So here we go:
1) Roadtrips were always a favorite of mine. Now after
traveling in a more “backpacking” type of travel, I love driving vacations even
more!
Reason #1: I remembered when you
drive yourself you can pack as much as you want!!! You don’t have to carry any
of it by hand or on your back.
Reason #2: Rest Stops. None of
those side-of-the-road bathroom breaks with me taking too long to find a
“private” spot and then having to run after the bus….yes, this has happened
more than I care to admit.
Reason #3: After two years of
12-hour, cramped bus rides, a 5-hour trip in my own car goes by SO fast!
2) Related to #1: To all ye of little faith in my driving
abilities, I want to point out that I did successfully drive myself all over
Kentucky for SIX weeks without any speeding tickets or wrecks.
3) I was not prepared for the new standard of traveling with
GPS and Smartphones. Realized this when trying to get directions for various
places and was simply given the address to where we were meeting.
4) My hygiene standards for men have definitely lowered
after two years in a country with less than ideal water availability. Realized
this when I was checking out a cute-in-a-scruffy-way guy. Then I remembered I
am in America….making this guy dirty and a hobo.
5) Nothing beats the combo of a hot shower and a towel fresh
from the dryer.....well, unless it's BBQ nachos and sweet ice tea :-)
6) The most common questions I got were about wild animals….if
I’d petted a lion? if giraffes roamed my village? if I’d rode a zebra? Ummm,
that’s all a no. Come on people, wild animals are wild animals. Do bears and
wolves sit around on the patio furniture in your back yard?
7) Related to #5: the closest I’ve been to a wild animal was
when a bobcat ran across the road in front of me between Dad and Uncle Kenny’s
houses last week.
8) Also related to #5: I really enjoyed and appreciated how
everyone was so supportive and interested in Tanzania, its people and my work.
But….after 6 weeks of it, I was about to start banning any talk of Tanzania, its
people and my work.
9) Hardest temptation? Not to go through Sam’s Club buying a
year’s supply of honey mustard, Cheetos, granola bars, Chips Ahoy...well, you get the point. I did carry around a pack of 2 big bottles of honey mustard before realizing it was silly.
10) Another hot topic was what I planned to take back with
me. Here’s the final list of what made it in my suitcases:
- comfy, sturdy, cute walking shoes and sandels….5 pairs.
(No judging!)
- new lap top and digital camera (just glad old ones held up
as long as they did)
- new tennis shoes
- fly swatter
- sheet set (fitted sheets rare)
- pineapple peeler
- pancake flipper
- bowl scraper
- multiples of shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, face wash, toner,
makeup, lotions (brands I can’t get and things over priced in TZ)
- cotton balls
- wet wipes
- Tide wipes
- year supply of contacts and solution
- collapsible canvas shelves
- closet organizer
- clothes…so many new clothes (most I owned prior to home
leave were stretched out, worn out and hole-y
- honey mustard (small bottle)
- pumpkin flavored mixes
- country gravy mixes
- craisens
- candy for Tanzanian coworkers
- magazines and new downloaded music to share with other
PCVs
