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Interesting Times #12
Mar. 29th, 2022 05:28 pmToday I am missing my grandfather's funeral. He was my last living grandparent. I knew when I returned to BLR this summer that I would be extremely lucky to see him again. But it's still rough.
I'm going to miss closure with several of my seniors. The American kiddos aren't allowed to come back for graduation as they are families of FS staff and the embassy is now closed. We can say goodbyes via chat, but it's not the same. And it's devestating that these kiddos to not get to say goodbye in person, do not get to have a graduation ceremony. They worry about their friends left behind, even as they move on to "safer" homes. Even as they are grateful for their safety and their families.
I've become friends with one of the moms. Their family is a career foreign service family, and I've only been doing this for four years (with plans for more if I can find the jobs). We talked about the many roadblocks that make an already difficult process of leaving and going somewhere new that we've encountered in the last two years. K said, "If it wasn't for the peace that we are living the life we are supposed to, these moments [of loss and missing out on milestones] would be even harder."
I'm grateful for the people in my life who understand because they've gone through the same thing. I'm grateful for the people in my life who don't understand but offer sympathetic ears and hugs (both virtual and real, when circumstances permit) nonetheless. I'm grateful for a family who engendered an inquisitive and adventurous spirit in me and supported my choices and asked about my experiences.
But you know, anytime safe, reliable, and inexpensive teleportation technology wants to come around, I'd be really happy.
I'm going to miss closure with several of my seniors. The American kiddos aren't allowed to come back for graduation as they are families of FS staff and the embassy is now closed. We can say goodbyes via chat, but it's not the same. And it's devestating that these kiddos to not get to say goodbye in person, do not get to have a graduation ceremony. They worry about their friends left behind, even as they move on to "safer" homes. Even as they are grateful for their safety and their families.
I've become friends with one of the moms. Their family is a career foreign service family, and I've only been doing this for four years (with plans for more if I can find the jobs). We talked about the many roadblocks that make an already difficult process of leaving and going somewhere new that we've encountered in the last two years. K said, "If it wasn't for the peace that we are living the life we are supposed to, these moments [of loss and missing out on milestones] would be even harder."
I'm grateful for the people in my life who understand because they've gone through the same thing. I'm grateful for the people in my life who don't understand but offer sympathetic ears and hugs (both virtual and real, when circumstances permit) nonetheless. I'm grateful for a family who engendered an inquisitive and adventurous spirit in me and supported my choices and asked about my experiences.
But you know, anytime safe, reliable, and inexpensive teleportation technology wants to come around, I'd be really happy.
