So, I had decided I wanted to blog while I was gone in Africa and that would be the end of it. However, I actually enjoyed having an escape from everything and being able to write, so I have now decided to keep blogging.
It has been a month and 2 days exactly since I 1st arrived back in the snowy town of Freeport. 5 airports, 4 flights, 2 days without shower and sleep later, I made it back to the people I know and love!! To my surprise, my middle sister Silqet was waiting for me as I got off the plane. I haven't seen her in a year and of course, I cried. Waiting by baggage claim were my mom and oldest sister with balloons and signs to welcome us home. This again caused me to make a scene and cry.(I'm sure my lack of sleep didn't help anything.) After arriving home, I was greeted by a smiling and familiar face of my handsome boyfriend Reuben. This was a fantastic surprise that I couldn't fully appreciate at the time because I was not really awake. Christmas break proved to be a time of too much food, too many people, too many gifts, and a lot of love. I was overwhelmed by everything and still on African time, so I would fall asleep at 5pm and wake up around 2 am and not be able to sleep. I was so excited to see I had lost 15 pounds while in Africa without even trying.(Ladies, go on the Africa diet, works everytime! haha). So, it was a challenge to get back into my eating habits of America and the food, which rarely agreed/agrees with my stomach.
One of the best Christmas gifts. Reuben!
My best friend Allison came to visit me after I got home too.
Mom, Silqet, Me, and Kathleen with our African dresses on Christmas.
My older sisters and I. Me, Kathleen, and Silqet, with my newly shaved head.
My 1st trip to Walmart was quite interesting. I avoided it at all costs, but eventually I had to go. It sounds so silly, but going there now still bothers me for some odd reason. I don't know how to explain myself other than it is weird to have everything at your disposal. Doing laundry in a washer and dryer was probably one of the most exciting moments of returning home!! No longer did I have to spend an entire day scrubbing my clothes to their death and then waiting for them to dry for 2 days. Boy does it feel good!!
My transition back into life here has not been the easiest. Most of my challenges are internal and hard to explain to others. I am sure I sound like a gigantic baby or weirdo when I complain about certain things. And I know I am most likely annoying when I keep saying "When I was in Africa..." But, it was 4 great months of my life that will not soon be forgotten. It is nice to be able to keep in touch so easily with friends from there though. My roommate from Africa and I talk daily and she has been such a great influence for me. We are attempting to help each other through the struggles of being home. I was so happy though to see all my friends and family again. Heading back to Greenville was great because I was able to see my roomie Melissa again!! We had a joyous reunion of course and I was also able to spend time with my good friend Riann.
Mel, Riann, and I on New Year's Eve.
For the new year, I was able to go to Indy and visit Reuben and his family. That was a great little getaway and I had such a good time just relaxing and celebrating his younger sister Logan's 18th birthday. :)
Logan and I at her birthday lunch.
My biggest news of the new year is that I shaved most of my hair off!! I shaved the sides and back of my head and chopped a lot of the middle off too. I was a little hesitant to do it, but decided I better do it now while I am young and crazy already. In the end, I love it and am having a blast trying out new hair styles and watching it grow into awkward patches on my head. haha.
Life in America is so obviously different and I am missing my African family more than I can express, but nothing in life ever comes easy, right? I have wonderful family and friends surrounding me that have helped to make this transition a lot better than it could have been.
