For some, Immokalee is home where
they have to or choose to spend large increments (many years) of time. For
many, many others, it is a transient place. People come and go: farmworkers,
immigrants, social workers, activists, volunteers, etc. This nature of the town
was explained to us by many people when we first arrived. Yet, the reality of
this is felt more than ever as some of my roommates start to make some final
decisions about their plans for the upcoming year, as the town starts to
transition towards the summer, and as I begin to think about how I personally
have only two and a half months left to live and work here.
It is about this
time of year that Immokalee starts to feel emptier as people start to leave the
south and follow the crops up north. The lines at the Winn Dixie get shorter,
there are less people walking down Main Street, and kids start talking about
how they miss a parent that has had to go to work up north. Some of the
volunteers will start missing children who have to be pulled out of school
early to travel with their parents. We will also start to say goodbye to some
of our friends as they also go up and pick watermelons, apples, blueberries,
etc. in the northern states.
For the
volunteers, this is also a time of transition. We have only two weeks of
afterschool left. As our children are starting to feel antsy for change, so are
we. Yet, our excitement for summer camp is also a bit burdened with tinges of
sadness since the next few weeks might be the last that we get to see some of
our children who will not be in the summer program. I have one girl who will be
going to Mexico for the summer. She looked at me a week ago and acknowledged, “I’m
sad that I will not get to see you after May 25.” I responded lightheartedly
but was pretty sad about it too. We also stop working at our morning sites when
summer camp begins, and, of course, there are so many people that we will miss
there too. Some of them we will continue to see around town. Some we will not.
As a result of these changes, we are starting to prepare for quite a few
goodbyes.
The fact of it
is that there are so many wonderful people here, and, since they welcomed us so
wholeheartedly, we were drawn into so many amazing relationships. And,
suddenly, we take our final trek towards the end of it. This time is one of
happiness as we enjoy every last minute of our time here, look forward to
summer camp, and celebrate the fact that new volunteers will come to take our
place. Yet, it is also a time that has a hint of nostalgia for the many people
we have met.
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