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| Moshoeshoe 1 International Airport |
In a few weeks, it will be a year since I took off on the
29th September on an adventure that has changed my life forever. The day I will
always remember as the day I decided to leave my village life, my family and
everything that means home to me behind. The day I came to Turkey.
It is the phone call (whats app call to be distinct) I
recently got from my mom that stirred up the events of that cloudy hectic day,
so why not put it down on paper?
What does one do when they know they are going away for
coon's age, and everything they do and see, they do for the last time? That
night I barely had any sleep. I tossed and turned and I remember seeing my mom
on my bedside telling me to get up or I will miss my flight. I reached for my
phone under my pillow (That's where I keep my phone when I sleep anyway) and
gazed with my eyes still half-closed at the time. 4:30 AM it read! "Gracious
God! How do I miss a 1700hrs flight this early mom?" I mumbled covering my head
again to go back to sleep. She pulled the blanket off me while fiddling with
her ancient torch phone...and ta-da the light of the torch was all over my
sleepy face, and so I had to wake up! My father who was in South Africa at the
time had reminded us that we shouldn't be late, otherwise it would be a
disaster. He even narrated the horrible dream he had in which apparently I
missed my flight, Thank goodness it was nothing but a dream! It was my father's
dream that made mom wake me up that early or she was just being in a state and
anxious. I will go with the latter
.
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My little sister and I prepared breakfast for everyone
before we had visitors pouring to say goodbyes and your ''Tsela-ts'oeu'' s
which means travel safely. Among those who came, I remember first the woman I
had only known as my "family", who asked to pray in privacy with me and mom.
What a heartwarming and moving prayer that was! I don't recollect what we
talked about after that, but it must have been encouraging for sure.
We all know how much time flies when having fun. You might
be asking yourself where the fun part is here, but hold your horses. By far the
visitor who had the most effect on me has to be my grandpa. My grandfather is
nothing like a typical 84-year-old man, he is full of life, brave compassionate
but at the same time easygoing. He imparted plenty of life lessons to me,
lessons I still carry with me to this day. That's what he did for us growing up.
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| Here, my American travel companion with my grandma. Unfortunately, my grandpa couldn't make the trip to the airport, something came up. Oh did I tell you that my grandfather is a king? no I am not even kidding |
After breakfast, I had to take that one last shower. I
couldn't do anything and finish it without my nagging little sister telling me “This
is your last decent meal here, this is your last time eating papa; you won’t be
seeing that hill over there”. That made me feel a little uneasy. I didn't need
her to remind me about that, as if it wasn't worse enough that I had to constantly
fight the thought that I am seeing them for the last time, at least in two
years. Soon after that the taxi swayed by the gate. Now, this is where it gets
interesting. As I was carrying the bags to the car, my old friend showed up,
just in time. It would be cool to tell you we said goodbye and I left but I
would be lying. We hugged and looked into each other’s eyes for what seemed
like forever and then he patted me on the back with teary eyes. I could sense a
messy, teary farewell I have always dreaded so I looked away and left him. That
was the last time I saw him.
As we drove through the township (Or let’s call it a
village) I couldn't really believe I was leaving this place that I grew up to
be a man I am today for so long, I could see the pride on the faces of the people I
waved to through the window of the car. And just like that, we shoved off and we
were gone. The plan was to stop by my sister's in the city to make the final
bank transactions and say bye to my city friends, which I couldn't. Sad!
Subsequently, we hit the road, now with a few other people
including my two amazing elder sisters who cooled my nerves for that one and
half hour drive to the airport. Let me say months before this day I had
everything all planned out in my head. I even knew what music must play that
day but believe you me, that was the least of my worries when we actually went
to the airport. It finally started to sink in that I was leaving, all those cheerful
faces I would be missing; it made me think about reversing my decision for a
moment. So there we were, now driving through the gate of the well-known
Moshoeshoe 1 International Airport. I could tell my mother was “looking-at-me”
away from crying. It was evident she was avoiding looking at me, poor lady! She
tells me now when I ask her that she felt like she was losing me! No one in my
family has had to go away for so long and so far, so before you label her
dramatic, wear her shoes.
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| Here, With my three sisters (one more is missing, she was caught up in traffic somewhere in Maseru when we were taking pictures) and my niece. This is the only picture I have with them, not the best picture but it's the story that matter |
After check-in, I was told that I will only be boarding in
one hour, one freaking hour! Every
minute was hugely critical at that point and that is what overwhelmed me I
guess. I didn't want to talk about anything but my journey but ended up talking
about it. Everyone was chilled until the moment I looked at the watch on my
wrist and the airport announcer said all passengers should get ready for
boarding time. I and everyone knew what that meant, goodbye! I am trembling
right now reminiscing about those last rare moments. My mom was sobbing, and
everybody else was trying not to cry or perhaps in the words of my grandma, they'd
give me a bitter farewell. I hugged each one of them and everyone was weeping
and sobbing. I can’t begin to put into words the look on all those faces, it is
what I will always remember for the rest of my life.
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| Here, This is the last time my family saw me as I waved them goodbye, the last thing they saw was my back. |
The lady scanning my hand luggage, who I believe understood
from my red eyes that I had been crying had some interesting things to say just
before I kissed Lesotho goodbye. “Don't forget the sacrifices your parents made
for you, Never forget where you come from and you will never get lost. Go make
all of us proud'' She said after asking me about where I was going to study.
Her words have been very true except that I have been lost a few times, and
that is to say, taking the wrong bus and sitting at the wrong gate at the airport.
There I was boarding my first flight in 20 years and I
remember it like it were yesterday. As I walked up the stairs boarding I looked
back to get one last glimpse only to see them shouting and waving at me as I
went in the plane door! I found my seat near the window and as the flight took
off I looked at them through the window knowing that they can't see me any time
soon, and my journey to Istanbul started.
PAUSE!
