no mourning in farewells

we do not and should not mourn farewells, according to nestie. indeed. we celebrate instead the encounters with people who cross our paths and leave imprints  in our lives.  

this july, we said  our hasta la vistas  to four friends  who left mongolia -   three filipinos and an american who has become part of our pinoy community. 

Joe - italiano (huh?)…came as vso bahaginan vol… turned consultant… blogger, mover, social glue… ever-reliable support provider, multi talented and inventive cook, gardener, interior designer and challenging (self-ascribed description); 

Chito - of ulaanbaatar hotel, whom i met only once by nestie’s kitchen window sill, where we shared an ashtray and casual conversation, a gentleman ;

Marge - so much energy and punk packed in a such a small frame, has been in mongolia for years as vso volunteer, in the course of which she met william, then both decided to see what else is out there in the world. 

William - more than a marge appendage, english teacher who does mean twists and turns on the dance floor,

we will miss them surely. yet, the pinoys have become world travellers… seekers… we contend with the realities of diaspora and impermanence. people come and go but  they definitely enrich our lives  as we do theirs.  

 william and marge

 “pearls and ties” farewell party for marge and william at strings