Take Off

Dawn breaks, the beginning of a new day. I sit here at the O.R. Tambo International Airport waiting for my connecting flight to Gaborone. As I wait for my breakfast order, I look at the Emirates Boeing 777-300ER packed right outside Mugg & Bean. Will I ever fly with them again? At least this part of my life was great while it lasted. Where have they taken me? They have flown me to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Abidjan, Nairobi, Dubai, Milan, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Male, Colombo, Cape Town and of course, Johannesburg. I was the queen of the skies, jetting off to some place every chance I could get. All is lost now! Troy Lorenzo, well as for him life goes on as usual. I cannot be mad at him right now. I need to save my emotional energy for when I arrive at home. Who would have thought that I, the first girl from my village to go abroad for my studies, would come back from the best university in the world without the degree she went for. Maybe I should name my daughter Degree when she is born. I chuckle. At last my food arrives.

* * *

He stood there by himself, a tall, handsome, yet shy fellow. Having grown up in a village where everything was rooted in community, I could not help myself but approach him in order to invite him to the larger group. It was orientation week, but since the international students had to arrive a few days earlier than the American students, most of us had already found our friend groups. “Hey! I am Katlego from Botswana, what’s your name?” I introduced myself. He responded, “I am Troy from the Oakland. Nice to meet you Kathego”. “Tl- Ka-tl-e-go” “kl - Ka-kl-e-go” “Tl - like close - tl-lose - Ka-tl-e-go” “Oh I got it, Ka-cl-e-go” “That’s better!” It was cute to see him try to get my name right. It was even cuter to see him over the years get pissed whenever these white people would butcher my name without a single care in the world. Instead of inviting him to the bigger group, I ended up chatting with him all afternoon. His family was from Jamaica and he felt strongly rooted in his Caribbean identity. We bonded over our shared love for the Caribbean because I had gone to high school in Barbados before I came to the US. In those first moments, I did not imagine all the different ways he will impact my life.

“Lunch?” He would text me every day around noon. “Of course, Waterfront Dining?” Waterfront Dining was our favorite dining hall. It was right by the lake. We always sat by the tables facing the water so we can enjoy the view. I could never get over how different from home that country was. The water, the rich grass, compared to the dry desert. In the beginning it started with lunches, then we added dinners, and eventually we were inseparable. I even started going to the gym with him. I did not go as hard as he did since I was satisfied with how I was. After all back home I was the standard of beauty. I still remember the first time he asked me out. These boys can be slow sometimes! I had wondered how long it would take before he said it. Even though I liked him as well, I made him wait for a while. Back then he had his priorities right, so he waited. His family was “comfortable” so he showered me with gifts, Emirates flights to wherever I dared to dream to go, and anything I wanted. I have always wanted to have my own house. He bought me a piece of land at home and we started building. He was the sweetest boyfriend until...

* * *

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard this Air Botswana flight BP 227 to Gaborone,” comes the voice the PA system. I have just settled down at seat 14A next to a Chinese man. I am glad I am not sitting next to that older woman at the front. How do people ask too many personal questions to people they do not know? I guess I am back home. For now I settle down for the one hour flight. What is to come will come. At least I am going back to my own house.