Saturday July 14
Meeting Host Families
Today was the day that we all had been waiting anxiously for and as the morning progressed, the anticipation deepened. As we all waited for a member of our host families to pick us up from 27 Musselcracker, the place we had comfortably called home for our first week in South Africa, some of us were nervous but I knew that we all were excited for the next step in our journey. It was going to be the main focus of our trip and today was the day that it began. I sat at the edge of my seat and all the questions I had about my new family crowded my head. I wanted to know if there were kids, what grade I was going to be in, what subject I would be teaching, where my family lived; all of which would be answered during my car ride to my new home.
The uneasy feelings I personally had about meeting my host family and leaving the new family-bond that the group of us had formed began to lessen when I witnessed one of the first host family pick-ups. Her name was Fikile and she was there to pick up Amy, Amanda, and Keriann but her embrace with Margaret and Anne was what assured me that I should not be nervous at all. The three of them hugged, exchanged kisses, and shared excitement to see one another. To see the connection that Anne and Margaret had with this one host mother was really a wonderful thing to witness and I only hoped that my relationship with my host family is as great. Although at this point I was not as nervous, my excitement to get it all started was at its limit!
As more and more of us were picked up and headed off to our new homes, I thought my time was never going to come. It was only twenty minutes after the last pick-up that the remaining six of us heard the bell ring at the gate. This was it! Not only was my host mom there but also two other host moms from Nzalabantu Primary and Vela, who had gone to Nzalabantu Primary, were all standing in the driveway. It was so fun to walk out with Lindsey and Brittany as we all met our host moms for the first time. It was also so comforting to see Vela’s familiar face and witness the connection he still had with the staff members of his primary school. The fact that all three host moms came together and brought Vela along showed me how close they all are and how close-knit their school must be, as well. At this point, I was still so excited for my new host family but now I could not wait for my school!
The car ride to my host home was exactly as I had hoped it to be. My host mom’s smiling face assured me that she was just as excited as I was and that was the most comforting feeling. We talked the whole way home, back and forth learning all about one another. It was in that fifteen minute drive that I acquired two new sisters and two new brothers! I just could not wait to meet them and begin my time with them.
The long awaited day was filled with anticipation and nervousness but I know that everyone of us felt a sign of relief for having finally gotten to this day and meeting our families. It was a big step for some of us who had never lived with a host family before and a truly memorable day for us all. It was the true beginning to our South Africa adventure!
