Find Her

The art of loving

Tasha was in her final week of the exchange program. She really felt sad about it because she was getting used to her new home and never wished to return to the village. The other participants were equally unhappy about the program coming to an end. The officials from the NGO paid a visit to the school on Monday and all the exchange program participants were called to the principal's office. They were briefed on many issues and also made aware that they would be departing to their various schools on the following Monday.

Tasha would really miss Elsie and they promised to keep in touch. Tasha gave Elsie her parents phone numbers in case she wanted to deliver a message to her. Tasha did not have a phone of her own unlike Elsie.

The final week was a memorable one. Mrs Halira did her best for Tasha. The time was limited but she knew Tahsa would go back home as a transformed person.

Her English teacher came to the class that Monday morning and for the first time, Tasha raised her hands to give an answer to a question that was asked. The teacher was really impressed with this new attitude. Tasha felt good in her spirit with what she was able to accomplish in the English class. She had always looked forward to that moment and it finally came.

Mrs Halira asked her to use the final week to live a free spirited life. She asked her to live as though she was the only one in the school and no one was watching her. She was to behave cheerfully and try to do the things that she would have wanted to do but was held back as a result of fear.

Monday was a beautiful experience for Tasha. She made many attempts in class to also contribute her answers of which she got some correct and others wrong but she was not intimidated by the wrong answers and continued to make several others.

She was to write daily report of all her activities and submit them to her counselor when they meet the following day. With so much joy, Tasha got to the office of Mrs Halira the following day. What a good mood; she said to Tasha. She was really impressed with the progress. And she tasked her to put in more effort.

She also asked her to make a list of how she wanted others to perceive her. How she wanted to be address and what she would not like others to do to her. She perfectly presented the report. She encouraged her to speak up her mind on issues even though some people may laugh at her but that should not be a barrier to her.

She asked her to first respect, love and accept herself and to believe in herself even if no one else would. She showed her documentaries and movies of those who were disabled but the world was celebrating them because of their gifts and not their disabilities. They have mastered to use their gifts to draw positive energies towards themselves and this was what Mrs Halira wanted Tasha to replicate. And she said to her; if others who were disabled can be accepted by the world, how much more a beautiful girl like you not be accepted?

She asked her never to allow anyone to make her feel miserable because she was the only one with the power to control what happens to her. Her goal should be to always put her best not minding who was watching or not. Her focus should be on nurturing a positive mindset about herself because no one can do that on her behalf. The decision to be happy or not lies in her hands and not in the hands of friends or family, it is a personal decision.

If she first loved and accepted herself, everyone else would be compelled to love and accept her.

Mrs Halira made sure all the list and reports that Tasha wrote, were properly documented because she wanted to give it to her as a reference book. The more she reads what she wrote, it would be easy for her to make decisions. She may not be with Tasha back in the village or her school at Akati, but she was sure, those reports would help do the magic for her.

Mrs Halira promised to give her a special gift before she leaves on Monday.

Tasha continued her assignments and activities given her by Mrs Halira. She participated actively also in her class assignments to the admiration of her teachers. She was more friendly to her colleagues.

She also took the opportunity to finish reading some of her favorite books at the library.

Elsie's home was just an hour drive from the school. Her parents came for a business meeting that was just about 200 meters away from Philadon academy. After the meeting they drove through the campus to visit their daughter. Mr and Mrs Davids passed through the principal's office to officially sought permission. Visiting was only allowed on weekends and since it was not a weekend, they need an official permission. Their permission was granted and Elsie was called in.

She run to embrace her parents with happiness. Mr and Mrs Davids were so happy to see their daughter. They really missed her and were happy for the transformation of their once timid daughter.

She called Tasha to also come and say hello to her parents. Mr and Mrs Davids were so happy to finally meet Tasha. Their daughter always talked about her when ever she called them. The had wished to meet her and they gladly did.

Elsie's parents brought a lot of goodies comprising drinks, cookies and biscuits, chocolates and many more. Elsie shared the goodies with Tasha, Adina and the other girls in the dormitory.

The exchange program students were informed of a surprise excursion over the weekend before they depart on Monday. This was a real surprise and the best news for them. They would have the opportunity to visit some interesting places.

Early Saturday morning, the students gathered at the visitors garden waiting for the bus to take them for their tour. Some of the students were not ready as at then so the schedule was delayed.

An hour later, all the students were ready and the bus was called in. They entered the big bus which was able to accommodate all of them. They visited some many interesting places such as the capital city zoo, the largest shopping center in the city. They also passed by the seat of government, the parliament house, the highest courts, various gardens and a museum.

They also took the opportunity to pass through some colleges and tertiary institutions that really wowed the students and most of them promised themselves to attend such great schools in the future.

At the zoo, some of them almost took to their heels when they saw the animals. They just could not believe it was safe to come close to animals that they know were dangerous because of their phobia.

Their instructor and tour guide had to beg them and promised them of their safety before some of them relented on their decision but others still refused. They finally made a stop at the sports centers which houses the football stadium, boxing arena, etc.

Tasha really loved what she saw. She felt really impressed and promised herself to play at that stadium one day.

There was also the schools photographer with the students and he had to take individual and group photographs as and when they made a stop at a place.

These photographs would be sent to the students at their various schools at a later date.

Time was running out and they had to start making their journey back to the campus but they were also hungry. They drove to one of the gardens in the city where they got out of the bus and had their meals since each student had a pack of meal with them.

After the short meal break, they drove back to the campus. They really wished to stay a bit longer in the city because they were marveled by the beautiful things they saw. It was a picture that would not be erased from their memories in the short term. It was a fulfilling tour and exposure.

This had really boosted their confidence, especially those who were from the far towns or villages and had visited the city for the first time. They really appreciated the exchange program and were grateful to the NGO and other sponsors of the program.

Tasha and Adina enjoyed the trip since they sat together and had the opportunity to chat, eat their meals together and also took pictures together. We have a lot to talk about when we get back the our school, they said to each other.

They went to their various dormitories to take their baths and also have some rest because they were sweaty and really exhausted.

It was a Sunday and the last day for the participants. The exchange program would officially end because the students would depart on Monday morning. It was a very emotional day because they came from different school to Philadon academy and made a lot of friends so leaving their presence now was really devastating. Tasha felt sad because she was leaving a very good friend behind.

By evening, most of them had finished packing their bags and went for dinner. Tasha and Adina eat as much as their stomachs could contain. One thing that they will really miss would be the food because it was rich and delicious.

Dinner was over and they went to their various dormitories whiles others went to the classrooms. Most of them were seen in groups chatting and laughing whiles others went to finish packing their stuffs. Adina, Tasha and the other friends in the dormitory had good chats and helped each other to do their packing.

Dara, the captain of the female football team paid Tasha a visit. She first went to the classroom and did not find her so she was sure Tasha would be in the dormitory. She knocked on the door and Tasha was the one that opened the door. She was surprised to see Dara because that was the first time she paid her a visit in the dormitory. Dara was one good friend to Tasha. She really gave her the chance to participate in the football team anytime there was a game and they became good friends ever since. But Dara had nerve been to Tasha's dormitory neither had Dara been to hers. They mostly meet in the classroom, library or canteen.

Tasha and Dara were age mates and they were also born in the same month. Tasha got to know through their conversations that Dara was from her hometown, Shai but she left the town at a younger age to the city of Acada when she lost her parents in a flooding event that occurred and that was the same day that Tasha's house got flooded when her mother traveled. Dara had three elderly sibling and she happened to be the last born of the family. Her eldest sister was married to one of the teachers of Philadon academy at that time.

And due to the death of their parents, she relocated to the city to live with her sister and she had not returned to Shai ever since. Her two other siblings were schooling in Canada because of a scholarship that was obtained for them by their sister's husband, who was once a teacher at Philadon academy but now a lecturer in one of the public universities and is the dean at the faculty of Arts.

Dara was fortunate to represent her school at an international sport competition in Japan. This was why she was made captain of the female team even though she was not in the final year.

Dara was one of Tasha's friends that she did not spend so much time with but they knew they had one thing in common because they were from the same town. So Dara visited Tasha and presented her with a gift bag containing some items and also added her phone number.

Tasha was grateful for her gesture and promised to keep in touch.

On Monday morning, the siren rang and they woke up to take their baths. They brought all their luggage out of the rooms to where the bus was.

They then went to have their breakfast before they set off. After breakfast, Mrs Halira called Tasha into her office. She gave her a gift wrapped in a big brown envelope. She also gave her contact out and asked Tasha to call on her for any advice. Mrs Halira told her to remember all that they had discussed and implement them. Tasha promised to do her best for herself and left to join her friends outside.

The team from the NGO who brought them to the school also arrived on the campus so they can escort the students back to their various schools. Elsie came to the bus to look for Tasha. She gave her a parcel wrapped in a gift bag. The other buses arrived and the students went to board them. Elsie hugged Tasha and promised to see her one day. She then went to sit in the bus because she was the only one left so the bus could set off. Mrs Agaka the principal, gave her final message to the students and they began their journey.

Tasha and her mates thought of how long it would take them to arrive at their destination. Their parents were aware of their coming so they had to leave early in the morning so not to keep them anxious.

They were now used to the various landmarked along the journey and remembered most of them. They were happy to return back to their families but were sad to leave a beautiful city with all the comfort of the school and the friends they made. They also made several stops to buy some gifts for their parents and friends back at home. Tasha bought some apples and grapes for her family. Apple and grapes were one of her favorites in Philadon academy. These fruits cannot be found in the village so she knew her siblings would really love them.

After some hours, they arrived safely at Akati. Luckily, the school had not closed for the day and they alighted from the bus and found a place to offload their luggage. They were really exhausted so those of them who were residents of Akati made their way to their homes whiles those who lived far away had to wait for classes to be over so they could board the school bus to their various destinations. They were too tired to join their colleagues in class so some found other places like the school bus where they managed to take a nap.

Two hours after their arrival, the bell rang for classes to come to an end for the day. Tasha was taking a rest in the bus and woke up upon hearing the sound of the bell. She then realized that she was no longer at Philadon academy but back to her school, Opam academy. She could not believe it and wished it was a dream.

The other students joined her in the bus and the kids from her village were really surprised to see her because it had been so long since they last saw her and wondered where she had been.

Tasha was really tired so she did not interact with the students in the bus. She just sat quietly hoping to get to her home and continue her rest.

Her siblings know the time the school bus arrives in the village so they were eagerly monitoring their arrival because they were aware their sister would arrive on that day.

After a while they heard the sound of a vehicle coming and run to the roadside to see if it was the school bus. Their house was just about fifty meters away from the roadside so they could hear and see any vehicle that gets on the road.

They were disappointed as they realized that it was not the school bus but a passenger vehicle.

Thy went back home because they could hear their mother call out their names.

Even though they were eagerly waiting for their sister because they had missed her, they were also happy because she would now take over the house chores since they were already tired of doing the chores. They went back home to help their mother in the kitchen and after a while heard the sound of another oncoming vehicle. They left the kitchen and rushed to the roadside and it was the school bus. They quickly run to welcome Tasha when she got out of the bus. They were really happy to see her and helped her with the luggage to the house.

Ms Betty was happy to see her daughter as she welcomed her back home. Tasha went to her room to unpack her luggage. Dinner was almost ready but she was too tired to eat. Ms Betty knew her daughter would be coming back and might be hungry so she began to prepare the meal for the family as she closed from school. Tasha requested from her mother to have some rest before having her meal. She went to her room and threw herself on the bed. She was able to sleep for just a moment because the noise from her siblings could not allow her have the long rest that she wanted.

She could not stay in bed anymore so she got up and went to take her bath. She really missed the washroom of Philadon academy because it was more comfortable and a little luxury. She finished with her bath and made her way to the kitchen to have her meal. Her mother with her siblings had already taken their meals because they could not wait for her.

Her food was already dished out so she sat and had her meal quietly.

After the meal, she went out where her siblings were playing. It was getting to sunset so she asked them to go take their bath as she had a nice gift for them. They quickly rushed to the washroom to take their bath so they could come back for the gift.

Ms Betty was in her room after taking her bath and was preparing to go to church for her choir rehearsal. Tasha knocked on her door and her she was allowed in.

She then greeted her mother again and thanked her for the meal.

They promised to continue the discussion the following day because she was getting late for the rehearsal. Tasha went to the hall to watch the television. She could not call her dad and inform him of her arrival because her mother left with the phone so she promised to do that the following day.

Tobi and her siblings hurriedly finished their bath. Tasha went to her room to pick what she bought for them but she realized Elsie, Dara and Mrs Halira gave her some presents. She decided to open them and she was really overwhelmed by what she saw. She opened the present from Mrs Halira and it was a set of books. Motivational books to help here on her transformational journey and some beautiful story books that she had wished to read before leaving Philadon. She was surprised how Mrs Halira was able to know that she loved those books.

She opened Dara's gift bag and it was a pack of candies, a story book, a T shirt of the team with her name on it and a picture of her and the team during one of their games. She almost shed tears trying to remember the good times with the team.

She went ahead to open Elsie's gift bag and it was full of her favorite; packs of chocolates, a friendship bracelet and a T shirt with the names of the students in her class printed on it. She could not hold back her tears because she misses them already.

She cleaned her face and got out of the room. She gave some of the candies, chocolates, apples and grapes to her siblings who could not hold back their joy with what they saw. They were really happy for the gifts. She gave some to her mother when she got back from church and also packaged some to give to Nuna and some other neighbors in the village the following day. She knew her friend Nuna was angry with her because she had not informed her about the program.

She preserved the rest so she could eat them later and also give to Joan when they meet at school.