The BEST is yet to COME.

I’ve been home for exactly a week now. People have asked me about the Race and I’ve been trying to put into words the life changing experience I just encountered. I drove my car multiple times, I had coffee with my mama every morning, and I heard my dad preach (in English!!!!) on Sunday.

Things are great. I’ve even been able to go to the beach with a friend. But in order for me to process my thoughts, I need to write. So here we are. I thought I would include the closest people in my life in on it all:

There are so many things that have caught me off guard. But nothing too dramatic. For example, here are some things that have happened that made me realize I haven’t been in America for 11 months: 

1. I find my eyes grow big with shock when someone throws away food. 

2. A little girl screaming that she hates rice and I know that’s a staple around the world.

3. Flushing toilet paper instead of putting it in the trash is still taking some time to master.

4. Choosing to eat a home cooked meal my mom made rather than eating out cause I love (and missed) sit down dinners with my parents.

5. Throwing out all my old clothes and only owning two bins of clothes because I lived out of a backpack (fyi, I own more books than clothes and I’m proud of that.)

6. Not dreading laundry because I can throw it in a machine.

7. Getting lost in my home church because it’s not one room (literally had to ask for directions.)

8. Staring at every single white person and then realizing it’s normal for them to live in America and it’s rude to stare here.

9. Also, staring at people when they talk to me because I’m baffled they speak English so well.

10. Too scared to walk into any store because Walmart and CVS are overwhelming enough.

11. Driving 35 mph everywhere because I feel like I am doing something illegal.

12. Only drinking one cup of coffee because french press is a lot stronger than instant coffee on the Race.

13. No one is staring at my white skin and calling me “muzungu” which is so relieving but also very odd.

14. At the same time, I’m paranoid that everyone is staring at me and secretly knows I just traveled the world and they know I’ve seen things that aren’t ‘normal.’

15. I haven’t gotten a pedicure or my haircut cause my mind thinks that these things aren’t essential to my life anymore.

I could keep going but I think you get it. I haven’t experienced culture shock as much as I thought I would. Sometimes that leaves me wondering if I did something wrong because I see some of my squadmates struggling. But I decided that we are all on our own journey. 

I’m taking the first couple months I’m home just to relax and reflect on the last year. And it’s hilarious because when I try to think of the Race… my thoughts kinda just blurr. It feels like I can’t get through a fog no matter how hard I try. But I think that’s all part of the process of transitioning. 

My church family has been incredible. My parents have been incredible. It’s just an odd feeling to not be around the community I was for an entire year. I mean I am currently sitting in a Starbucks (praise Him, raise Him) around a bunch of people who have no idea what I’ve seen or done this year. That’s fine though. It’s just another reason to spread Kingdom. It also shows me that so many people in America (let alone the world) are walking through tough things that they don’t tell people about. There are so many hurting people in this world and it should shake us (Christians) to our core because we have the secret to freedom.

I realize that I am going to be around a lot of people who don’t understand… but going on this journey was a blessing and there is a reason that God chose me to do it. Sure, I feel lonely at times because I left 32 friends behind in Boston in return for my family and my moms friends (lol honestly, mom if you read this, I love your friends.) 

But shoot, the best is yet to come y’all. 

I can just feel it.