All Good Things Come to an End
*****
Home is already a distant memory. It feels like I’ve been back for months.
I’m surprised (and even feel a little guilty), though I shouldn’t be. When I was home, Ghana felt so far away - like it had been years since I boarded the plane at Kotoka. The first few days felt like a dream, though…like I’d wake up and be back in my hut, wiping the salty sweat from my eyes.
Some moments, I wanted to sleep, others made me want to wake up.
A lot of my friends had a hard time coming back after their visits home. I suppose because you know what you’re getting into this time (as opposed to when you first leave for Peace Corps, bright-eyed and still caring about shaving and deodorant, thinking you might luck out and get an indoor toilet). But I’ve able to make the switch easily - I guess that’s a blessing.
Being home wasn’t much different than life is here - bouts of insane pressure, moving frantically from one place to the next, coupled with days where I didn’t know what to do with myself and resorted to roaming the (air-conditioned) aisles of Wal-Mart.
Okay, so the Wal-Mart part is very different.
I traveled to Nashville, Peoria, Louisville and back to Paducah before all was said and done. I was able to talk with classrooms about Peace Corps and life in Ghana, got to hold babies that were born while I was gone and run with those who were infants when I left. I zip-lined through a cave, went hiking and bike riding and spent time in nature without fear that it would kill me. I got to drive, I got to be driven while feeling secure enough that I could sleep in the vehicle and I got to hug my parents again. I got to see Hugh Jackman on the big screen (TWICE!), experience the Internet everywhere and had one of the greatest bonfires ever. I ate WAY too much Taco Bell, saw the Cardinals lose, froze my tail off in the football stadium and randomly happened upon a Dagomba lady in town the same weekend I was.
I saw just about everyone I needed to and wished I could’ve spent more time with those that I did. I just wanted to say a thank you to everyone who went out of their way to welcome me back. I feel truly lucky to have people like you in my lives. It was great to see each and every one of you, no matter how long.
A big thanks to those who took me in for a few days at a time. It made living arrangements a lot easier than I thought they would be.
I wouldn’t be able to do what I do over here if it weren’t for your support and encouragement. Or, at least it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun. For those of you who said you enjoy living vicariously through me, I’m happy to live out your adventures and for those of you who expressed your admiration, I thank you. We can each be inspiring in whatever we choose to do, if only we do it with a passion and to the best of our abilities. Not everyone is meant to pack up and move to Africa for a few years, but don’t let that stop you from making a difference where you are.
***
Here is a link to my Facebook album where I dumped all the pictures if anyone wants to check them out.
Home is already a distant memory. It feels like I’ve been back for months.
I’m surprised (and even feel a little guilty), though I shouldn’t be. When I was home, Ghana felt so far away - like it had been years since I boarded the plane at Kotoka. The first few days felt like a dream, though…like I’d wake up and be back in my hut, wiping the salty sweat from my eyes.
Some moments, I wanted to sleep, others made me want to wake up.
A lot of my friends had a hard time coming back after their visits home. I suppose because you know what you’re getting into this time (as opposed to when you first leave for Peace Corps, bright-eyed and still caring about shaving and deodorant, thinking you might luck out and get an indoor toilet). But I’ve able to make the switch easily - I guess that’s a blessing.
Being home wasn’t much different than life is here - bouts of insane pressure, moving frantically from one place to the next, coupled with days where I didn’t know what to do with myself and resorted to roaming the (air-conditioned) aisles of Wal-Mart.
Okay, so the Wal-Mart part is very different.
I traveled to Nashville, Peoria, Louisville and back to Paducah before all was said and done. I was able to talk with classrooms about Peace Corps and life in Ghana, got to hold babies that were born while I was gone and run with those who were infants when I left. I zip-lined through a cave, went hiking and bike riding and spent time in nature without fear that it would kill me. I got to drive, I got to be driven while feeling secure enough that I could sleep in the vehicle and I got to hug my parents again. I got to see Hugh Jackman on the big screen (TWICE!), experience the Internet everywhere and had one of the greatest bonfires ever. I ate WAY too much Taco Bell, saw the Cardinals lose, froze my tail off in the football stadium and randomly happened upon a Dagomba lady in town the same weekend I was.
I saw just about everyone I needed to and wished I could’ve spent more time with those that I did. I just wanted to say a thank you to everyone who went out of their way to welcome me back. I feel truly lucky to have people like you in my lives. It was great to see each and every one of you, no matter how long.
A big thanks to those who took me in for a few days at a time. It made living arrangements a lot easier than I thought they would be.
I wouldn’t be able to do what I do over here if it weren’t for your support and encouragement. Or, at least it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun. For those of you who said you enjoy living vicariously through me, I’m happy to live out your adventures and for those of you who expressed your admiration, I thank you. We can each be inspiring in whatever we choose to do, if only we do it with a passion and to the best of our abilities. Not everyone is meant to pack up and move to Africa for a few years, but don’t let that stop you from making a difference where you are.
***
Here is a link to my Facebook album where I dumped all the pictures if anyone wants to check them out.