AU REVOIR WATERFORD: Endings, beginnings, and the in between

I just counted, and it has been exactly 26 days since I graduated from UWC Waterford Kamhlaba. It was a day we had all been waiting for, preparing for, kind of dreading, but also dreaming about. And I found it wonderful. People looked incredible. Capitol Caterers pulled through. The musical performances brought me to tears. Taking pictures was actually kinda fun. And I was reminded, for the hundredth time, that Waterford is a place unlike any I'll ever be.

After the pictures, and in the middle of the pictures I guess, came the goodbyes. So many goodbyes. And goodbye forever goodbyes. But you don't really know who is goodbye forever and who you will see in three minutes getting another brownie cup thing from inside the caf. I was acutely aware though that this group of people would never be all together at Waterford ever again. So that day, I chose to appreciate every second I had with these people because that is all I could really control.

Side note: 2/10 recommend parties for lifelong goodbyes.

And then, it was off to Mozambique to a beach house with some of my closest friends. I felt free in some ways, completely exhausted in others, and very privileged. Let me set the scene - R&Rs at a restaurant in a beach town, two of my friends dancing to Shakira, I'm reading Homegoing (10/10 recommend), and we've rented ATVs. They are so fun, but I feel like a loud, obnoxious white teenage tourist, but then again, the entire town needs tourism and to an extent, obnoxious white teenagers. And I sometimes feel the need to check Google Tasks because I haven't done any school work in a while. So “Moz” was full of deep thinking, some relaxation, and time with a group of people that feel like a large, moderately dysfunctional family.

More goodbyes were to come. My dad came to Eswatini and met many of the people who have been integral parts of my life for the past year, right as I was saying goodbye to them. It was strange but good to have my two worlds collide. I am still figuring out what "goodbye" means with these people in the age of virtual connection and the possibility of trips around the world.

Then, my dad and I went on safari (thank you to my grandparents for the graduation gift!!). It sounds cliche, but I suppose that was part of the point; how could I go to Africa and not see an elephant?? So we saw elephants, zebras, giraffes (AKA my favorite animal), and mating leopards. It was awesome. I love nature. I love driving at sunset. I love seeing my dad see lions.

Story time: we had two, middle-aged, white (I promise it is important) ladies join our game drive this one morning. The first was like, "Hi, my name is Kaaaren." *HEAVY South African accent* I allowed myself a little internal chuckle. Then the next lady is like, "And my name is Kayren." *British accent* She obviously found their names to be meaningfully different. So it was Georgia, Pete, South African Karen, and British Karen bouncing through the bush. I found it funny.

During this time, Omicron was identified by South African scientists. Let's give them a thank you. Unfortunately, European countries and the US started instituting travel bans almost immediately. The look of devastation on our waiter's face when he talked about all the December cancellations was heartbreaking. There are Omicron cases in the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, *insert other European country here*. Are they banned from the UK? No. Which countries are? Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, *insert other Southern African country here*. Let us not shy away from this discrepancy. Why the unequal treatment? Is it because of the wealth of the countries? Because of the race of its populations? No matter where it stems from, it is horribly unfair, will destroy livelihoods, and sets a horrible precedent that stifles scientific transparency. Do better, Europe and the US.

Anyways, on a more micro, selfish note, I was meant to go to Spain to meet up with my friend to sail across the Atlantic ocean, but that was no longer a viable plan (because of the travel bans I just mentioned). After about five hours on Google Flights, my dad and I came up with a different plan that involved an overnight in Nairobi, a couple of weeks in Senegal, and then a meet-up in Cape Verde. That sentence feels a bit unreal. Again, it was an example of how our ability to pay for plane tickets let us work around these unfair travel bans. For people who couldn't afford the switch up, this incredible sailing opportunity would have been lost because of things entirely outside of their control. I am constantly reminded of how unfair the world is.

So now I am in Senegal with my mom. I am mainly sleeping, dealing with heartache, and writing supplemental essays for university applications. I have also learned to navigate purchasing souvenirs, was proposed to on a plane (long story), would highly recommend brochette du lotte and yassa poulet, have realized that the French I learned over two years is basically useless, and finally got to try surfing and live out the life my hair has been telling me I am meant to live. Tomorrow, I am going to go to Gorée Island, which was one of the main slave-trading ports and operated for around five centuries. Yes, centuries. Thousands of Africans were forced to board boats that left from this island. It feels necessary for me to grapple with being there in person; this trade and these atrocities created the profoundly unequal foundations of the U.S., and that fact cannot be forgotten or minimized.

I am in this place of deep reflection about the past two years but am also prepping for a month on the ocean, and with college apps, the next four years of my life. I am at an end and almost the beginning of many beginnings. It is an in-between zone I haven't been in for a while. But I am overwhelmingly grateful for everything that makes my last chapter so hard to close and my next chapter so exciting to open. Life is full in the best way possible right now. I am just trying to soak it all up.

Wow, it was nice to write this without having to make sure I didn't go over the word count. Thanks so much for reading!