I’m sitting on my couch at home as I type this
sentence. Looking up, I see the familiar furniture, the familiar pictures, even
the familiar Christmas decorations that we put up every year around this time.
My younger brother is playing with one of the dogs, patting his lap and
praising the little guy when he finally makes it up.
It’s nice and it’s also really weird because it
means I’m no longer in Kenya.
Five months and a bit later and I’ve returned back
to where I started. But I hope I’m not the same. So I’ll take some time for
reflection now, because I have a month before I’m off to my next site in Geneva
(very different from Kenya).
Let’s begin with the physical changes (mainly because
those are the most obvious). Firstly, I lost weight – about 20 pounds actually.
I had to assure one of the sisters in Kenya that, as an American who doesn’t
always eat the healthiest things, losing weight is a perfectly normal
consequence of changing to a healthier and fresher diet. My sister was somewhat
shocked by my decreased waistline, but as Christmas is coming up, I’m sure it
will return to normal soon enough. I also have a bit more color. Considering
that I am ridiculously white, any color at all is more than I usually have.
Since I got sunburned about three days before I came home, the very, very slight tan is more noticeable than
it usually would be.
But the physical changes are easy to notice.
Behavioral changes are little bit more difficult to tell. Even so, there are
few things that I’ve already noticed in the two-ish days I’ve been home. For
example, I take really short showers now. I didn’t take particularly long
showers before, but after spending two months in Karare during a drought
(without hot water for most of the time as well), I’m much more conscious about
my water usage. Same thing with electricity, but less so than with water. There’s
also a part of me now that always wonders what else I can use something for
after it’s been used for its initial purpose. Maybe this scrap paper can be
used for decorations down the line, or maybe this misprinted document can be
used to test weird p0rinting jobs. I’m sure this will eventually get on some
people’s nerves as it can also lead to the unfortunate habit of hoarding. And I
do not want to end up on that TV
show.
Then there are the things that will appeared more
slowly as I readjust to my home and family, the things that are emotional – or
spiritual. There are an awful lot of things to be thankful for I’ve realized.
For a house that not only gives you shelter, but is filled with memories of
time with family and friends. For electricity that doesn’t turn off without
warning, leaving you in darkness. For people waiting for you at the airport
with signs that say, “Welcome home, we missed you.”
My time is Kenya has taught me that sometimes it’s
the smaller things that we should be the most thankful for, because they are
the things that bring us the most happiness. Despite what it may seem like
sometimes, I can live without conveniences. While the internet is great, I
won’t fall apart if I don’t have it. While telephones are amazing, my world
won’t end if I can’t call someone whenever I want. Having a glass of wine is
nice, but sharing a glass of water with a friend is more meaningful.
While I’m pretty private about my spirituality
(though my name is pretty much a dead giveaway), I was living with Catholic
sisters. I was able to go to Mass almost every day and participate in evening
prayers and rosaries. There’ll be another post later that will touch on some of
the things I worked through in Kenya, but suffice to say that having those
moments for spiritual renewal were very important to me. And I’ve changed
because of them as well.
A lot can change in five and a half months, and I’m
still only halfway through my year! I’m not closing the door on the Kenya
chapter of my life because it’s not a chapter; it’s a theme. It will continue
to reappear again and again, scattered throughout the pages of my existence,
the characters appearing in flashback scenes to offer comfort and guidance (and
maybe even reappearing in person).
So here’s to my time in Kenya! May I be forever
changed by the things I did, the places I went, and the people I met!
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