So, as noted I’m back in the good old US of A and couldn’t be happier to be stomping around my old grounds. That’s how they say that, right?
Anyway, if you’ve been following my twitter or facebook and seeing all my ridiculous reverse culture shock moments I’ve been hashtagging away with #america2013.
For real, go to my twitter and read them all. This country is so crazy and I can’t believe I haven’t been here for 18 months. I can’t seem to stop eating.
To the title of this post: I’m having an affair; with Grand Rapids, that is.
Grand Rapids was good to me and represents everything about being independent, responsible, and adult-like. We were together for a few years and Grand Rapids made me the man I am today, for that I’m eternally grateful.
As so many relationships do, things turned sour. Grand Rapids just wasn’t enough for me. It offered me all its joys and comforts and splendor but I just hadn’t been anywhere else – I wanted, nay, I needed something more and something bigger. At the crossroads, I had to walk away. And it’s fine. Grand Rapids was cool about it and was all like “Tommy, this is fine. Don’t be cliché. I’ve been here before and I don’t need the whole ‘it’s me not you’ runaround.”
And trying to hide my tears seeing that I had very mixed feelings about the whole ordeal. I walked away and started something new with this great place that I had only heard about. Senegal.
We’ve been together for awhile and we’ve had our ups and downs. Senegal is just so… exotic and hot and fun and brash and unexpected (just so different). Sure, it has been frustrating at times but – hey – that’s to be expected when you’re leaping a cultural barrier the size of the Atlantic, but we work through it. Senegal has taught me a ton and I think I have a bit more to learn, but I don’t think that this LTR has much steam left.
I’m at another crossroads, I’ve come back to Grand Rapids and we’ve picked up right where we left off. HOLY CRAP! I gave all this up? It’s all so comfortable and happy and warm and fuzzy and everything makes me feel so good.
I prepared for this though. I knew what I was getting into and I told myself that I would indeed feel like this, but I need to just reflect on good times already past and get back to Senegal.
Senegal and I, We’ve decided we’re gonna have a sit down and do a little DTR concerning our future. I’ve reflected upon it a lot and, if the good Lord wills it, I may be staying with Senegal for another year. But my old friend and former summer fling, France, has been calling as of late and could be the next one in the cards.
It’s a lot to think about but Grand Rapids holds an extremely special space in my heart and perhaps, one day, will have all of my heart again. Until then, I’m gonna enjoy this lovely month back in its comforting embrace and reflect upon the future when I must.
A man without a country 