Reflections After Arriving Home

As I have been home and people have been asking me about my trip, I don’t even know where to begin to fully describe what I have experienced in South Africa. It feels nearly impossible to put in to words. I hope I never forget the feelings I had sleeping in the wilderness or playing the drums with local South Africans. I really miss being surrounded by social workers that just seem to get it. They all know how to have a conversation and provide empathy, understanding, and support. I came home and realized that I am back to real life! There are really only a select few in my life that I can have similar conversations with on a daily basis.

Another aspect of my trip that I am reflecting on is a sense of community. I realized that I am missing a strong sense of community here in Virginia. When I was living in Utah, I had several of my immediate family around me, close friends, and felt generally comfortable in a lot of ways. When we moved in July, I don’t think I realized for a long time how much my heart has been aching for members of my immediate family and friends. Going to South Africa and experiencing all sorts of community made me realize how truly important it is to surround ones self with support. Although I have several members of my husbands family surrounding me and this is very helpful, I don’t have a lot of close friends out here yet. It can be difficult to feel supported in my efforts with school and my role as a wife and mother without a full, thriving support system. Therefore, I am going to make stronger efforts at connecting with local social workers and making more friends. It’s incredibly important to ones health.

This trip to South Africa has seriously impacted my life for the better. It was just two weeks and it influenced me in so many beautiful ways. I feel more fulfilled, educated, well-rounded, and I am so excited to be a part of the social work field. I felt like I had made the right career choice before I went out but I feel it even deeper now. I am not sure what kind of social worker I want to be specifically yet but I would love it to be something with international issues. I felt like I really thrived in that environment, talking with locals and making an effort at understanding what kinds of issues they’re facing daily. It was amazing to exchange knowledge and grow from one another.