Surprise! I was just in America for two weeks and got to see my family, friends, and all my favorite spots. I remain in disbelief that I was able to pull off flying for two days across the world without anyone in my family (minus Moriah who is a secret keeping, trip confidant queen) knowing about it. Turns out I’m a pretty good liar when it comes to surprise international trips. Not sure if that’s a skill I should brag about, but there ya go.
Everyone was asking me how it felt being back in the USA and honestly, it felt weird for 30 minutes and then completely normal. Like I never left. Like I was back in high school eating all my parents food and using their running water and electricity without a care in the world! Haha but really, I didn’t have a hard time being back in America - like anyone would have a hard time taking hot showers and having access to real grocery stores and driving with complete and total freedom. I was a lot more aware of certain things - like where does the gas and water and utilities that just magically appear in my parent's house actually come from? How much water does a load of laundry take in the machine (turns out its about the amount of water I use in a week in the hut). Of course, the consumerism and waste that come with US culture always hit me in the gut a bit, but that’s nothing new. So definitely things like that made themselves known a bit more. All in all, I was just filled with joy in seeing all of my people again.
Highlights:
Meeting my new nephew (shout-out Katelyn and Rylan for keeping two wildly entertaining, hilarious, adorable, sweet kiddos alive and thriving!)
Hugging my sisters after not seeing them for over a year
Grocery shopping with my parents - so normal, so lovely having casual in person conversations, so fun spending ordinary time with them
Back in Boulder! (Skiing, seeing friends, endless coffee dates and dinners and going out to real places, running my favorite trails, mountains and feeling at home)
Hot showers. That's all.
I drank at least one latte a day. Was wildly dehydrated the whole trip.
Living in the ordinary rhythms of life again - speaking English everywhere, no one thinking I'm absolutely insane when going on a run, popping leftovers in the fridge, spending time with people who have known me for years, ice cubes in all my drinks, making my own schedule knowing I can just drive anywhere whenever, eating vegetables, and so much more!
12 hour layover in Paris (got to break free from the most confusing airport ever and see the Musee D’Orsay, get a croissant and espresso at a cute cafe, walk around for a bit, and then bus back to the airport before I got lost too many times that I missed my next flight)
Basically I just lived my usual ordinary life that I lived before leaving for Lesotho and it was lovely. I had originally not planned on coming back to the US at all during these two years but am very glad I did! Now it’s back to Lesotho and my second year of teaching…
School started this week on the 15th and the first few days have been pretty chill. I’m transitioning from teaching solely grade 4 to being more the ESL teacher for the school. The first half of the year I’ll be in grades 4-7 working on conversational English classes and helping the teachers with developing some more effective teaching practices. I’m hoping to do a workshop with all of the teachers on some good classroom practices because if you’re a teacher, you know little changes in teaching and classroom operation go a long, long way for students! I’m eager to see if this new role I've put myself in is successful or an utter disaster, haha! Time will tell. I can always go back to the crazies in grade 4.
Being back I’ve honestly been appreciating this experience way more. A short time in the US showed me that the life I would be living there if I had stuck around after college is not the life that I want or that is for me right now. Happy to be doing something a little out of the ordinary for right now!
Other Things:
My grant has been in shambles after getting approved - I was pretty sure I was going to have to return our funds and cancel the grant last week due to issues with the company we are using to drill the borehole saying they needed more money than originally planned (turns out there are more rocks in the ground then originally realized and a much more expensive machine is required). BUT fortunately for everyone, I’m a genius. Haha, just kidding but I think the other teachers and I might have found some cost cutting and creative solutions so I’m hopeful all is not lost! Yet!
We have our Mid-Service Conference next week - the first time our whole cohort will be together since last March! I’m excited to see everyone and have a weekend in a hotel!
After just having a convo with a friend back home about how I haven’t had any major sickness/stomach/travel bug issues I came down with something immediately upon return. I’ll spare you the details but let’s just say spending the hours of 12am to 3am outside in a latrine is not the most fun I’ve ever had here. Having a raging fever and still having to go fetch water and do hut chores is also not the most fun I’ve ever had. Don’t worry, all is now well.
My produce hauls from town have been going bad SO much faster now that it’s summer and my hut isn’t a natural refrigerator. Tears.
Rain, rain, rain! My water pump is finally back on full time! No more stress on if I’m rationing my water correctly! Yay!
I’m endlessly grateful I got to see so many of you when I was back. Love y’all dearly! Until next time :)
DISCLAIMER: all my own thoughts! nothing from Peace Corps or the US Governement reflected here!
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