I'm sitting at the kitchen table, the Christmas tree is twinkling in the corner and It's A Wonderful Life is playing in the living room. My belly is full of good food and I change outfits about three times a day just so I can wear all my clothes again.
I've been back in America for about a week. I keep waiting to freak out or have a break down, but it hasn't happened yet. I've been surprised at how normal everything feels. I guess I haven't really processed much. It's been nice to retreat from life and just exist for a little while.
It has been 331 days between leaving my home on January 10th and returning on December 6th.
I have stepped foot into 14 countries.
I have been to 18 airports.
I've traveled on 65 buses, 38 tuk tuks, 29 vans, 27 taxis, 19 cars, 19 dala dalas, 17 motorcyles, 15 airplanes, 12 song taews, 11 matatus, 10 trucks, 4 ferries, 3 shuttles, 2 trains, 2 monorails, 1 police truck, and 1 elephant.
I've slept in 29 different beds, 16 hostels and hotels and at 13 different ministry sites.
I think I have had to share a testimony or sermon about 14 times.
I have been to and participated in 93 church services. 93!
I've done about everything I can besides bathing in bleach to rid myself of 11 months of dirt, but traipsing about the world has left me irrevocably and unashamedly a misfit. I definitely stand out in my little tourist town populated by rich white folks. The clothing options here seem strictly to be either North Face and Ugg boots or Banana Republic. "Dirty hippie" doesn't really go. But I don't care.
I have to remind myself that it's okay to speak English to strangers. I have to dig through my purse to find the right currency. For a while I had a hard time remembering not to throw my toilet paper in the trash and remembering that the head bobble is not a clear means of communication in America. And it's disconcerting after being the center of attention for 11 months for people to not even give you a second look.
I don't really know what to say about being home. It's weird.
And now that it's all over…
Do you have any questions?
I would love to answer any questions you might have. Questions about life on the race, things I've learned, home, the future. To expand on a story you've been wondering about or a certain culture, ministry or person. Anything that I have left out that you are curious about. Anything you would like to know, just ask!
