It's a Big World.

20 July 2011

 

Maybe it’s just me, but...  Whenever I’m getting ready to leave one location or culture, or have just entered another (which has happened a lot as of late), I start “seeing” people that really shouldn’t be there.  For instance, I’ll be in Germany and start “recognizing” people from across the street as someone who really lives in Michigan.  Or in Tanzania.  I guess my mind is struggling to adjust to the transitions and grasping at something it thinks should be familiar.  My organizational mechanisms are a little off at the moment!

I’m sitting in the public library right now working on grad studies in Comstock, MI.  And as I looked over to the bookshelves beside me, I suddenly recognized the person looking at books.  Not from my High School days, but from the organization I work with in Tanzania.  I nearly jumped up to give the lady a big hug and a warm welcome, but restrained myself just in time.  Luckily. 

It’s funny how our minds work!

Then, five minutes later as I walked to the front of the library, I saw none other than Kyle, my twirling/dance coach of over 12 years, talking to the librarian on her way from a meeting upstairs!  This amazing lady taught me how to travel across the country through airports, how to take care of myself on the road, how to do a high-toss double front walkover and make it look easy... :) and to NEVER give up on the dream of doing what I love and loving what I do.  This time it really WAS who I thought... I didn't have to restrain myself... and thankfully, the librarian didn't seem to mind our excitement and joyful hugging as I interrupted their conversation in mid-sentence!

Maybe the world is just a little smaller than I thought. :D

(P.S. Just so all my friends in Dar feel better… the reliability of the internet at this library is about as consistent as that at HOPAC.  Every five minutes, it tells me it can’t find the IP address.  Boy, does this feel familiar!  Just thought I'd empathize with you... I have to remember that sketchy internet might be a good thing.  I'll get more work done this way!!!)