A World Away

It's been three insane, hectic and glorious weeks since I left New Jersey and though I've done this time and time again, I am never the same. I amaze myself at my ability to adapt to two distincly different worlds. Leaving the relative peace and calm of the developed world where infrastucture is a given and order is taken for granted. Where a single day can be planned weeks, even months in advance and technology literally moves at the speed of light. Into the developing world where organized chaos reigns, scheduling is futile and your day is shaped by whether the powers that be will give you electricity or not. Where traffic jams have no apparent cause and vehicles are besieged by hawkers and vendors selling everything from water baggies (pure water) to electrical heaters to womens' underwear.

But I love it, even thrive in it. There's just something about the sights, smells and sounds of Lagos (Nigeria) that puts me in a comfort zone like no other. Which is really strange because I'm not one to subject myself to anything other than a life of utter and complete, unabashed luxury (to the extent possible). But how can you not love a country where you can do all your grocery shopping in traffic; grease anyones palms to get anything; purchase, peel, dice and eat a pineapple right on the roadside; and bar hop or club until daybreak (alcohol included). Of course there are the tradeoffs...the scorching heat, sporadic electricity, questionable drinking water sources, horrific roads riddled with crater sized potholes and the constant fear that you might be robbed at any given moment. But there's also the warmth of friends and family, the constant socializing at endless events, and the often flagrant almost comical displays of accummulated wealth by the filthy rich.

Alas, all good things must come to an end right? I head out tomorrow. Back to the predictable, safe, haven of the developed world that I call home. It'll be cold now, frost most likely setting in most days. I'll settle down and dig in to work and school, fixing all the messes created in my absence and catching up with deadlines. The kids will be back in school and the hubby will resume his CT-NJ commute. But at least I'll have the memories of another wonderful vacation tucked safely away, to be retrieved on stress filled days and cold winter nights.