I'm back in New York now; landed in JFK airport on Sunday afternoon. My kind and gracious friend EH and roommate EL patiently circled the airport for 45 minutes while waiting for me to meet them. EL prepared a delicious salmon and salad dinner, which I ate despite my weak stomach.
It's really nice to be back. I am having dejavue of when I first moved to New York- the excited feelings of exploring the city and seeing everything through new eyes. I have to get used to non white (anglo-saxon) and black faces. The multicultural aspect of the city is fantastic and my mind is adjusting to it.
It's nice to not be singled out as an outsider while walking down the streets. No more shouts of "Obroni!" or "Blofonyo", yet I do find myself missing Africa and the people. My American accent is back, though on Sunday I must have sounded a bit different. I'm glad I have movie clips of my UK and Ghanaian friends on my camera- I can still capture the accents.
Before I left, I was terribly ill. My stomach was going haywire, was up all night at the loo (the term an ode to my UK friends) and was feverish. My flight was canceled on Saturday, and just as well, as I spent the day in the hospital hooked up to an IV that dripped antibiotics and fluids into me. I was discharged 6 hours later, feeling much better but stomach still acting up. The lab test said I had 1+ malaria parasites in my blood, but my NY doctor who I visited yesterday, said I might not have malaria. Whatever it was, I'm glad it's gone. My lab test will come back soon.
Am off to Ca to visit family and from there will type the thoughts I haven't been able to put down yet.
Till then!
~T
