Here I am, immersed once again into the life I’ve known before. In some ways it feels like I never left, in other ways it feels like I’m far from what I used to be.
After 3 days I’m still in that awkward transition phase where I feel slightly displaced, where I throw toilet paper in the trash can, carry a variety of foreign coins in my purse, respond with “grazie” instead of thank you, get strange looks when I don’t know whatever song is the biggest rage, and wake up in the middle of the night with absolutely no idea where I am (not even which country.) I don’t have a phone yet, which feels oddly normal.
Sometimes I feel awkward around people, like I don’t remember how to talk. Sometimes I feel weepy, which is weird. And sometimes I don’t have an appetite (but of course I still eat.) Other than that I’m probably sane.
I miss my squad.
I got my hair trimmed and dyed today, which was incredibly therapeutic. I try to not define myself by my looks, but damn, after five months of side braids and split ends, it’s just nice to feel pretty. And new.
Italy was an interesting. Not what I expected. It was both better and worse. I walked a lot and ate gelato every day (…sometimes twice a day. Sometimes for breakfast.) I rarely drank water because toilets were so hard to come by (or so expensive.) I was dazzled by old churches, the colosseum and the leaning tower of pisa (among others.)
I got mad at God and I fell in love with him. He was the perfect travel companion – he was patient with me through all my moods. I always felt myself with him and I never felt alone. And he was very romantic.
So yeah…that’s that. Now that I’m back in the good ole USA, I’ll be blogging exclusively on my other blog.
Farewell, World Race. Hello once again, Exciting (and sometimes terrifying) Unknown.
