Day 17.
From the second the tires screeched onto the runway at George Bush Intercontinental airport in Houston, I had to switch my emotions off. We had been delayed about an hour in Dubai, so our flight arrived in Houston late and that left Chris, Angie, and I limited time to get through Immigrations, Customs, and catch our connecting flights (Angie actually missed hers). The line for Immigrations was forever-long, and we all got separated going through. Once I was admitted back into my country, I scurried to Customs, where my bag was pulled for additional screening. As I stood in line to check my bag and go through security for my final flight, both Andrew and Peter called to say goodbye. Chris and Buay had both been pulled for screening/questioning by Customs, too. After a near sprint from the Continental Airlines counter to my gate, hustling onto my flight home, and squeezing into my window seat…there was no more holding it back. I experienced a sobbing-sleeping cycle all the way from Houston to Indianapolis.
The only thing I loathe more than saying goodbye is not getting to say goodbye properly. No hugs, no “I am so blessed to have met each of you”s, no anything. So, to my team, Jengmer, and Buay…you guys are AWESOME and I am SO blessed to have met each of you!!!
Snapshot of Monday:
-Short layover in Dubai, quick shower (in which the shower head did not work, so I had to take a Sudanese-style bath…without a cup!), a couple hours of sleep, and back up for breakfast
-Hunted for shotglass for father-in-law at the airport, slept, boarded plane, sat on the runway for an hour-ish, departed Dubai
-Flight to Houston
-Mad dash through IAH, Immigrations, Customs, and mad dash to Continental gate
-Flight to Indianapolis (I feel really bad for the sweet couple who sat beside me as I cried my eyes out all the way home)
-Nervous walk through IND to see my husband again
-Super sweet reunion with Blaise…lots of tears and…Starbucks!!
Sora time!
I took my last photograph at the Hendersons’. I did not take out my camera one single time after we left Kampala, but luckily Peter did. The following are Peter Swann’s awesome iPhone4 photographs of our flight home…
Back in Indianapolis.
I am not sure why I was so nervous to see Blaise again, but as I walked through the deserted airport at 11:00 that night, my stomach was in knots. Maybe it was because seeing Blaise again meant that for sure, the trip was over. Maybe it was because I knew that I had changed a lot and I was nervous about how he would respond to everything. Maybe I was just really exhausted and anxious. Maybe it was d.) all of the above. Whatever the reason(s), the nerves went away the second I saw him and we embraced. It was bittersweet.
Walking into my house that night was surreal. Always before the trip, I described our house to people as a “humble home”. It is small, only two bedrooms and small backyard. After Sudan, however, I walked into our home and felt ashamed at first, because our house, though small in American standards, felt so opulent. We have wood floors, running water, air conditioning, a refrigerator (with ice), a couch, a flush toilet, and a queen-size bed. We are filthy rich.
That night, as we crawled into our excessively plush bed, clicked on the air conditioning, and snuggled deep under the covers, I could not shake away the feeling of a dirt floor underneath my feet and the sight of the jerry can for my bath. As I drifted off to sleep that night, my mind replayed the faint sounds of the Sudanese drumming and singing in Nuer.
I knew that finding my “new normal” would take some time.
Che thok (it’s finished).
Your "new normal" would have been incomplete without Blaise. You have an amazing husband who sees your vision and is willing to share this journey with you.
You are blessed!
And as finished this trip was, you know that it is indeed NOT Che Thok! (Or is that just Thok? Or maybe it is just Che?)