Culture Change
Mt. Adams - Mt. Hood - Mt. Rainier - Mt. Saint Helens
This is my second morning back in Liberia and it’s taking quite a bit to get re-adjusted. Not only is my body suffering from literally, a full day on airplanes and a few hours last night where for some reason my body wasn’t listening to my head (it was saying go back to sleep), my mind is still adjusting as well.
The flight back actually went much better than I could have hoped. I guess my international traveler status is catching up to me because I got an unrequested upgrade to first-class on the flight from Seattle to JFK, which I used to write a report and watch a movie. And on the flight across the ocean I actually got 5 straight hours of sleep. Still, it didn’t keep me from sleeping 12 straight hours on Friday night, which probably is what led to my body thinking I’m in Kenya and waking up at 2 am. I knew I shouldn’t have slept in on Saturday.
I am back in Africa after 3 wonderful weeks at home. Even from the air West Africa looks so different than the US. Development patterns, where there are any, are so different. Roads are different, even from 20,000 feet, towns are different, cultivation patterns are different.
Sweet Creek Falls
Yesterday, when I went out shopping, all the sounds, smells sights drove in that I’m back. And the weather. I sweat more on my walk yesterday than I think I did all vacation. And it’s cool. We’re into the second rainy season, which is separated from the first rainy season by the short dry season (and to be followed by the dry season - which I’ll miss), and so it’s cloudier and cooler, but it’s still hot and humid. Oregon was nice and at times cold. And the humidity at the coast was not quite like this.
Coming back this time was different. It was harder, very much harder. I had a wonderful time with Ann. But not nearly enough. Spent quality time with all the guys and Lauren (though missed out on the best photo opportunity - which Ann got! [Sorry super Lauren, but you might get posted]), and Pen. And saw good friends. Still, it wasn’t enough time and it was very hard to leave.
Yaquina Head Light House
Maybe it’s because we’re getting tired of being apart, we really are best friends, or that we’re now into year 3 of what we expected would be a 5-year plan for me to get a posting where Ann could join me. Maybe it’s because I know I’m coming back to finish up and leave within a couple of months so I’m coming back to pretty much close things out. Maybe it’s fear of the unknown because I don’t have my next adventure lined up. Whatever it is, I really didn’t want to come back, even though I have unfinished business.
Fortunately, while I was at work picking up my internet router (I had loaned it to the person covering for me so she could have internet to talk with her family) I got a call and was invited to play a game (declined to play, went for a couple of beers) and while I was out food shopping I ran into 4 friends. It’s good to come back to people who smile when they see you and welcome you back. It’s made the transition easier. A lot easier. It’s good to be part of a community.
Haceta Head, Oregon
So today I’m off to play volleyball if it doesn’t get rained out. Then it will be off to work simply to try and clear e-mail from my desk. No work per-se, just the compilation of a million and one tasks I’m sure I’ll have and trying to get my 3 weeks of e-mail down to just those that still need attention. I should have started it yesterday, but . . . .
As I’ve done before, I’ll do blog postings from my trip over the next few weeks. I suspect I’ll be very busy doing nothing interesting enough to post about, so as I go through my photos, I’ll write up stories and share both with you. I’ve added a few photos to this post to whet your whistle.
Japanese Gardens, Portland
It’s the least I can do leaving everyone in the dark for a month. And you can always count on me to do the least!