I talked to some people from home today, and for whatever reason, their lifestyles just seemed so foreign to me. Things like going out on the weekend, grabbing a couple drinks with friends, living maybe a bit excessively in general - I just feel so far removed from that lifestyle. It's just so incredibly different from what I am experiencing day-to-day. And the weird thing is, I know that I would be living that same lifestyle if I was in the US. Or I would want to be living that lifestyle, at least. It seems like a part of the past to me. But it's a lot of my friends' present. The transition and culture shock I went through in the past month has been rough at times, but I can tell that transitioning back to life in the States is going to be so much harder.
There is just an overall change in what brings me joy. It's odd to think that in just one month in Mali, I'm questioning things that once made me happy. Something as simple as sharing a joke with my host family, or having a good discussion with my host brother in French, now makes my day. A good rain makes me smile for the rest of the day. I've always valued the simple things in life, but after living with the rural poor of Mali for a month, I feel that they have even more meaning.
1 comment:
Gassi sanne!
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