Apart from how weird it is to see people I haven't seen for a while.
- People acknowledge my beard every time I see them. It's weird it's not normal to them
- When we got into the Washington airport, everyone spoke with an accent. Then I realized they were speaking with an American accent, and it was normal.
- Hearing "Concerning Hobbits" on a penny flute, and telling someone that I was right next to where Tolkien was when he wrote the Lord of the Rings
- Saying "Howzit" to people, and realizing that's not normal
- There's no monkeys here
- The fact that getting a knife pulled on me is surprising to people who weren't in South Africa.
- I've become so much more affectionate, so I have to pull it back when I'm around old friends who aren't used to it
- Finding out the other RA's on my staff may know me a lot better than I know them because they may have been reading my blog (Which is awesome. And if you're reading this, then you are wonderful and I'm excited for next year!)
- Seeing people I've never seen around campus before, but being close with them
- people acknowledging my beard. It's really weird
- Ryan is leaving for South Africa in 3 (?) days! And I get to tell him about some awesome things and have South Africa time when he gets back!
- I'm conscious every time I interact with someone that I've changed a little over the semester, and I wonder what people are thinking about it
- People who I haven't seen in months, and it seems like things haven't changed at all! (good!)
- People who I haven't seen in months, and it seems that things haven't changed at all. (Not so good)
- Thinking about calling home, and realizing I don't have to compensate for a time difference
- Meeting important people in my friend's lives that I never knew before
- The portions. I've been full here about as much as I was in South Africa, because the portions over there were tiny. (Maybe that's why America is so large?)
- No one doing the "South African Handshake" with the thumbs.
- Saying "Coloured" as a race and getting weird looks, like I'm a racist
- I'm an RA next year? Not specific to Africa, but weird nonetheless
- Saying goodbye for the summer to people in the first time I've talked to them since last semester
- I have beard.
- Panda Express
- Alberto's
- Chick-fil-a
- In-n-Out
- I'm not excited to see a McDonalds the way I was in South Africa
- Mugg & Bean is from here, but it only exists in South Africa
- Basketball is played here
- Soccer isn't
- Walking around aimlessly and seeing old friends
- Doing "The Mackenzie" and having people unaware that it's named after me
- Interacting with other South Africa people from other semesters, and sharing a bond with them
- Having a beard (Today someone had to record my name, but forgot to ask, so when I returned I was known as "Bearded Man")
- Not making Lord of the Rings references regularly
- Unlimited internet
- Good internet (I know people complain about APU wifi, but they have never been to South Africa)
- Trying to put an entire semester into one or two sentences for people I randomly run into
- Talking to those few people who actually care, and want to hear even more than one or two sentences. I'm not ready and I'm normally caught of guard
- I don't feel like Christianity is forced on me in my interactions with certain people
- Not waking up to plenty of facebook notifications, but having them at night because of the time difference
- Mitch. His beard is gone, and he's not even the same person.
There's so many more things, but that's a start. I'm back, and it's not normal. The only time it's normal, it's weird that it's not weird. So no matter what, things are weird.
I'm off to Panda Express, and it will be a wonderful experience. Just know, everyone who may or may not read my blog, I will continue to post sporadically while I am re-integrating to California and Arizona lifestyle, reliving my awesome time in South Africa, and reuniting with my friends. So hopefully there will be more to come!
PS weird thing: it's 4:30, and I'm exhausted and wanting to fall asleep.
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