Russ and I decided to consciously take on a spirit of gratefulness and went around the school thanking people for what they do. Whatever problems the school might have, there are some wonderful people here. It is a odd feeling to be celebrating a holiday inwardly; no one here knew or cared much about the holiday which means so much to us. It was like we had a secret that we were kind of sharing.
There is something to living away from home that creates a certain disconnectedness, a feeling that because we are out of sight, we are somehow out of the minds of people back in the US. Russ and I had a long discussion earlier in the week about how while home is wherever we make it, there is a larger circle of friends and family that we are naturally missing.
I am thankful today for a great many things: my wonderful caring husband Russ, our families back home who we were able to skype with over the past two days, the new friends we have made here and the fun we have with them, for the second summer I am having (I really do like wearing sundresses and sandals), for better fruits and vegetables than I expected, for our slower lifestyle, for the brilliant blue sky with expansive puffy white clouds, for the coolness of the mornings and evenings, for the freer evenings ahead for Russ and me (his students move into exams next week), for the kids in our complex who always make me smile, for Imelda who cleans our house (she is really a gift), for reliable internet service here at the school, for so many friendly Batswana (their smiles are infectious), and for the upcoming vacation time. I do not miss the gross commercialism that so invades the rest of the world, particularly today. There is certainly Christmas advertising in the stores here, but it is fairly mild. So that is another thing to be thankful for.
Last night, we went over to Jill and Steve Thompson's house for Thanksgiving. They have only been in Botswana since January, but have carved out a life and career overseas for the past fifteen years. They reminded us so fondly of our friends Irene and John who we met thirteen years ago in Namibia and who had similiar backgrounds. Their house was a haven every time we visited them in Windhoek. Shelley, the other American teacher at the school and her family came as well. Working or contracting with the State Department has its pluses, and their house was a lovely garden compound hidden behind high walls, and had a full kitchen with all the appliances (a convection oven! a food processor!). I have to say I miss having a microwave. We sat outside and ate and drank over delightful conversations. We feasted on smoked turkey with all of the trimmings, even pumpkin pie. True to form, I think we ate too much, but there is nothing like this kind of comfort food. It definitely sets a standard for tonight, which I don't expect to be as gracious in our small flat, but still will be a very enjoyable evening with our friends. I will leave that for another blog later this weekend.
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