Holidays at home

After 2 and a half weeks in the US I am on my way back to Mozambique. The visit was great as I was able to catch up with family and so many friends. I was spoiled by my mother's excellent cooking. She made all of my favorite dinners while I was home and delectable Christmas treats like cherry cheesecake and peanut butter fudge bars! Christmas has always been my favorite holiday and I consider it a very special family holiday so being able to spend it at home this year was a dream come true. The whole day was wonderful with breakfast and presents in the morning followed by a visit to my uncle's house in Connecticut where I got to catch up with many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. The family Yankee swap was fun as usual, although I think my family took pity on me being the "poor volunteer in Africa" and I came out of it with a cool little telescope.
I appreciated down time, hanging out with friends on the couch and watching a movie, and definitely appreciated having a car at my disposal instead of having to rely on unreliable public transportation, as I do in Mozambique.
Many people have asked me if I experienced culture shock in the return from Africa to the developed world. The truth is that I wasn't as affected by it as I thought I would be. The weirdest thing was hearing everyone speaking English all around me, because I rarely speak English in Mozambique. I think that the since US and Mozambique are so different, and I know to expect them to be different, that I was prepared for the changes that I encountered back at home in the United States.
One of the biggest changes that I noticed In the US since last year is how much more everyone has become dependent on their cell phones! Your cell phone tells you everything: where to go, how to get there, the menu at the restaurant you're going to, you can answer any question on them! I know all of this existed in 2010 when I left, but everyone seems to be much more dependent on them.
The goodbyes were bittersweet after my visit. I felt blessed to have had the opportunity to visit during my Peace Corps service and I knew that I was going to miss everyone like crazy all over again, but the stay reminded me how much I love what I am doing and how much I love Mozambique. All in all, I feel ready and rejuvenated for my second year of service.