Oh, Hello Internet.
So let me start off by apologizing for the black hole this website has been for the past month (actually it’s been over a month since my last legit post - whoops). I could make excuses, saying that we travelled to Tanzania and my 3G modem didn’t work over there, or that staying on Pemba island was too dull to bore you with, or that nothing interesting enough to blog about has happened in the past month (ok, only the first two are actually true). But I won’t do that. I’ll just say I’m sorry, and that it won’t happen again.
Or, rather, it can’t happen again. Why? Because I only have 24 days left in Kenya, and, as you math majors out there already figured out, that is less than one month. Ah! Where did the semester go?!
Truth be told, this has been an amazing semester, and I’m not surprised at all that the time has flown by. These past few months have been a wonderful time of introspection for me. Due to a relaxed workload (don’t tell Middlebury), I’ve been able to devour books, have some seriously awesome conversations, and, most importantly, just breathe a little.
It’s crazy how asphyxiating American culture can feel a times. The constant barrage of politics, news, and predictions of our impending doom (see this XKCD comic for way too many examples) have made it increasingly difficult to acquire any significant amount of perspective on current events. And, fortunately, that’s exactly what I feel like I’ve found (and am still finding) this semester: a bit of perspective.
By stepping away from America for a bit, I feel like I’ve been able to nail down both what I love about our country and what frustrates me about our country. I also feel like I’ve been able to reveal a little more of both what I love and what frustrates me about my own life. I’m still pretty unsure of where the future will take me, but after these past few months, that fact doesn’t do anything but excite me.
Hope all is well back home!
P.S. Below is a shot of me and the group I’ve been with this whole time (minus one, who was eating octopus or something at the time). Love these people.
