The countdown was on. 13 days until our trip to Uganda and Rwanda where we were going to raft the Nile, hike in volcanoes, hopefully spot some chimps and visit some of the many genocide memorials throughout Rwanda.  Then I got a call from my Dad with an offer I couldn’t refuse: a trip home for Christmas as a surprise to my Mom.  After frantically trying to get in touch with Peace Corps to see if it was even possible, I got the OK, then had to tell my friends I wouldn’t be joining them on their awesome adventure.  The next two weeks couldn’t have crept by any slower as I waited in anticipation of being back in the first world.  I made lists of everything I wanted to do, all the foods I wanted to eat and places I wanted to visit.  It was torture waiting.  But finally the day arrived that I got to leave site and start my journey home.  I left Mahuta at 5:30 a.m. on the 17^th and made it to Lindi 8 ½ hours later.  The next day was the trip to Dar, which is never fun, and it was a good 11 hours BUT we didn’t break down and we got in before dark so I’m not complaining about that part of the trip at all.  The rest was a breeze.  10 hours on a comfy plane to Amsterdam where we got fed nonstop, then after a quick layover another 9 hours to Houston with more of the same, and finally one hour in a puddle jumper to good old Victoria where, when we landed, I saw my Mom, Dad and my dog Bella waiting for me in the window.  It was an awesome feeling to be home. 

The first thing I did when I got home was take a nice, long, hot shower.  I got to shampoo AND condition my hair, and then the best part….blow dry and straighten!  It’s ridiculous, I know.  Then we headed straight to a great Mexican restaurant for a giant burrito and margaritas.  I think it was the most delicious food I’ve ever eaten. 

Throughout the next two weeks I definitely got my fill of every food I’ve missed, and it even got to the point where I didn’t want anything else because I was just so sick of eating.  Never thought that could happen!  Other than enjoying all of the luxuries available, the highlights of my trip home were:  seeing my sister and meeting her boyfriend for the first time, Christmas Eve service, visiting the class of 5^th graders who have been pen paling with some of my students, and even getting surprised myself when one of my very best friends came down to TX from the Big Apple to visit me! 

Opening presents on Christmas Day was funny because a lot of the gifts I got (which were everything I asked for, wanted, and was excited to get) were so bizarre in that situation.  If I had opened packets of taco seasoning or parmesan cheese with my PC friends in Tanzania, everyone would absolutely be excited.  Mexican flavored beans are a treat, and cheese……well, you have no idea. 

All in all, it was a pretty perfect trip.  Not too long that I got bored and just long enough for me to relax and recharge for the last part of my service.  I don’t think I really thought about how long a year and a half is to be away from not just home and family, but every little thing that has been familiar your whole life, until I came back to the states.  It didn’t seem that long while it was going on, but when I was thrown right back in it and realized how much time had actually passed since I was last there, it was surreal.  Here I am back in Tanzania, it’s the middle of January already and by the time I get this posted it will probably be the middle of February at which point I’ll only have 4 and a half months left here.  It’s pretty unbelievable how fast it’s flying by already.  Here’s to making the most of it!