erin.

Janice and Brent were visiting Uganda for a few weeks. One of (many) highlights of this visit occurred while traveling on public transport between Mbale and Kampala. A chicken under Brent’s seat was annoying him, restlessly tickling his feet. He kicked it. It laid an egg.

(Brent, please make any corrections or additions.)

I believe every Peace Corps volunteer has probably at some point spent time sweating, lying on the floor of his/her house in the dark of a power outage imagining giant blocks of ice or giant blocks of cheese or whatever particular item most represents the comfort and perfection of home at that particular moment. As I was packing, I was nervous that perhaps my visit home would not live up to the fantasy America becomes during two years of service.

So I was relieved to find that home is indeed excellent. Really exceedingly cold in December, but excellent. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to see so many of those I love and have missed in the many months I have spent away. I am blessed with a very big, exceptionally benevolent family and those friends who let you pick up where you left off. For those I missed during my visit– we will meet that way soon enough.

I found that two weeks was not enough time to do any real adjusting or get over the awe and appreciation of how things in America just work. The tap water is potable; power is always on; showers are warm; toilets are all over the place. Of course, I had moments of shock at the excess (Christmas consumption, even during a recession, is quite obscene), but at least I avoided the supermarket. I enjoyed a brief recess from the constant stares and shouts and scamming, demands and proposals and propositions that come with having white skin in Uganda. I tried to gain back some lost weight through overconsumption of Christmas cookies and cheese. I spent a night out in New York City, which struck me as incredibly clean and orderly. I drove only once (with supervision), and surprisingly remembered how- even staying on the right side of the road.

Returning to Uganda was another transition, but not much of a shock to the system. After all, this has become normal. So there you have it– my brief report on my brief visit home. I’m back in action now, back to reality. So the blog is up and running. Stay tuned.