Leaving home

The morning I left for OR Tambo, to board my flight to South Korea, was a crazy one. Well, let’s back track a bit to the previous day. My mum and dad had organised a small party to bid me farewell. It was really sweet and I felt an overwhelming sense of love and support. My family and friends came and brought me gifts to take on my journey. It was indeed a special moment. It all happened in true African style; with set tables, numerous speeches, music, food and drinks galore.

To be honest, up until that point it hadn’t really hit me that I was about to make such a huge and drastic change. I knew I was going and I was preparing to go but it still hadn’t really clicked. Well, it finally clicked when I sat there listening to all those emotionally charged speeches. Many people said some really wonderful things but when my mum and dad spoke, it really touched me. They both shared how they were struggling with their emotions. They felt happy to see me live out my dreams but at the same time they felt sad to see me go. To be honest, I felt the same way. I was excited for what laid ahead but I was really sad to leave home.

 Those of you that know me well know how much I love being at home. I mean having never lived at home with my parents for more than three months, from the age of six, you’d think I wouldn’t be that attached to home. But recently, every chance I got to go home I grabbed with both hands. Just to be in the presence of family really uplifted me more than anything else. So it was going to be a huge adjustment to live abroad, thousands of miles away from home. An adjustment I wasn’t really sure I was ready for but hey, I had to try right?

I also had the opportunity to say a few words. A few because most of the time I was crying. Apart from crying because I was going to miss everyone, I was also brought to tears because for many years I had been dreaming of this very moment. I had been praying and asking the Lord to live in Korea, and here I was, years later about to do just that. God’s grace amazed me, it amazed me to actually experience a dream come true.

Eventually everyone went home and I had to squeeze in a few hours of sleep before my dad would wake me with a stern “Matshepo, tsoha!” This time however, it was my mum who woke me up. I think she was really excited and also nervous that I would miss my flight. Everyone in the house was up and about getting ready and we were out of the house at around 8:30. I was so nervous that I couldn’t eat. We said a little prayer and then we were off. We made it to OR Tambo in time for check-in and had some time to spare. My luggage was 5kg overweight which would have cost me thousands of Rands so I had to leave some of my really cute shoes behind – imagine!

I had a few minutes to say my goodbyes and to have a cup of gemmer (home-made ginger beer), which my aunt brought with to the airport just for control. You know, I love being Black. As black people, we take mofao (snacks and drinks) everywhere we go, even to an airport. There we were chilling at the airport with a 2l of gemmer and some peanuts and raisins. Gotta love being black!! 

Saying goodbye was tough. A number of my family members came along to the airport to send me off, which was really great but it was also really emotional. It’s never easy to say goodbye to your loved ones, even if it’s just for a little while.

While the plane was leaving I thought to myself “Shucks, this is it. A whole year being away from home! Will you survive?” I suppose it will be rough, it will take some getting used to but I am pretty sure I will make it. I may not physically be with them for a whole 12 months but I carry home with me in my heart and then of course there’s WhatsApp video calls! Thank God for technology!