What a strange experience to have gone ‘home’ for a visit. If asked, I would describe “home” as the place I grew up – as the vicinity of Norwich, Ontario, Canada where I was born and raised all of my life. Then I moved to Malawi. And it also became home. When I left Malawi, I told people I was going ‘home.’ I was going to spend time with my family and friends. After all, I missed them. When I left Canada, I also told people that yes, I was ready to go ‘home.’ Huh? How does that makes sense? I was home, wasn’t I? and now I’m going home? I was going back home to my work, to my duties and responsibilities, to my children and the other people here who have become like family.
When I arrived in Canada, my mom and sister were waiting to welcome me at the airport, ready with a fresh bagel loaded with cream cheese and cheese. The perfect breakfast made with love after flying for me than 24 hours. Later that day, the table at my parent’s house was full as all of my family came over for dinner. Pot roast. Yum, I hadn’t eaten that in months. We chatted, we talked, we shared news and just enjoyed each other’s company. I had come home.
When I arrived in Malawi, my house was clean and my housecleaner/aka one of my ‘mothers’ had left a welcome home note on the table with a bunch of freshly picked flowers on the kitchen table. I dropped off my suitcases and went to say hi to those I love here. I found my ‘mothers’ busy at work, and my children scattered here and there as they are wont to do after school. I was greeted with joyful shouts, big smiles, some exuberant hugs and some shyer ones. Once again, I was home.
As I spent time at home in Canada, I thoroughly enjoyed the changing of the leaves on the trees, the brown dirt that isn’t present everywhere, the soft usually freshly cut green grass. I was home. I enjoyed the cooler weather and the even cooler nights snuggled under the blankets. I enjoyed the campfires in the evenings with no purpose other than hanging out and roasting marshmallows. I enjoyed meeting with my friends and eating foods I hadn’t eaten in awhile. I relished the boisterousness and noise of being in a home full of people. I was home.
Since I’ve arrived here in Malawi, I have joyfully met with friends and children I missed seeing for awhile. I have encountered the heat that people say comes with October. I cheerfully choose voluntarily to take cold showers twice a day to deal with the heat. I enjoy eating rice again – really, I missed it. I laugh about my encounters with unfamiliar bugs that choose the relative coolness of my bathroom/tub over the relentless sun outside. I enjoy the quiet familiarity of my home here where the dust blows relentlessly and the floors always need mopping. Truly, once again, I am also home.
Really though, how does this work? When you have 2 homes – you always miss one. When I was in Canada, I missed the people I knew and loved here. When I am here in Malawi, I miss the people I know and love in Canada. Saying goodbye is painful every time. Yet after that comes the joyful hellos – and there’s something about those that can’t be expressed in words. Love is everywhere. In Canada, in Malawi. Love builds a home wherever you go. Love build
\s friendships and joins together families. No matter where you go.
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