They're coming to America

Our last "Hurrah" ice cream run at Frankie's before we headed out the next morning

It's official, I'm back in America! All day Monday I had Neil Diamond's song "America" in my head.

Home, to a new and a shiny place

Make our bed, and we'll say our grace

Freedom's light burning warm

Freedom's light burning warm

They're coming to America

They're coming to America

They're coming to America

They're coming to America

Today, today, today, today, today

In the airport with our Ghana shirts from Rom

Stepping off African soil and onto the plane

It felt odd to be so excited to go home, because I LOVED my time in Africa. I was leaving a place I learned so much from, a place where everything and everyone I saw taught me something about a whole different world. But I felt it was a blessing to be so calm about going back to America. My time was very well spent. I know there are so many things I couldn't photograph, but the memories and feelings I gained from my experience will impact me for the rest of my life.

On our descent into New York airport, Carlie and I sat quietly looking out the window. I imagined I would feel relief and sadness landing back in the states after living in a third world country, which I did. But mostly I think it was just mild shock. Carlie and I both commented on how organized everything was, how different it looked, and then in unison, "everything is so clean!" It really was so blatantly clean compared to Africa we both laughed. And what makes the difference between two worlds? A plane ride.

The rest of the trip went really smooth, and yesterday after 36 hours since leaving the Pink Hostel I finally landed in Oakland, Ca. I hadn't cried at all saying my goodbye's to everyone and to Ghana. But the moment I saw mama it was all over. I cried a lot yesterday talking to her about all the kids I met.

Little Richard in the blue

Saw him a few days in a row. Always the same sweater~

Mary in the blue tank top

Mostly about my Mary. Mama said there was something about her face in the picture of the two of us that was different from the others. I told her I think it was Mary's calm and sweet spirit that just radiated from her face. Often times, I felt I loved the kids so fast and easily but you couldn't always tell just what you meant to them per-se. There was definitely a language barrier. But Mary I know loved me. She was always just there. Standing next to me, resting her hand on my shoulder or back, or listening intently from her seat in the back. She never said more then maybe 10 words to me the whole month, but that fit who she was. She never yelled at the other kids to be quiet. Didn't hit other people. And always came to the front of the class if we sang songs or did an activity. I know Mary loved me and I'll always love and remember her.

I wish I could have sat down with her one-on-one and explained how great I knew she was and how important I knew she was and wanted her to be. But our schedule and setting didn't lend itself to that. I really do pray she will have good things happen to her and she will be strong in her world.

I just can't get over the fact that one day you are in one world and the next day your're in another. I just can't wrap my head around it. A plane ride. That's all there is between the desperate situation some children are born into and the freedom and endless possibilities this world offers other children...born just across an ocean. Here I am, safe back in America under my American sky, and all my kids are back under their African sky living their lives just the same as before I came. I saw the happiness they have, and I really do believe their culture offers so many unique and different experiences I, having been born in the U.S., will not learn and have. But I can't help but feel like I escaped all the unfortunate, sad, and hard experiences that come with that culture as well. Life is hard there, and I saw that first hand at times. But I just have to remind myself of all the happy people I saw there, the fun and amazing drumming, dancing and singing, the fabrics and way of life of the people, and remember that everyone is sent to this earth to gain experience. The differences in these experiences are what gives this earth its color and beauty, and "happiness"is defined in many more ways than my own, a few of which I was blessed to learn during my time in beautiful Ghana, Africa.

(I will be adding many more photos and posts of memories over the next week or so. Feel free to stay posted as all my follow up thoughts come to me. I've enjoyed sharing everything so far. Thanks for all the kind and meaningful comments many of you have given me!)