Over the last 4 months, I have had many things to look forward to. Naturally, I was able to keep track of all of these events by a countdown app on my phone. I counted down to Dahab where I spent four days learning how to scuba dive. I counted down to Dubai where I went to the top of the tallest building in the world. I counted down to Ethiopia where I hiked across the Ethiopian Highlands with shepard boys and girls. I counted down to Abu Dhabi where I partied with Jay Z. I counted down to Hurghada where I learned how to enjoy scuba diving. I counted down to Beirut where I learned how to speak Arabic while day drinking. Now. Finally. I count down to Colorado where I feel the comfort of my own home. And it could not come soon enough.
Living in Egypt isn't so bad. I like my job. My Second Grade team may be the most normal functioning team I have ever been on. The kids are wonderful and make me laugh all day. My apartment is pretty sweet. It's on the best road in all of Maadi Degla. I get to travel to the aforementioned places. But I cannot wait to get home. I can't wait to eat good food. I can't wait to have heat and warm clothes. I can't wait to see my family. I can't wait to catch up with my friends. And I can't wait to hang out with a certain boy.
I looked back at past blog posts today about coming home. It's funny. As much as I love traveling, I write about coming home almost every time I travel. They usually have the same theme though--not being ready to leave the place I am coming from. Although I can't predict the future, this time it's different. I don't know if it's Egypt. Or if it's that I live here. Or if it's that I've been gone too long. Or if it's Colorado. What I do know is this: the grass isn't always greener on the other side (Egypt doesn't even have grass). So even though I am not coming home for good (yet), I know where I belong and will start an official Cairo Bucket list/Countdown to Colorado as soon as I return in January. As much as this has been an adventure and an experience that I am thankful for, I know it's not for me. Not now. At the end to the school year, I will be headed home for good. I'd love to give you details as to what has brought me to make this difficult decision over a fancy cocktail or a craft beer sometime.
But I'm not done yet. I still have lots of laughs with my friends and teammates here. I still have to teach some 7-year-olds how to read and write. I still have to learn Arabic. I still have to dive deeper. I still have to see the region--Turkey, Jordan, and Greece for sure. I still have to have some visitors. I still have to visit my African family since I live in Africa. I still have to see more of Egypt. And for goodness sake, I still have to see the Pyramids. So as I sit here now, counting the days, hours, minutes and seconds till I feel the frozen Colorado air on my cheeks, I know this adventure isn't over yet, but I desperately need a break. Take me home!
Living in Egypt isn't so bad. I like my job. My Second Grade team may be the most normal functioning team I have ever been on. The kids are wonderful and make me laugh all day. My apartment is pretty sweet. It's on the best road in all of Maadi Degla. I get to travel to the aforementioned places. But I cannot wait to get home. I can't wait to eat good food. I can't wait to have heat and warm clothes. I can't wait to see my family. I can't wait to catch up with my friends. And I can't wait to hang out with a certain boy.
I looked back at past blog posts today about coming home. It's funny. As much as I love traveling, I write about coming home almost every time I travel. They usually have the same theme though--not being ready to leave the place I am coming from. Although I can't predict the future, this time it's different. I don't know if it's Egypt. Or if it's that I live here. Or if it's that I've been gone too long. Or if it's Colorado. What I do know is this: the grass isn't always greener on the other side (Egypt doesn't even have grass). So even though I am not coming home for good (yet), I know where I belong and will start an official Cairo Bucket list/Countdown to Colorado as soon as I return in January. As much as this has been an adventure and an experience that I am thankful for, I know it's not for me. Not now. At the end to the school year, I will be headed home for good. I'd love to give you details as to what has brought me to make this difficult decision over a fancy cocktail or a craft beer sometime.
But I'm not done yet. I still have lots of laughs with my friends and teammates here. I still have to teach some 7-year-olds how to read and write. I still have to learn Arabic. I still have to dive deeper. I still have to see the region--Turkey, Jordan, and Greece for sure. I still have to have some visitors. I still have to visit my African family since I live in Africa. I still have to see more of Egypt. And for goodness sake, I still have to see the Pyramids. So as I sit here now, counting the days, hours, minutes and seconds till I feel the frozen Colorado air on my cheeks, I know this adventure isn't over yet, but I desperately need a break. Take me home!
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