COS Madness

Since April, the 55 or so people remaining in Moz 15 (my training group) have been waiting not so patiently for our COS dates.  COS, or “close of service,”  is when we officially end our service here in Mozambique.  Since we will leave in phases over a period of 6 weeks – knowing our dates and who we’ll be leaving with is pretty exciting news and usually provides a lot of drama. You know, “my best friend is COSing 3 weeks before me!” or “I can’t believe I have to stay here until December 15 and other people are leaving November 8^th!!”  Anyways, last week we finally got word via email our dates.  I was at home alone when I opened the email on my blackberry.  Immediately, I saw Helen’s name (she’s COSing November 8^th – the first week and thus the best week).  I rapidly scrolled down, hoping my name wasn’t far behind. And it wasn’t!!!! I COS during the 2^nd week, on November 15^th with a great group of friends! In desperate need to share this news with someone, I called Helen (who was about 100 yards away in the teachers room at school) and told her to check her email.  I stood on our front porch and watched her run, screaming and waving her arms back to our house where we proceeded to jump up and down and hug while countless students, once again, tried to figure out what we were up to.

Now, this may sound like excessive celebration – or that I’m somehow not enjoying my time here. That is not the case, at all. I have no regrets being here.  I love parts of it and I hate parts of it. I’ve learned more than I’ll ever be able to put into words. But it’s hard.  And, its time. Time to come home and start something new.  So, I will be trying to savor and simultaneously push through the next 5 months.  It will be here in the blink of an eye! And then, I’m planning on stopping in Cape Town for a few days with friends before I roll into America for Thanksgiving (or, “the most epic and overwhelming homecoming meal, ever”).