Heartbeat

Nneka's remix with Nas - "Heartbeat"

Starting Over

Starting over can be exhilarating. It is also exhausting.

Home again

sunshine
coffee
choices
colors
green
trees
new car
independence
windows down
wind in my face
friends
true friends
English
courtesy
Southern manners
diversity
I can do whatever I want
old friends
new friends
family time
smiles everywhere
foods i didn't remember missing
sea level
TV (en Ingles!)
shopping
new shoes
heels
new jeans
tops
dancing
laughing
no reggaeton
hiphop
the miracle of the grocery store
debit cards
freedom
going a day without being lied to
i can be me
part of society
i can fit in
i can stand out
she's engaged
he called me
i can call her
even on the other side of the country
we talked for hours
he bought me lunch
coffee with Peter :)
Guess heels
valet parking
bank account in English
no numbers or lines
no one yelling at me
sunshine
un-whitening
or pre-tan
pool
drinks
gym
smiles
cell phone
5 bars
connected
communicating
orienting
i confess
i am
materialistic
for now
yet
grateful
to
be
home
"for good".

Closing Thoughts

Sometimes we take gambles in life. Ecuador was my gamble, and though it was a hard hit, it's not a complete loss. I've learned a lot of Spanish (or figured out how to use cave-man sign language when I can't); become a better teacher; made a few friends; visited a new continent (hell, a new hemisphere); lived at 10,000 feet for over 10 months; tried new things, pushed myself to change; and gained confidence (don't you DARE try to steal my taxi or charge me too much!).  I've learned that this is not the place for me, and that Atlanta is home.

When I get home, there are some things I don't think I will complain about for a long time: proximity to family; being able to leave work at work (most of the time vs. never); real friends; generally open-minded and educated people (who've progressed past the stage of the thinking skin color affects class); general public respect and common courtesy; the ability to say whatever I want to whoever I want; familiar customs; REAL graffiti; insulation in buildings; the independence of my own car; any kind of music 'sides reggaeton; happy diversity and availability of peoples, cultures, lifestyles, and food. Atlanta... I'm COMING HOME.