3/22/19 Lome, Togo
Still Chillen in Coffee shops
Its so weird to discover the things that make me feel most at home, although I’m clearly miles from it.
Today was one of those days where I felt at home for approximately 4 hours of my morning.
I got up early (as usual) and journeyed a mile down the road with two of my teammates Marilyn, and Morgan to a coffee shop called Savers de Monde. I call this simple walk a journey because the walk there consisted us navigating through something we jokingly called “Lake Togo”-streets covered in “puddles” that sometimes took up the entire width of the road. Thankfully some local boys helped us out when we were completely stuck by plopping some stones in the road for us to hop on in order to get to the next stretch of dry(ish) land. This was something they clearly have done many times.
But anyway, once we finally got there we settled into our comfy chairs, got our morning pastries, enjoyed ourself some wifi, and much needed time away from our usual crowd of 20 or so. I got to sit at a coffee shop with two of my close friends and just be for hours. Oh, and God bless, there was AC! This was the first time I was actually cool enough to put on my long sleeve thermal and be completely comfortable. In fact, for the first time I felt cold. That’s a foreign concept! But even just that feeling of being cold made me feel at home, and genuinely miss the midwest weather and coziness that I was so used to feeling from it.
I was able to sit there for the first time 100% comfortable. I wasn’t worried about getting bit by mosquitos, positioning myself in front of a community fan or an open window. I wasn’t worried about being so sweaty that I actually stick to the chair I’m sitting on, or having to peel my sweaty arm off the table I rest my arms on. And I wasn’t worried that I was soon going to have to sneak away to my secret corner because I was so overwhelmed by the number of people around me.
I wasn’t worried. I was totally comfy, cold & cozy, so full of joy, and I felt truly at home.
This morning reminded me of the many morning at school in Holland, MI where I woke up before the sun rose and walked less than a mile down the street to sit in my favorite coffee shop, LJs. I always that knew when I got there I could just sit and be totally comfortable and at peace with the small crowd, with the temperature in the room, and in the cozy small space.
That same feeling reminded me of my room at home, my sanctuary, the place where every single morning I could curl up in bed with a warm cup of coffee with my blankets and oversized hoody on and just be; I could just chill with my coffee in my lap, worry free and comfortable.
Chillen at a coffee shop this morning put me back at LJs, brought me back to my room, and reminded me that it is possible to find place that feels like home so so far away from home.
The most comforting part of this little adventure, was that it taught me that feeling at home is possible even miles across the world from the places and people that make home what it is.
So don’t worry you guys, nothings really changed. I’m still chillen in coffee shops for hours on end. This for sure is one of my favorite activities in life, and I love that it now has a nostalgic feeling to it. I can feel at home, and I’m learning how to make that feeling of home tangible. Now that I know for sure that chillen at coffee shops (small coffee shops with AC and wifi) allows me to feel at home I’m sure I’ll be on the hunt for places that make me feel at home for the rest of the race- a place thats worry free, completely comfortable, and filled with nostalgic vibes.
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All photo credits to Marilyn Villagomez for capturing me in my natural habitat! 🙂
