This is story #40 in the series “Where Exactly is Home?”. The author recommends you read them in order.
Introduction:
“Where Exactly is Home?” follows the story of my parents, my two younger brothers and me, Susan, who emigrated from war-battered Britain, in the mid-late 1950’s, to Southern Rhodesia, Africa.
The effects of this move on our family were huge, as we struggled to adapt to such a different way of life. Only after further upheaval, and more long-distance travelling, did our family eventually settle in the city of Salisbury, Rhodesia.
However, we did not know then that we would not remain there for the rest of our lives, either.
When the family first went to Africa, I, Susan, was 9 years old. My two brothers, John and Peter, were almost 7 and 4, respectively.
Nowadays, as seniors, John and Peter live in England. I live in Canada. Throughout our lives, we have both benefitted from, and suffered because of, our somewhat unusual childhood.
I, for one, still sometimes ask myself which country represents home to me.
This is a series of stories under the title “Where Exactly is Home?” – I recommend you read them in order, starting with story #1.
40. Ups and Downs, Tears and Hard Work. September 1968-December 1970
It wasn’t easy for me to settle down again at home after my year of living in Europe. But I had to settle, and do so fast, so that I could finish my studies. Such was my priority.
Back to university I went for 15 months, once more living in residence and spending most of my free time either in the library or in my room, hard at work. I was again terrified that, having taken off a year to go to France, and now, back in Africa, joining younger students who had chosen not to take up the same opportunity, meant that I had only three months left of my second year, and a huge amount of work to do before my end of year examinations. I had had no possibility of studying in France. My tiny village was remote, and I had had no access to books. Would I pass my exams in December? What would I do if I failed? I knew my French was fluent, but that was all. There were so many other aspects to my course which required learning on my part: Old French, Linguistics, Semantics, not to mention the works of countless authors throughout the ages.
