Peace Corps is definitely a time for "firsts". I attended my first double funeral Saturday morning. Two young women in their 20s died last week from the #1 killer (or 2nd next to humans murdering humans) in South Africa: AIDS!
The women died on the same day, and were buried a few feet a away from one another. The crowds at the two services meshed together, sang the same songs, and listened to the same prayers by the preachers. It was a daunting experience. I stood their watching the sun come up over the mountains that highlight my village watching every single person in the crowd. Death is such a common component of life here. How can they stand it? I certainly can't. It breaks my heart. I haven't been to one funeral of a person who died of old age or just "natural causes". ALL have been for young adults in the prime, or pre-prime, of their lives.
One woman left behind three children; a baby under a year old, a young boy in Grade R, and a young girl in Grade 4. I teach the Grade R and Grade 4 children. When I went by their house to drop of plates for the reception after the funeral, the little boy (Thebogo) waved with a smile and said "Tama Tasha"! Ha.
I remember his name from the hundreds of other children because Thebogo was the name of a character in a book I read to the Grade R learners. When I asked the name of the little boy in the book, Thebogo raised his hand, smiled, and said "Thebogo!" His teacher smiled and said that was his name too. Thebogo got a sticker for answering the question right. He was happy to show it off to his friends.
It breaks my heart that these young children are motherless now. What I also think about now is the health of Thebogo and the baby......
I'm flying home Saturday to visit my family in America. Its so weird that I'll be able to step out of this world and my life here for three weeks.
Guess I'll see what happens....
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