Homecoming!

I changed my facebook status yesterday to: "31 hours after leaving my Tanzanian house, I have arrived back at my North Carolina home."

As I left Tanzania, I was left with a mixture of emotions. I was remembering how scared I was when I arrived just 7 short weeks ago and realizing how comfortable I had become. The unknowns had become familiars and I was comfortable taking care of the things that used to scare me.

Saying goodbye to people was difficult. The Tanzanians all wanted to know when I was going to come back. The truth was I didn't know, but I just told them that I had to go home, back to Duke, and finish some work. Then I'd see where I ended up. To the same degree that Tanzanians are so welcoming, they hate to see you go. Stay and have another Tangawizi ginger ale, stay and work with the watoto in the hospital, stay and make Tanzania your home.

The cab ride back to the airport with Bwana Carol traced my steps back over the things that had been so foreign on the day I arrived. He had given me an ndizi that was tiny and yellow and delicious and I recalled that I knew one word in Swahili. Now I could carry on a broken Swahili conversation with him and my belly was full of mango and passionfruit. I looked out the window from the plane as we were taking off and I had a visceral feeling that I cannot explain... maybe it was knowing that I was going to miss Tanzania.

I flew into D.C. and could see the bare trees and snow-topped roofs over the Capital City. My bare toes were met with sideways glances from other bundled travelers as to why I was so inappropriately dressed for the frigid weather. Duh, I just left Africa. I checked my bags and immediately went to my connecting gate... after I ordered a grande Starbuck's coffee. Gosh I am such an American!

I landed at RDU and collected my bags. As I rounded the corner to exit the concourse I could see my Dad. I broke into a run and had one of those great airport moments where you say hello to a loved one in front of complete strangers. It felt good to be home. My Dad was no less than thrilled.

What was the first thing I did when I got back? The answer is obvious. I needed Mexican food. One Armadillo Grill chicken taco and cheese queso later, I went home and tackled my next big craving... a steaming hot shower where I did not have to hold the shower head. Then I turned on my cell phone and started making calls across the country to the people I missed most and was excited to talk to again... I started with Denver.

My room is now a complete mess covered in the regurgitation of my bags. Dad made enchiladas for dinner (by my request. I really missed Mexican food!) and I made it until about 7:45 pm before I crashed into my bed (no mosquito net required!). Today I am off to Duke to tie up some loose ends and I'm very excited to see my professors.

It feels good to be home.