Talking bout the revolution
This blog is now filled with updates from my year of volunteering in Durban, South Africa. ENJOY!
Growing up in California meant spending a good amount of my free time on the beach. Walking on the sand, and feeling it sift between the contours of my toes somehow peacefully returns me home, no matter where I am in the world at that moment.
Today, I had the privilege of experiencing yet another beach day with the some of the patients at the clinic. It was a much more extreme experience than the first, mainly due to the number of people that were able to join in. The first time around, only four could fit into the back of the vehicle. This outing was different. Due to the respite’s new acquisition of a “Kumbi” (a local, small taxi/bus), any of the individuals who felt up to the adventure were welcome. We ended up with thirteen patients in total, and all were overwhelmingly excited about the trip.
The spectrum of both age and health had an incredibly wide range; however, all seemed to have a common goal. Getting there. Those patients who were stronger than others helped me and the other two aids with the weaker or off-balanced ones. We even had an “alumni” patient who, after being discharged nine months prior, wanted to pitch in, partake, and help out in the adventure. Support and understanding of one another’s capabilities was an unspoken rule, and we paraded toward the sand like a slow moving stampede. Initially, the group sat on the long cement bench along the boardwalk, unwilling to move towards the sand itself. After a minute or two of convincing, I provoked some to join me in a walk towards the water. Soon, all that had the strength left to do so followed our lead. One or two of the patients laid in the tide as it came in (fully clothed), and the waves rolled over them as they laughed and splashed one another. I stood next to a few others as we watched them in their delight.
“Simphiwe, don’t you want to take off your sandals and put your feet in the water?” After shaking his head no, and explaining that it was due to the fact that he thought that it would be too cold, I rephrased the question. “If I take my shoes and socks off and step into the water, will you do the same?” With a huge smile, he agreed. The initial hesitation wore off quickly. Before I knew it he was entirely drenched and asking me for a towel.
To end the day on a high note, the patients were all treated to ice cream.. I fed a young woman too weak to lift her spoon, and after collecting all the empty cups we headed back to the cars. Although the adventure was a few short hours, the patients were all content and exhausted when they returned to the clinic. It was quite easily my favorite day of work so far.
Whoever said that the eyes are a mirror to the soul couldn’t be more right. So often in my time at the respite unit, this seems to ring true…but never more than today. Their seeing the waves crashing from a distance immediately released a sense of elation in them. I can easily compare their eyes to what I would imagine a child’s being on a Christmas morning. They were all filled with hope, with happiness, with laughter, and with life. I sensed the same emotions emitting from myself as well, and standing with my feet in the sand next to some of my new friends…I felt more at home than ever.
*more from Erika can be found here http://espositorywriting.blogspot.com/
