Back in E to the A

I don't know if it's sunk in quite yet, but I am no longer a resident of our nation's capital. East Aurora (ah, suburbia) seems a little bit like Mars after a year in DC but I guess I can't lament no longer having a Starbucks on my corner when I'm headed for two years without plumbing, electricity and other frivolous modern conveniences!

I had hope that my last weekend would be one to remember...

And that it was. I can't thank everyone enough for an altogether unforgettable going away shindig; Liz, the incredible party planning roommate, Jen, her party planning cohort, as well as all the Colgate girls who made the trip down from NYC and Chicago and everyone who partook in the fesivity. The rest of the week was equally enjoyable with lots of goodbye dinners and drinks as well as an excellent last day at Fabiani. I spent my last two days doing errands and shopping for Africa-appropriate duds. Needless to say, I got some pretty sweet climate-appropriate gear that will make me look cool and tough and hopefully withstand two years in the West African heat and dust. I also had the pleasure of my last haircut (*sigh*) with Rodney, potentially the best hairstylist I will ever have. I don't think he was too thrilled when I told him that cutting shears were on our list of suggested packing items...who knows, maybe I've missed my calling and cutting my own hair won't be as disasterous as I'm afraid (read: absolutely positive) that it might be.

Packing, on the other hand, was less than pleasant. Our 9 a.m. departure time quickly evolved to 11 a.m. (sorry, Dad!) but all's well that ends, I suppose, and we made it back to East Aurora in just shy of 8 hours.

I've spent the last day marvelling at how little here has changed, the odd sensation of driving on roads with curves and relatively few stoplights, and how good my mom's cooking is after 5 months of cooking for myself, ordering takeout, or eating out. Home is pretty fantastic for the time-being, although I am getting antsier by the second...itchy feet would be an understatement. Luckily, we head off to Chicago tomorrow to visit family, a nice distraction from the impending departure preparation.

That's all for now. I don't have anything else exciting to report other than hours spent updating my iPod and playing with my super-sweet solar charger...antithetical to the whole Peace Corps deal? Perhaps. But two years without music would be irreperably damaging, so it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make for the sake of my mental health.

Pictures from my last weekend in DC: