I've spent the past eight days at my brother's apartment recupperating from a way-too-crazy New Year's Eve in Chicago. I spend my days watching TV, running, cooking, teaching my brother to make noodles from scratch, cleaning, taking advantage of the beautiful opportunity you have when you combine post-Christmas sales at Banana Republic, H&M, and Victoria Secret with a re-adjustment allowance (that's what it's for, right?), and pondering the next step. The biggest committment I've been able to make has been buying clothes...and that is a very overwhelming experience (especially when the 17 year-old sales girl calls me "hon"....doesn't she know that I should be addressed as "madam") that's materialism leaves me feeling regretful and dirty.

Because I don't have a car I have been walking to the library to use the internet. It is a one mile walk and I enjoy the fresh air; however, I can't help myself from wondering if someone would pick me up if I waved my hand. I wouldn't trade my ability to drive a car, but I also wouldn't trade the experience of having had to trust in the adventurous stystem of a stranger picking a white girl up on the side of the road and the stories exchanges along the way. And, as annoying as the greetings could be in Malawi, I miss that people took the time to acknowledge each other's presence. In Malawi I called it the "muli uli game" (you know, who would speak first and whether your said how did you wake or how are you if it was exactly noon). Here, I find that Americans like playing the "busy game" (you think you are so busy....I am so busy...I just don't have time....blah blah blah).

Over the weekend I visited some colleges friends in Detroit. They are also recent returnees from abroad who are living with their parents. It was thereapeutic for me. And I learned a valuable lesson for survival while living with the family: get something that permits you to have your own space (car, job, residence, school) and stop feeling like you are defined by the term "living with my family/mom/dad/parents."

So, this week I am going back to Traverse City. The snow melted, but I have faith that it will return in full force.

Oh, and this is my big news to contribute to the Malawi gossip pool: MARY KINNEY IS ENGAGED. KJ asked her to marry him New Year's Eve in Kalamazoo. They returned to South Africa last weekend.

It is 28 degrees and the sun is out.

Love ya, Merilee