Missing Home, Moving On

Hi Everyone,

I gotta admit, I've been missing home a lot recently, to the end that I'm struggling to send emails or make phone calls, because talking to the people I love makes their absence seem more real. So, if you haven't heard from me, it's not because I don't care, it's because I suspect that talking to you would make me cry. Again.

Yesterday was the end of the NCAA Tournament (I won my pool!) and the first day of the baseball season. Normally, either one of these events would have been enough for my ESPN-addict self to spend the entire day and night glued to the television. Last night, I fell asleep on the sofa, alone, at about 7:30 pm, 1/2 an hour into the Bangladesh/New Zealand cricket match (NZ won, in case you were curious). So yes, I'm struggling a little bit, but I'm also starting to feel a little better. I'm trying to stay connected to some parts of my old routine so I don't completely lose my mind. Despite the fact that my current home is on top of a gigantic hill, I've been going out jogging/running fairly regularly. The fact that no matter which way I go, it's downhill on the way out and uphill on the way home presents a new challenge for me, but I'm making progress. With no public transportation to speak of, and my rather isolated location, I've been feeling out of touch with the world at large, but I got my first stick-shift driving lesson yesterday, and I think that with a few more lessons I might actually be ready to buy a car and brave the roads of Johannesburg by the end of next week. There are a few people here that I know from their time in PSI Washington, and I'll try to get together with them this weekend. I also had a friend from the office offer to take me out dancing in Soweto this weekend. I'm not sure if I'll accept, but it's nice to know that there are options on the table. One thing is for sure, I can't spend another weekend at home alone or I'll go completely off the deep end.

For any of my running buddies that are stopping by, Congrats on some fantastic Cherry Blossom times! I saw times for Noel, Marvin, Mark, Dr. Joe, and Katie, and I was most impressed! I tried my best to replicate and run with you, but see my earlier note about hills for why I wussed out around 6 miles. Even at 60% of my running goal, my legs are so sore that I can barely walk and going from sitting to standing or vice versa is pure torture. Maybe it's the hills, or maybe it's the fact that I spent the last month before my departure binge drinking, chain smoking, eating crap, and not exercising. Either way, I suppose by the time I get back in shape and back to running on fairly flat surfaces, I'll be able to FLY!

All my love,

Susan