Derek missing family at home but gaining a new family here

This morning has been the first in which I’ve expressed some remorse for being in sunny ole South Africa instead of the States. No offense to SA but today is my little brother’s birthday, thus it was very difficult to wake up knowing I wouldn’t be able to celebrate his day with him. As I mentioned in my interview, we grew up very close and helped each other joke through some rough times. Throughout today, and some of this weekend, I couldn’t help but see my absence as a blatant act of selfishness. For my personal experience I have left him for not only his birthday but I’ve left him to fend for months. I have finally tapped into how much I miss him, my family, and my friends. However, I undoubtedly would choose this trip again and again if given the chance. I have gained more worldly and intrapersonal knowledge in this slice of a semester than I have in my past two decades. I am thousands of miles from my comfort zone but the house truly showed this Sunday that I have gained a new family to lean on, especially for a day like this.

For Valentine’s Day, the 14 girls of LR were treated to a home-cooked dinner by our four amazing guys. They not only cooked an amazing meal but they served it, bought us flowers, and then cleaned all the dishes; it was an unreal and (probably) irreplicable experience. Furthermore, on Renee’s request we all wrote anonymous affirmations for one another. That night I saw the true, and outstanding, content of each member of this trip. Sunday consisted of continuous laughter and the overall warm and fuzziness that comes from writing compliments that I firmly stand behind and (of course) reading my own affirmations. I can say now that that has been my favorite Valentine’s Day ever, and one of my favorite nights of this trip so far.

In a month, I will be missing my father’s and my older brother’s birthdays but I can take comfort in knowing that I have such a great group to confide in. Although it hurts to be so far away from my friends and family, sometimes sacrifices need to be made for progression. I will get through this experience knowing that I will be a better person with so much more to share and teach them all when I return. Also I’ll be sure to get them all some pretty awesome souvenirs so they can’t be too mad right?