Oh hey guys, I'm back. I'm sorry that it's been so long. It is truly crazy how fast time is flying by. I remember so clearly sitting on the plane heading to Brussels, focusing extremely hard on my breathing to make sure I was still performing that simple action despite my intense excitement/anxiety. And then, voila, I was back on the plane heading in the other direction, looking out the window as we approached the skyscrapers. Patting my filthy backpack, my mind wandered in several directions, one of them being the people I was leaving behind for the month and work. Then it would take a sharp turn with a flash of a friend's face, or a family member's, what it will be like to be in a developed country after 10 months.
Fortunately, I was so tired that my brain slowly quieted down and I moved through the next couple of hours in a dreamlike state. I had a wonderful reunion with my family, and as I soaked in their hugs and simply looking at the familiar faces that I'd missed so much, my eyes also adjusted to other things. For instance, the cleanliness was insane. Talk about a sharp contrast. Everything was so clean it reflected the light, including the nicely paved roads. And, it was very easy to find a garbage can, in fact, you're more likely to find up to 3 cans side by side for recycling purposes. In the Brussels Airport, this suprised me enough that I stood their with the garbage in my hand trying to figure out which garbage can was the correct one for my piece of paper. I'd also like to add, defensively, that these cans weren't labeled which didn't exactly help.
Anyways, I continued to soak in everything for the rest of my 3 weeks. The food- the fantastic, wonderful food. Truly delicious. Seriously, no wonder our country has an obesity problem. Our food is great, so ridiculously unhealthy (for the most part), and there is just so much of it. I also enjoyed wearing shorts agin, and showing my shoulders. This is a simply pleasure that I didn't realize I missed while in village, one of many. And of course, spending as much time with family and friends as possible was perfect. One thing that was a personal worry of mine, a worry that I was relieved to hear other Peace Corps volunteers express as well, was that after months of this experience things would change. That I would be different, my friends and family would be different in the sense that life has moved on. Things do change, afterall. We all know this when we sign up, but it is also something that contributes to loneliness felt here, that things are lonely here, but when we go back we'll go back to things that are unrecognizable. But, I am very happy to say that I have learned that isn't the case for me. I went home, and yea things do change and people experience new things at home as well, but all of my relationships are the same as when I left. I am not this weird alien person who can't interact with people like I use to, I'm still pretty much the same. This realization helped me get back on the plane, because I know that what I value back in the States will be there when I get back. I'm pretty lucky.
Also, everyone kind of had the same questions. Things that I can now answer in more detail here. One question- "How is Africa?" I think this one is pretty funny because it is just so ridiculously broad. Don't get me wrong, I ask how is the States all the time, it's just something that isn't that easy to answer. Africa is Africa. It has some of the most fascinating things that I have ever seen, and some of the most beautiful, as well as some of the most bizarre. For example, I will never completely understand how a country filled with people who are making their own toys as children out of water bottles and sardine cans, fixing ancient cars with string, and are able to overcome so much also have the same water system as the United States did during the American Revolution. But, all in all, in terms of how Africa is treating me, it's amazing. Nothing has ever tested me, taught me, and shown me as much as this experience has thus far. You never know though, still got a year and a half to go haha.
Another question- "What do you do?" Another solid question, this one a bit easier to answer though. When it comes to work, I am basically working with a few different groups and teaching, showing, or teaching others how to teach the village how to prevent and/or treat very common nd preventable diseases and illnesses such as Malaria or cholera. I choose what I want to do, though. And when it comes to projects, I am trying to start a library in my village. Other projects are also slowly forming and becoming actual things as well.
And a 3rd common question was "Isn't it really hard living without electricity and stuff?" I like this one because, for me, it is super easy to answer. Honestly, it really isn't hard. I actually at times find myself prefering the simple life like that. Being able to talk to people right in front of you without cell phones going off, walking around in a tranquil place without the beep of cell phones because of facebook statuses or twitter. Brushing my teeth outside under a brilliantly speckled sky is something that I have truly come to enjoy. Now, of course, do I miss actual showers? Yes, but bucket baths really aren't that bad either. Do I miss toilets? Yea I do, but latrines are easy to adapt to also. I guess, simply put, the answer is no it isn't hard to live without it. It is much harder to have it, then go without, to have it again, and then have it taken away. It's easier to have it once then get use to an entirely different way of life. I just never have these things, so there is no tease.
Alright this is a really long post, so I am going to go. I am so grateful that I got to see as many faces as I did these past 3 weeks. I miss you more than I can say, but again, time is flying and I'll be back soon. COngratulations to Joe and Dori!!! The wedding was beautiful and so much fun. Miss you!
