I made it back!!

So I made it backn to Lesotho alive. Don't ever fly internationally on United if you are over 5'5". Forreal. The seatback of the chair ahead of me was permanently part of both my kneecaps for 8 hours. So after arriving in London and getting to spend an 8 hour layover there, I found a very comfortable looking row of four chairs and slept on and off for a good portion of that time. It was no pillow-top mattress though!

London to Joburg was fantastic on South AFrican Air. No. Really. There is so much more room! [Ryan and Krista: Avoid United. Find SAA.] I think I watched a total of 5 new movies. Weird how I can never sleep on long flights, but on the short 45 minute ones, I fall asleep before we even get to the runway...

I came back to a warm greeting at the office in Maseru. And then got bombarded with questions about looms to sell, meetings to have in my district, HIV questionnaires, training materials...and emails from people who I work with at my center -- WHERE ARE YOU??? I NEED YOU BACK FOR MY OWN SANITY!!!

And then Casey treated me to a cup of freshly made Ricoffy (yeah i'm pretty sure it wasn't real coffee). Thanks buddy =) You're welcome for the Cafe Verona.

I've been working on playground grant stuff all day today...just a couple more trips to CashBuild and price quotes and conversations with my supervisor and a signature from my country director! I slept for about 12 hours, but I'm still off. It feels like it should be mid-day right now. Instead it's 830pm and I haven't eaten dinner yet.

Hope everything's still well at home. "Be safe. Be vigilant." (That's the Peace Corps SEcurity mantra here...)

Deb, I can't search the WantAds in the Bay City Times for that perfect dancing job for you anymore! It's up to you now. Hmp. Thanks for actually saving popcorn balls for me. They were ALL GONE by the time I landed in Joburg!

Oh and thanks for the American Idol update this morning, Mom. =)

Dad, did you take the 55 for another test run this week yet? Without all four brakes locking up???

<3
Am

Kea Leboha! (Thank you)

I just want to thank all the people that were there for me when I came home for Gram's funeral. I actually came home for my Dad and family, but it was nice to have other people to lean on too. Face time is so important. I don't know how many times I told Kim, but that's one of the biggest things I've learned while in Lesotho. There's a difference between knowing friends and family will always be there -- and when they are ACTUALLY there (in person) to show that they care. It wasn't an easy visit back to the States, but just BEing with family and friends made it so worth it. I'm no poet, so it's hard for me to capture this all in words.

Please just know that I appreciate everyone that I saw and got to talk to while I was home. As my mom would say, I'm a 'lucky duck' for being blessed so richly.

See you in 15-ish months!

<3 Am

Goll, I'll never live down the Ashlee Simpson CD night. Especially now with a video revolving all around that! =) Thanks Billiam!

<3 Am