The End of the Ride

I have been back in the “1st World” or “Developed World” for over a month now.  There was much I wanted to write before I left Liberia but, alas, never seemed to have gotten the time.  Okay, I admit that my attention might otherwise have been diverted by the constant celebrating which seemed to have been going on with the US crew (plus a few adopted non-US).  The last couple of weeks there were spent celebrating the 4th of July (which, I believe, took up a week in itself) to celebrating leaving to just celebrating the fact that we had become so good at celebrating.  Pros, total pros.  That all being said (and the liver still not fully recovered) I have found that I have come to appreciate things in the West significantly more than I ever did before I left.  

The things I have come to appreciate are actually all pretty simple and basic things.  For example, I enjoy going to to the sink and seeing not only clear water come out, but, the knowledge that I can drink that water.  Seems simple, yes?  Well, I guess it is but that’s something I have always taken for granted.  Ever stop to think of the process that that water goes through to get to your glass, the people who help get it there and the system which allows it all to work?  Something so simple can be rather complicated.  A quick story of how unused to this I had become.  I flew from Monrovia to Brussels to Atlanta to Columbia.  When I got to Brussels, an Indian woman was brushing her teeth and drinking water out of the faucet in an airport bathroom.  My first thought was, “wow, she’s pretty brave…”  Then I remembered that I was back in a place where I could do that.  

I also appreciate non-generator power.  It is nice to have the ability to turn on the lights at any time and have them work.  Also, to not always need to worry about a surge protector.  In my hotel room in Columbia I went to plug my computer in and had a moment of reconsidering because I didn’t want my laptop to get fried if the power surged…

It’s more silly stuff like that – not having to fill a gas tank to cook, having yogurt with active cultures, being able to drink non-UHT milk (aka, fresh).  As I’ve gotten older I’ve discovered more and more that I am a person who utterly appreciates creature comforts.  There are those people who really enjoy the Peace Corps as well as all of the other NGO/government/volunteer etc jobs which send folks to third world countries.  Me, however, I’m thankful that those people exist and comfortable in my knowledge that I’m not one of them. 

That’s not to say that I look at my experiences in Liberia as all bad.  <sigh>  At some point my brain released that chemical (whatever it’s called) that allows people to forget pain… Actually, I think that it was called “Becks” or maybe “Heineken” or was it “Club” and after the last 3 weeks it killed all of the negative brain cells.  Or, maybe it was the tennis in the middle of the day, under the Liberian sun that boiled those negative thoughts.  Or, most likely, it’s looking back at the people I met and the friendships I made that have helped me forget the cockroach in my pillow… the ants in my trail mix… the flooding in my apartment… Maybe not forget, but, laugh at.  I’ll take those “bad” memories and couple them with Jen’s obsession with pineapple, Adams’ incessant need to take his shirt off, Corrie’s “runs”, Andrew’s weight loss plan, John’s monkeys, Jim’s guns, Dave’s music, Annie’s babies, Al’s players and bench warmers, Mike’s “physio”, Francisco’s connections, Luis’ tennis coaching, Mustafa’s hands… and the list goes on and on. 

Overall, it was a good ride and one that I will always remember.  For all of you who sent me all of those fantastic packages filled with yummy items and girlie things, thank you.  You helped me get through the hardest part of being there and I appreciate you.  I guess this wraps up this string.  You can turn off your RSS feeds and stop the alerts – this forum has come to a close… until the next time I find myself in some ant infested, hot as hades, wawa controlled, 3rd world country…

Tam