good morning america!

my first morning back in america and i woke at 4.45 to the sounds of the pipes gurgling and the computer fan humming. new sounds for me. indeed, my first night of sleep in the UK last saturday morning (got back from the airport at 5:45am!) was a strange experience with the fabric softened sheet smells tickling my nose and the refrigerator hum finally lulling me to sleep around 7. it's been lovely to be back, to see everyone, and to indulge in some of the creature comforts i'd forgotten. (bacon, eggs, frapuccinos, long baths, new razor blades, electricity and flush toilets, barbecues, etc). thanks to the gang in london for such an enjoyable weekend back in the first world.

there were, however, a few strange moments. standing in covent garden, waiting for a friend, people watching. i couldn't help but wonder what jainaba or ebrima might think of the 'scene' - how totally overwhelmed and flabbergasted they'd be that such scenes exist. uber-trendy londoners, skinny jeaned-up with their jackie o sunglasses and iron-straight hair - all heading somewhere quickly, with purpose. nothing gambian about central london. but it struck me as bizarre that such disparity exists in the world. where 24 hours previously i'd woken up on a compound in 90 degree calming (debilitating?) heat, and there i was 24 hours later in a coat, standing in a frenzied whirl of activity. as you can imagine, we didn't last long in covent garden and enjoyed a coffee along the thames.

i'm actually a little shocked at how quickly i've slipped right back into the life i know. not difficult without the roosters and donkeys as my alarm clock - still, i thought i might find things here a little more shocking. but on the drive back from the chicago airport, the landscape i remember - the strip malls, sprawling flatlands, six-lane highways with SUVs and monster trucks passing, michele norris with the NPR news, fast-food chains and gas at $3.55/gallon - all seem so familiar. i have to pinch myself to remember that i've actually been away for three months.

i've got to come up with my elevator pitch on africa to the question 'how was it?' ... how to answer that question succinctly without boring the listener who was probably expecting 'it was great! how are YOU?' i'm still working on that answer, and i think it'll take a bit more distance to properly reflect on the experience. or maybe i should just point them to the blog and let them follow along, belatedly.

i'm uploading new pics as i type this - so i'll have a link shortly. in the meantime. here are a few more pics to view. i'll get the nursery pics up in a separate posting so that they are all together!