Re-entry is the nice missionary word for, i’m home, now what the heck do i do with my life.
My first meal was a Taco Bell Express in the Dallas airport with Andrea. I had no idea they had a new sauce. Andrea was beaming. My first meal in Colorado was a Chiplote. I was beaming. It took me three sit downs to finish.
I spent the first two weeks in the states mooching off my sister in Florida. We crossed our fingers hoping weight gain would come overnight as she made me shakes with entirely too many calories to reverse the African Jenny Craig diet I was on while abroad. More was accomplished on her Apple desktop computer in thirty minutes than in three weeks using internet on the race. She made me do paddle board yoga. Google it. I laughed a lot when people weren’t looking. I also fell once because I let my anchor fall in the water as i was paddling.
Jess Sims introduced me to a website for downloading music.
So i downloaded. Made playlists for friends. And downloaded. Ten cd’s in all.
I looked at camera’s. I looked at ipod’s. I looked at computers.
And then I looked in my bank account. Ha.
Among other things my sister bought me underwear, socks, and crest white strips.
When i would go to take a poo i would always try to throw my toilet paper in the trash can.
I asked other friends if that was weird. A couple of them said they had to fish their tp out of the can to toss back in the toilet.
I took hot showers with water pressure.
People always ask if you are in culture shock. I say no. I mean, I am not really shocked that our culture is so materialistic. I am not shocked at the variety. I’m just shocked to go from using three bucks a day for food to getting a six dollar shake in a health food store. I mean the shake was great. I was thankful my sister offered me one. But afterward i kept thinking, where does Penselcola keep all the homeless people and can i go hang out with them?
I watched ESPN. Turns out i really didnt miss anything.
I smoked my pipe and drank beers that didnt taste like crappy light lagers from Asia as I caught up with close friends and family.
I got my blood and poo checked out. A few things out of wack but generally praises all around.
I watched a documentary about Tammy Fay Baker with my mom and found out where the term everyone on the race used called “PTL” came from.
My friends threw a party for me. “Nathan Salley’s Welcome Back Mustaches From Around the World Party.” Mackenzie Olson blew up a picture of my face and stuck it on the wall so that friends could play pin the stash on the Salley. Hoover made brownies with powdered sugar stashed on them. I probably drank three beers over four hours and felt hung over the next day. The combination of poor liver functions and underweight body gave me a headache.
Some days were highlights.
Some days I had no idea what to do with myself.
Some days I still don’t and wonder when i will break down and cry from missing things like never having my own room and having to sleep in a bed with two other grown men. Or meeting for morning prayer even when we don’t always want to. Or trying to make Andrea fight me. Or teasing Ashley about pretty much anything until she punches me in the arm and then straches my back. Or watching Tracy do that funny dance thing she does with her hips and head. Or seeing Jonathan everyday that has a larger beard than mine. Or talking music with Jess.
I’m glad to be back. But i’m not really sure what back is if that makes sense. I have loads of friends and family here. I feel immensly blessed and loved. But i’m anxious for the next transition. Even at home i feel in transition. Not sure what will be coming next.
I’ll keep you all posted. Thanks for keeping me in your prayers.
Love sals
I have a new blogsite if you feel like continuing with me and my story.
