I’m home.
And it’s not the Christmas consumerism or the tall buildings or the cold that’ve shocked me. What I’ve really realized–in my heart now instead of just my head–is how much support so many people have given me so that I could do this placement. I get to hog all the credit and stories and memories, but really they belong to everyone who gave time for my training, who read the blog, who bought a dreadlock, who endured ridiculous Skype conditions, who wrote long newsy emails to keep me feeling close to home, who listened while I got through a breakdown, who worried when I had health issues, who told me the stories of their own experiences overseas that so motivated me, who asked complex questions and challenged me, or who left me space when I needed it.
Reverse culture shock theory says that I’ll probably be hard to deal with at some point soon. Some combination of an emotional disconnect with my world, self-absorption, maybe cynicism, and–in my opinion the most likely–cockiness. So I’m asking one more favour from those around me: please just be patient with and tolerant of me for a little while. And please, please call me on this if you recognize it.
Going into this placement I was terrified that I’d lose touch with so many people I love. Instead, I don’t remember ever having felt more loved and supported in my life.
This will be my last Both Feet on the Ground Post. Thank you.
-tess
P.S. Engineers Without Borders is doing something neat this year for their Christmas campaign. It’s all about rethinking development. Members across the country are sharing their perspectives on development. Here’s mine.
