Home at last

well the trip is over, 2 and a half years of vacation in sunny africa. I spent my last day in Egypt at a place called the Blue Hole, a coral reef in the shape of a circle with beautiful fish and rainbows of coral. Great snorkling.

My journey home was peaceful and free of some of the overwhelming conditions that seem to go with this type of return. I owe this to my loving family, taco bell, and previous travel experiences.

I was greeted into the US of A by friendly people of all ethnicity, though speaking a wonderful NY english. Elton John poured out of the speakers and I knew I was back.

It is great to be home with my family and to have a chance to relax and catch up on all the wonderful things that have happened since I was gone.

Just a few thoughts on travel. Some of my best moments were when I was in an unfamiliar situation, all by myself, needing to rely on others. This was when you recognize a deeper beauty in humanity, when someone who does not speak your languages smiles at you and helps you the best way they can. They are not motivated because you are a tourists or rich, just because they are kind. A great example of this would be walking the streets in the morning looking for a small sidewalk food vendor, where you will find the salt of the earth going about their daily lives. People were so welcoming.

Another thought would be about traveling in tour groups. the benefits are the freedom from worry and responsiblity as everything is taken care of. Most likely you will never find yourself stepping off a ferry at dark in a strange city with no where to go. At the same time you sacrafice the natural experience of real existance. The tours will find "cultural" experiences but they are staged and lack the roughness or normal living. There are amazing people out there, and in experiencing that hospitality unbridled, we see the presence of a higher harmony. There is the oppurtunity for exchange with local people when you travel in small groups. As a solo traveler people approached me for some wonderful, though sometimes wacky, conversations. It is definetly more work but greater growth results.

The only thing that I can use to describe the pleasures and troubles of travel would be the amount of dust that settles on you. Airplane travel is fast and convient though it shields you from the main mode of travel in most countries. buses can be dangerous crowded and smelly but this is the way of the people, especially in Africa. the people you meet on buses are usually very willing to help. You spend more time with them. You see the place, not just the highlights.

In summary, there was always a question, what is the difference between a tourists and volunteer. both are transit, one is trying to work with the people. In the end, I always felt partially as a tourists. It was there lives and we just were observing it for a bit.

My trials and joys were filled with blessings. Love was shown from Malawians and visitors alike. A great amount of support came from those in the states and for that I am grateful. You cannot imagine how helpful it was to recieve a letter or email of encouragement, with something as simple as "keep up the great work" or "we are proud" or "stop wasting our tax dollars." Well maybe not the last.

Upon returning to the US I get the feeling that I will always carry part of Africa with me. The struggle, the triumph, the anger, the love, the ease of life, and the stubbornenss.