Time Flies

It is funny how time gets away from you. Every time I sit to write I forget or assume I will do it later. Now I turn around and I have been here a month. I guess when the newness and excitement wheres down and it becomes the normal. Routine makes life simple. The funny thing is that things still occur almost daily and I am still working diligently; however it does not seem nearly as thrilling as it did when I first arrived. Now that this much time has passed it is difficult to know where to even begin.

Things are normalizing. Although I feel I am at a stand still with my Kinyarwanda speaking. We have been filled with so many things occurring the "Lessons" seemed to have gone to a stand still. I went from learning 50 words in a few short days to learning nothing recently. However, I seem to know more and more of what is being said around me without realizing. It is as if I know the basics of conversation without detail.

Everyone treats me with care and greatness. I do often feel like a small child the way the fuss over me and take care of things. When I was sick though there were moments this was nice and others I missed the sanctuary of home. I often worry about offending someone or doing the wrong thing. The pressure is exhausting. It is not that I cannot be myself; however, often there are just many things that are not accepted culturally here. Sometimes it feels as if I am often a house guest continually.

They all consider me family and would do anything for me. It is nice to have this feeling after such a short of time. It is surprising because I expected that like the US you would be friends during work and outside of work we would go our separate ways. Every weekend they visit, call, and ensure I do not spend the entire weekend alone. However, sometimes it becomes overwhelming. I am used to more independence.  Not everyone makes me feel this way it just a sensation I am unaccustomed to. I am not used to people watching when and what I eat. Or when I shop, where I go, who I speak to. These are strange sensations as a 23 year old  who has lived alone for over 2 years and away from home for 5 now.

I remember when I was in Greece by the 20 day end we were all ready to return to the US and have normal foods. I think that now that I have been here a month I am hitting that slump; however I feel like I have barely seen anything. I feel that there is still so much. For being here a month I feel as if I barely know what is happening or am allowed to do very little work. If it were not for my American Supervisor I would spend many days doing nothing at all. This sometimes is frustrating. The one thing is for certain I do want to study this and transferring to Tulane is the correct choice. Nor am I ready to end my experience. I am just at a point of needing to do more than what I am. I need to see more, do more, and get a break of the consistency I have fallen into. I however, feel like I have been here forever and a short time in the same instant. I hope more is to come over the next several months.