Day 13 Kasait to Dili
Tom Daly and Emily Harwood
Breakfast was consumed with our usual zeal however it was obvious that everyone was aware that today we would have to say goodbye to the friends we had made during the course of our stay. Our time in Kasait was due to culminate with a ceremonial farewell for the students. We have become close over the course of our stay. After witnessing the fervent reaction to the departure of Father Quyen, we felt emotional about our farewell. After breakfast, the students of Colegio Santo Ignacio de Loiola began arriving for morning mass and co-curricular activities.
Mass was said by Fr Peter and Fr Ura. Again the students sang beautifully in the choir. The prospect of the imminent farewell lingered on our mind. Although we had been encouraged to understand the cultural expression of grief, as the Kasait students began displaying distress, it was only a matter of time before we were overwhelmed by emotion.Fr Quyen arrived just after mass and asked each student to say goodbye while we stood at the front. They thanked each of us for our time with them with either a hug or handshake. We succumbed to the sadness of the situation.
Many of us were touched by the keen interest that many of the students took in ensuring that this was not the final goodbye. There were countless requests for communication details so they could keep connected with us. They repeatedly asked us not to forget them and to promise that we would return the school in the future and visit them.
Fighting back tears, we proceeded to lead our final class with the students. We took a relaxed approach to lighten the pain of our departure. Eventually it was time to say goodbye and the sadness of the students was mirrored by our group. We had received much love here and we had opened our heart to it. Several made the promise that we would indeed return to the school.
We then packed our bags onto the troopie and truck and headed for Dili. The drive back to Dili provided the opportunity to absorb the significance of our goodbyes. In the subdued atmosphere, we looked at a landscape that we had come to appreciate so much over the past two weeks. Driving along the coast we absorbed the crystal blue water on one side and the rolling mountains on the other. East Timor remains one of the few countries in the world that contains such untouched beauty. There is a distinct correlation between their lack of industrial development and natural preservation. We can only hope that they are able to achieve the development they desire but not at the expense of the aesthetically pleasing landscape.
We arrived at the Hotel Dili and settled in. We had lunch and many crashed in the air conditioned rooms with TVs. It is tempting to accept to the luxuries of Western life. Mr O’Brien and Fr Peter returned the vehicle to Rentlo. And when they returned Ms Vanda and Ms Lisa took a group of girls by Taxi to Timor Plaza, allowing the girls to experience the realities of the taxi system in Timor.
The group relaxed for the remainder of the afternoon and at 5.30 walked as a group 2 km to a waterfront restaurant where we would have our last supper in Dili. We were joyous when the Jesuits came with a group of students from Kasait. There was Fr Quyen, Fr Bong, Sr Rita, Fr Bert, Br JP, Br Rui, Br Isiaias, teachers Cinta and Paulo. It was great to be altogether again with friends from Railaco and Kasait. We ate in a breathtakingly beautiful setting that perfectly summed up this stunning country. Right on the beach with candlelit tables, we enjoyed a variety of foods as the waves rolled into the shore melodically. The group understood that this would be the final night in East Timor together and capitalised on the opportunity with friendly conversation and joyous laughter.
Tom Daly and Emily Harwood
Breakfast was consumed with our usual zeal however it was obvious that everyone was aware that today we would have to say goodbye to the friends we had made during the course of our stay. Our time in Kasait was due to culminate with a ceremonial farewell for the students. We have become close over the course of our stay. After witnessing the fervent reaction to the departure of Father Quyen, we felt emotional about our farewell. After breakfast, the students of Colegio Santo Ignacio de Loiola began arriving for morning mass and co-curricular activities.
Mass was said by Fr Peter and Fr Ura. Again the students sang beautifully in the choir. The prospect of the imminent farewell lingered on our mind. Although we had been encouraged to understand the cultural expression of grief, as the Kasait students began displaying distress, it was only a matter of time before we were overwhelmed by emotion.Fr Quyen arrived just after mass and asked each student to say goodbye while we stood at the front. They thanked each of us for our time with them with either a hug or handshake. We succumbed to the sadness of the situation.
Many of us were touched by the keen interest that many of the students took in ensuring that this was not the final goodbye. There were countless requests for communication details so they could keep connected with us. They repeatedly asked us not to forget them and to promise that we would return the school in the future and visit them.
Fighting back tears, we proceeded to lead our final class with the students. We took a relaxed approach to lighten the pain of our departure. Eventually it was time to say goodbye and the sadness of the students was mirrored by our group. We had received much love here and we had opened our heart to it. Several made the promise that we would indeed return to the school.
We then packed our bags onto the troopie and truck and headed for Dili. The drive back to Dili provided the opportunity to absorb the significance of our goodbyes. In the subdued atmosphere, we looked at a landscape that we had come to appreciate so much over the past two weeks. Driving along the coast we absorbed the crystal blue water on one side and the rolling mountains on the other. East Timor remains one of the few countries in the world that contains such untouched beauty. There is a distinct correlation between their lack of industrial development and natural preservation. We can only hope that they are able to achieve the development they desire but not at the expense of the aesthetically pleasing landscape.
We arrived at the Hotel Dili and settled in. We had lunch and many crashed in the air conditioned rooms with TVs. It is tempting to accept to the luxuries of Western life. Mr O’Brien and Fr Peter returned the vehicle to Rentlo. And when they returned Ms Vanda and Ms Lisa took a group of girls by Taxi to Timor Plaza, allowing the girls to experience the realities of the taxi system in Timor.
The group relaxed for the remainder of the afternoon and at 5.30 walked as a group 2 km to a waterfront restaurant where we would have our last supper in Dili. We were joyous when the Jesuits came with a group of students from Kasait. There was Fr Quyen, Fr Bong, Sr Rita, Fr Bert, Br JP, Br Rui, Br Isiaias, teachers Cinta and Paulo. It was great to be altogether again with friends from Railaco and Kasait. We ate in a breathtakingly beautiful setting that perfectly summed up this stunning country. Right on the beach with candlelit tables, we enjoyed a variety of foods as the waves rolled into the shore melodically. The group understood that this would be the final night in East Timor together and capitalised on the opportunity with friendly conversation and joyous laughter.