Home again and beginning to reflect

I got home late Saturday after 33+ hours in transit. The flight from Dakar to Atlanta was cancelled, so I was able to get on a flight to JFK, where I had to wait over 7 hours until I could connect to Charlotte.

Expect more posts from me, though, as I continue to process all that I experienced and explore how it affected me. I already know that in Cape Town I was living in the present in an intentional way that I haven't done in a long time, and I want to make that the way I live here, too. That probably doesn't make much sense, but I will try to figure out how to explain it; I know the other volunteers in Cape Town will know what I mean, and maybe they can express it better.

Shamil, our driver to volunteer placement and now a friend, has a "grateful rock," a small stone he holds every night before bed and thinks about at least one thing during the day he is grateful for. Well, I have so much to be grateful for and I intend to think about it a lot more than I have in the past. Thanks, Shamil. My fellow volunteer (and friend) Scottie is also reflecting on this incredible experience. He writes in his blog that what is important and what he has learned is how alike we all are--black, white, coloured, South African, American, etc. Scottie is one of the wisest people I know.

I'm still recovering from jet lag, e.g., I woke up at 3:45 this morning and am now exhausted. Tomorrow is back to teaching in my school, with a renewed spirit and new attitude to life and what is important, even if I'm confused about whether to be awake or asleep.