Home at last...

...well sort of home. I mean I am still homeless, but this afternoon during a very needed nap I suddenly sat upright and sort of freaked out. I am back in America. This may seem odd as I have been back for almost two weeks now, but today it hit. I actually started shaking a bit; it was kind of scary. Anyway, sort of an anticlimactic return but I wasn't expected a parade.

Michael and I went for a run just now and that helped clear my head. It is all kinds of gorgeous in North Carolina right now. We're going hiking tomorrow. As for now, I have to get started on dinner. Now that I'm back, I might as well take advantage of running water, stoves, sharp knives, and good wine. I knew you'd agree.

Whoa. Holy crop!

This news was regarding the money that us rich nations allocate to help solve world hunger. I could be wrong, but don't all the politicians go on and on about how much we give; then I read this--seriously, what is going on?

...Adjusting for inflation and exchange rates, the wealthy countries, as a group, cut such donations roughly in half from 1980 to 2006, to $2.8 billion a year from $6 billion. The United States cut its support for agriculture in poor countries to $624 million from $2.3 billion in that period...

NYC is weird.

I don't get it here. I mean, it all looks the same: the LIRR, the subway, the people on the street. But somehow NYC has changed for me. I no longer desire to live here, to work, to play. Well no, I want to play, just not live or work. Ha. Anyway, I figure it is still shock and awe of my return. Who knows. I'm looking at schools in other states so I don't think New York tops of the list of places I want to call home in the near future. So weird. Tonight should be fun, much like the last time I saw Jen and Patrick in the city at the same time, we are meeting up for fried cheese curds and good beers! I'm also lunching with Megan today. It is so nice to see and hug my friends. Mmm, I can't wait for those cheese curds...little lactose pieces of heaven.

Some quotes from PCT:

Training was a super fun time that I miss a lot: the friends, the language classes, the cultural exchange. I want to share with you two quotes that made it memorable:

1) "There is always a chitenje to be had!" - EH
--For those of you that don't know, a chitenje is a piece of colorful patterned fabric that is a Zambian staple. The women use them as skirts, to hold babies on their backs, to carry water on their heads, as shawls, tie them around their waist when they dance, etc... And I said this because wherever you go in Zambia, if the music starts someone has a chitenje to tie on and let the hip shaking begin! It's a good motto for the optimists among us--and you pessimists could learn something too.

2) "Ooh, tell me the fixin's. Tell me the fixin's! Oh yeah, oh yeah, don't stop, yeah!" - PCV at Northern Provincial House (although this could be anywhere the PCVs congregate).
--This was in regards to a conversation about ice cream someone had on a recent trip back stateside. But seriously when the PCVs get together we all talked about food from back home. You miss it--a lot. I don't think a a day went by that didn't make dream lists of what we'd eat if we could go home. Think about that when you're enjoying ice in your drinks or cheese...

Before and After

So, I decided that during training I would not shave; observe exhibit A (I particularly enjoy Amanda in the background of this photo):

Then, just before swearing in, I cleaned up a bit; observe exhibit B:

So...

I'm still not sure how I want to word my explanation for coming home. Give me another day or two--I'm still getting used to electricity and paved roads. So weird. I actually hate being back, granted I love being with my grandparents.

In other news, I just used a pumice stone on my feet and got off two and a half months worth of dead skin. So refreshing. The tan from wearing sandals still remains. Ha!

I miss the food from Zambia, but Jen has promised me cheese curds on Thursday so I am thinking I will be okay here.

In travel news I go to NYC Thursday until next Wednesday, come back to Long Island then head to Charlotte on the 22 and Tampa on the 28. I'll be in Florida for two or three weeks then I have no idea where I'll go. I hope I figure something out. Okay, time to go watch Jeopardy, it has been waaaay too long.

Zam Flag Pin

We all got these pins at the swear-in ceremony.

Some Zambia PC 2008 Photos

So here are some photos of Zambia. I think they are of my host family, random travel to and from site, training, swearing in ceremony, etc... Pictured are lots of the fellow Volunteers that are still in Zambia. They are an amazing group and I miss them dearly already.

If you see a photo of someone you know and want a copy, just let me know and I can e-mail the full version.

Enjoy!

http://public.fotki.com/ehastie/zambia/