I suspect that coming home will never not feel strange, but this time it feels almost more surreal than usual. There are a lot of reasons behind that I’m sure, a major one of which is likely because I left behind Family this time – just as much as I came home to it.
Of course getting home was an interesting experience involving several airports, one missed connection, four delays and one cancelled flight…but ultimately the plane wheels did touch down in my hometown and I straggled off the plane in the mid-afternoon.
One thing I can never quite get used to is the climate change. Gone is the sapphire blue sky and turquoise water of Half Moon Cay and well packed away are the bathing suits, shorts and flowing sundresses I’ve been wearing for the last three and a half months. Replacing them is the crisp November chill, the occasional scatter of rain, sturdy jeans and fur collars. Even though this is the west coast, which is exceptionally mild compared to the weather that say, Alasse and Amras have to deal with when they’re home, this is still Canada, and it’s winter.
I suppose one day I’ll get used to the transition, but it’s never as easy as you hope it will be…that said, I’m lucky to have insanely understanding parents, who don’t particularly mind if I go into hermit mode for a bit (though they do drag me out of my cave to make sure I eat once in a while) …in a few days I’ll be human again…:)