I love it.

Tonight I was driving my piki piki home from the "grocery store" with the wind blowing in my face and was thinking about how much I truly love this place.  I love the lifestyle here.  Everyone is so laid back,  incredibly hospitable and friendly, and never in a rush.  I love driving down the street and having to stop multiple times to greet people who want to know where I am going, what I've done so far that day, and what I am planning on doing the rest of the day.  I love going to town and seeing the many colorful outfits of the women, and the streets packed full of people, cars, bicycles, food, and things they are trying to sell.  I love the large amounts of fresh fruits, vegetables, and spices that are grown and found on this Island.  I even love the smell of the fish and meat market (ok, not my favorite smell, but I do love that you go to a market to buy fresh meat- heads still attached).  I love that my windows are permanently open and that fresh air constantly sweeps through my house.  I love that I can sit on my bed and eavesdrop on my neighbors (who happen to talk extremely loud) to learn Swahili.  I love that everyone wants to help me learn the language and will patiently sit with me for hours and ask me basic questions, kindly correct me (after a good laugh), and introduce me to others who are willing to help in the learning process, as well.  I love that all I have to do is walk outside my gate and I can instantly find a friend to keep me company.  At the end of each day, I love how much dirt I have to rinse off my feet.  I've always been a big fan of wearing flip flops or no shoes at all, and I love that either is totally accepted as normal here.  I love that I wake up to the sounds of bush babies, roosters who are confused and think its morning when it's only 4am, and the pots and pans of my neighbors cooking over an open fire. Not to mention, the incredible smell that comes through my window when anyone is cooking food within a 3 mile radius.  I sometimes even love when neighbors think "Teach Me How To Dougie" is a new song and play it over and over for hours at the highest volume their machine will go.  Really does make me smile.  Makes me think of America and my students, because you know they taught me how to Dougie.  I love that you never know what treasure you will find at the store- today I found Oreos!! Small packs, but I am stoked!  I love the beautiful sunsets over the Indian Ocean.  They really are breathtaking.  Our Creator really is amazing.

And I'm not exaggerating about how much I love it here.  Of course I miss family and friends. I don't love being sick every week from foreign bacteria in my body.  I don't love rice anymore.  But all these wonderful things FAR outweigh the negative.  God is so good.  I love that He has me here right now.  I love that this is where I live.  I love this culture and these people.  I love it.  I really really do.