As I was growing up, I always had targets for myself: finish school, go to college, get a professional job, travel, work in Africa, etc. I always had one of these objectives looming just at my doorstep daring me to continue and try to conquer it. I can say that I have accomplished everything I had on my 20's to-do list and even beyond that. Needless to say at some points in time during the last 6-8yrs my life felt a bit like a check-list saying in my head that the fun would come after the next step conquered.
After two and a half years, I will be leaving Congo in a few weeks. Working in Congo was also on my "to-do" list. It is a country that is so complex and it interested me even from afar. My time here has given me such valuable experiences and lessons learned. Congo will always be a part of me.
But now? I have a master's degree. I have visited eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa. I have flown more airplanes that I can count. I have learned a second language. I have met amazing people and seen amazing things.
What's next??
You would think that I am freaking out by that question, well, some day's I do but now I have someone else in my life that is giving it a new meaning and perspective. In some ways, I am lucky to have completed the checklist before meeting him because otherwise I think he would throw it out the window.
Gabriel Suarez came into my life in March 2011. I heard his name, knew he worked in South Sudan with Medair, and was then hanging out in the Swiss Alps snowboarding. I didn't think much of it. I then met this hunky Latino in person exactly one year later on Medair's doorstep in Congo, or rather in front of Medair's toilet sick with some random African bug.
Over the last year and a half our relationship has developed, changed, been challenged, been shot at, but continued. I am leaving Congo with this amazing experience behind me and an unknown future with this amazing man before me.
The check-list is finished. There is nothing left on it and I don't want to fill it up again. In one month's time, the future is completely unknown: no job, no house, no idea what is next let alone where. But just like it all has fallen into place all of these years, I know it will again. Gab has taught me that a recipe for life is a bit boring. Regardless of what comes along next, it will be our dreams, not my check-list.
