When I left South Africa, I had a plan that had a fixed timeline of one year and that was it. I was going to move to Brooklyn and be an au pair to an amazing family, travel as much as I could and make sure that I had the most amazing experience so that I could go home on December 8th.
Well that was over a year ago and I am still leaving in Brooklyn and wondering what happened to the plan. Life happened thats what. In August 2015, I made the decision to stay for another 9 months and boy I don't have one single regret.
During my time here I have struggled with where is my home - I live with an amazing family who have made me feel at home but its not. I no longer live with my mom, she has even moved into a new house that I have never in been in. So the struggle to find home is a real one.
I miss everyone in South Africa more than I can ever describe or someone can try and comprehend. From my mom (Shaz), my sister (Pags) and my wonderful puppies (Thai and Paris) to my best friends (Lezaan and Priscilla), my treasured friends (Motheo, Fallon, Ashleigh, Saki, Td, Kaz to name a few) and even the kiddies from Tuscany Manor who I spoke to everyday. But no matter how much I miss them which is a lot - I know this where I am supposed to me.
I absolutely love being an au pair to the best kids in the world - its not all rainbows and unicorns all the time but it is pretty amazing. Soon I will have to say goodbye to them and I am not sure how to prepare for that. Working with kids everyday has given me an appreciation for my mom and the knowledge of just how hard it is but I get to be a tiny part of the daily victories which is priceless. I also know that babies are a way away - 5 years Cathy;).
Now back to that profound thought, anyone who knows me knows that I was an independent gal with no interest in a boyfriend or even anything casual. That was until I met a boy named Stephen Daniel Cargo and everything changed. He is the most amazing person who cares and loves me so much. He is smart, funny, goofy, crazy attractive and importantly he is mine!
Where is my heart - that is wherever he is! People said when we first started dating, one wait until you face real world problems and the see how happy you are or how strong your relationship is. Well in December real life happened and my oh my! I received some of the most devastating news from back home and I struggled with the guilt of not going home and helping out as well as the new reality that I was facing and Stephen helped me through it from cracking ridiculous jokes to wiping all my tears away and being an ear to listen even when it was purely tears.
I haven't known where home was since moving to Brooklyn and I want to say thank you to Stephen for showing me home and making me feel like I am home.
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