What I Love About Being Back in America

I am very excited to be home for three weeks. And in just the little time that I’ve been here, I’ve been asked what are the luxuries that I plan to prioritize during my time here! And, well, the things that I appreciate about being home are different then what most would think, so here they are…..

Paved Roads – My number one favorite thing about America! Paved Roads represent the very definition of convenience. My first couple days here in Portland, I have had moments of confusion on what to do with myself because I had accomplished my “To Do List” in record time! My two things that I thought would take me all day, only took half the time that it would take me in Africa. I credit this primarily to paved roads and an organized road system with lights and stop signs.

Talking on the Phone without a Delay – When every conversation for six months includes a two second delay, you can never get into a good “flow.” In fact, you can ultimately end up having one conversation about two topics simultaneously – the topic you are responding to and the topic they have moved onto. My friend Chad was so nice has to offer to delay his response by two seconds in order for me to feel more “at home,” I was happy to refuse!

Stumptown Coffee – a stumptown, vanilla latte provides a great happy feeling, even if it is completely superficial I missed the joy it brings. But, even more importantly, I don’t miss the actual coffee so much as the “Coffee Culture” in Portland. I have had so many deep, meaningful conversations in a coffee shop that it now represents a comfortable, desirable place. Ultimately, Portland coffee shops represent quality time building quality relationships.

Chocolate Chip Cookies –Every American I run into on my travels that live long term in Africa, have people bring them back Costco size bags of chocolate chips. And, I have discovered that you can not get a bag of chocolate chips even such developed places as South Africa or England. In fact, surprisingly, chocolate chip cookies are a distinctly, American institution that I am happy to return too.

Shoes – so I’ve always had a bit of an addiction. My closest is literally “overflowing” with all sorts of styles and colors of these magnificent creatures. However, I went to Uganda, with very few, partly because of space and partly because I just couldn’t provide that kind of abuse to these companions of mine. Simply put, I just didn’t think my shoes weren’t cut out for the mission field… and the fact was they weren’t. But, now our reunion has been both sweet and bitter. My feet unfamiliar with these enclosed and somewhat high shapes, have been longing for the dirty flip-flops now resting in Uganda…. Nevertheless, I look great!

High-Speed Internet – You don’t realize how much your life revolves around the internet until you don’t have it and when you do have it, it takes five minutes to send an email out. It menas that when you are on the internet that you drove 45 minutes to get to it and then are paying $3-5 dollars an hour for it. It dramatically changes the culture. In Uganda, if you see someone on the computer, it is polite to check if they are on the internet before engaging in a conversation. It changes your work behavior. I spend hours getting ready to be on the internet with pre-written emails and a list of information that need to be acquired. There is no time to waste just browsing while you randomly remember what you should get off the internet. I do not miss the frantic feeling that overtakes you when you get onto the internet. I’m happy with my constant and direct access!