Leaving CCS

When we had to leave CCS on Monday, February 19, I was so upset. I went to Matumaini for one last time to see all of the kids. The worst part about leaving, was that the kids didn’t seem to understand that I was leaving. They said goodbye to me like they would any day with hugs and kisses and “Kwaheri, Maya!!” which means “Bye, Maya!!” So I was a little bit upset that they didn’t seem to notice that I was leaving. I think that some of them understood because one of them told me that they were going to cry because I was leaving and another one made tears going down his face with his fingers. That made me feel a little bit better. It is really upsetting to think that we will never see these kids again. The part about being with these kids that touched me the most, is that even as 3,4,5, and 6-year-olds, they are always really warm and welcoming to my mom and I. Everyday they would run into our arms. It would make me think about how much I have and how much I need to be happy. The kids that are living in orphanages with barely any food or not any food at all always seem happy, but at home people will not be happy until they get the new iPod. These kids taught me more than I could ever teach them.

After the sad goodbye, we headed to CCS for our last dinner. We had chicken, a dinner that I liked for once, we also made chocolate chip cookies and I discovered that pineapple is delicious. We ate dinner and spent time with everyone. When we went to sleep, all that I could think about is the next morning. I knew that I would be sad, but I didn’t know how sad I would be. We had to leave early, so we didn’t have much time, but after a short breakfast we hugged everyone through tears and then left our little Rau Village behind. We were all really sad. I have told everyone that I am going to come back when I am college age (the age that most people there are) and volunteer on my own.

When I left I was full of mixed emotions. I was sad to be leaving and leave all of the people that I have grown to be close to, but I was excited for everything that lies ahead. Under it all, I was ready to not be covered in dirt all the time and I was ready to try something new.