Here I am halfway through my 6-week home leave, aka
Operation American Indulgence. So far my hair has been cut in a style that
doesn’t require the everyday pony tail. I spent an amazing afternoon at a spa
getting scrubbed cleaned. I’ve ransacked the summer clearance racks at my fav
clothing stores. And I’ve enjoyed so many lunches and dinners out with friends
and family that I barely fit into most of my new pants- but I regret not a
forkful!!
Being back has been a crazy mix of feeling like I never left
and feeling like everything is completely different. Even friends commented
that we all picked up conversations like I’d still been around. But then there
are those moments when someone asks me the simplest questions and I have no
idea how to answer!
The first few days I was mainly sleeping and visiting. My
first trip to Wal-Mart ended up as a 2 hour walk up and down aisles. I finally
realized I must have had a strange look on my face when I noticed other
shoppers staring at me and how employees kept asking if they could help me find
something.
The first major cultural shock moment came when I was finally
able to spend a day helping around the family farm. I guess because this showed
the biggest comparison with the agriculture and farming ways I had been surrounded
by in the village.
My dad had me run water over a horse’s swollen leg. It was
something the horse definitely needed. But I was standing there watching ALL
this clean, clear, drinkable water being run over the horse’s leg and then onto
the ground….it just seemed so wrong, like I was wasting it. I should at least
find a way to capture it as ran off the horse’s leg so we could use it again
later.
I was also shocked to find that pizza rolls are not nearly
as tasty as I remember them! And I can no longer handle air conditioning!! I
have to carry around a wrap to restaurants, movie theaters and stores as they
usually freeze me out.
One good surprise I have had is being able to see the
support I have here at home. So many people have been really interested in and
supportive of what I’ve been doing in TZ. Many groups have invited to talk
about my work at their meetings. It’s really been fun!
For now, I must run— literally! It’s time for my daily
workout to combat all the food involved in Operation American Indulgence!
