A Funeral (bitter sweet), Thanksgiving, and . . . . . Christmas!

Kaye’s mother passed away a couple of weeks ago, so the Peace Corps sent us home for the funeral in Indiana. We arrived the day before Thanksgiving, and returned to Malawi about 2 weeks later. Kaye had initially departed for Malawi with a thought that she might never see her mother alive again, as her health was already deteriorating a year and a half ago when we left. She had a great life of 88 years and was at peace but she will still be missed. Many things about our trip would have pleased her. She absolutely loved Thanksgiving and Christmas and always wanted the whole family to be together for these holidays. So we were ALL there honoring her and the life she had lived. I have to think she was smiling as she looked down on us.

It was a little strange for us to revisit the US. How quickly a person can adapt to a change of culture and feel right at home again was amazing. Having arrived in Indiana a day before Thanksgiving, allowed us the wonderful opportunity to share that holiday with our families; it is our favorite! Our children were also able to join us in Indiana for the service. With the services finished and Thanksgiving over, we all traveled back to Philadelphia with our children and spent several days with them prior to returning to Malawi. While in Philly, we were surprised with some nice and thoughtful Christmas gifts. We were able to see and feel the Christmas season in the US. The lights, the trees, the music, the general good will was wonderful to experience. Holidays are understated in Malawi so it was great to feel the joy that comes with the season. We saw snow flurries, enjoyed the generally cold weather, and most of all, had time with our kids.

Now back in Malawi, we brace ourselves for another Christmas with very little noticeable celebration of the season. Although Malawi is essentially a Christian nation, life simply goes on here as usual for most holidays, with the exception of official government holidays. We do have a Christmas dinner planned with our landlord, and a gathering at their house with the rest of the Blantyre Choral Society (of which we are members!). There will be a chance for socializing, singing carols, and enjoying a nice variety of foods and refreshments. With some of the nice Christmas decorations given to us by our family and friends, we have decorated our little house, though minimally as it is.

Once again one is reminded of the little things that make such a difference in our lives. Specifically it is time with those we love and cherish.

Our return to life in the States is scheduled to commence with our departure around the end of July 2011. We are still trying to contemplate what it might be like, what we will do, where we will set down roots, and what impact or affects our experiences here will have on our lives.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all! See you next year.