Home. Huh.

So, after nearly a straight 48 hours of boats, buses, and airplanes, I arrived home in one piece--if not a little tired--last Tuesday. I almost can't believe it. Being home is (so far) a little like the twilight zone and I am almost a bit scared at how normal it seems to be here. I mean, there are little things, but overall it's just home. I do still keep trying to throw my toilet paper in the trash can rather than the toilet (no where in Central America are you supposed to flush the paper) and keep trying to wear the same clothes everyday, even though I now have a closet full to choose from; I can now check my e-mail on my own computer and don't have to pay for internet time or schedule in internet time to my life, it's just always there. The first night I slept in my bed I felt like a princess, it was so soft and large and plush and luxurious!! I hadn't even realized how accustomed I had become to mediocre mattresses. But in a way, if you don't know you're missing it, it doesn't really matter! It is great to see my family though and good to be back in such a familiar and safe place, at least for the time being. Probably the best thing ever about being back though is 1)Drinking fountains and 2)Drinkable tap water, something I've always grown up with and taken for granted, but something much of the world does not have.

We have had my dad's family here the last few days on through the weekend, so I feel that I have not had much down time, between socializing, looking for my cell phone (my mom donated to the local second hand store, it's still somewhere in their donation area), and getting back to work already at the bakery I was working at this winter. It's strange to be looking forward to the next months and thinking about jobs or apartments rather than bus schedules and travel stops, but forward does seem to be the best way to go! (I can see though how easy it would be to get depressed with "normal" life and start wishing yourself back to the wonderful, hassle free travel world where everyone is looking for new experiences, good times, new friends, and adventures. . . and if things don't always work out, you can always move on...) My plans from here? Who the hell knows!! I think I'll be around home for a little while, working a tad and regrouping, then, the sky is the limit! Thanks for letting me share my adventure!!