All
apologies for not blogging for a while. I have been debating what to write
about next. I know I can write about work, how my puppy was dog-napped (she’s
back and safe now), or even how much fun I had while my sister and friends from
home visited. But lately, my head and heart has been occupied with missing home
and my family there so I’m writing about that. Before reading the following
post, please keep in mind, I am not depressed (so don’t freak out, Dad) and am
not going to quit Peace Corps and move home (so don’t get excited, Dad). Enjoy my diary entry on missing Washington.
If you have never been, I strongly suggest you add a trip to Western Washington
to your bucket list. In my eyes, there is not a more magical or comforting
place on earth.
I left my
beautiful homeland, Washington state January 10, 2012. I have been away from its
emerald, dove gray, and marine blue enchantments for almost 10 months now. It
hurts. Physically and emotionally. Despite having lived in Colorado for 5 years
and Kenya for a semester, I have never been away from my home and family this
long. It sucks. I miss the rain, the mist that never leaves the air even on
days it does not rain, and the water soaked, mossy earth that feels as if you’re
walking upon foam but most of all I miss my family, crazy jumping labs and all.
There have been brief moments where Nicaragua has reminded me of home. These moments
overtake my senses and flush my eyes with tears.
For
example, last week I spent a few days in the cool mountains of Selva Negra, Matagalpa.
Believing that nowhere in Nicaragua can get cold, I laughed off my family’s
advice to bring a sweater for both Risa and I. Upon entering Selva Negra, I was
immediately reminded of home. It is this beautiful hotel nestled in the
mountains and overgrown forest with plentiful tall trees so dense that at times
you can’t see the horizon and moss grows everywhere. Also, it was actually
cold. I shivered for the first time in 10 months while there. Here, I
experienced the most intense and heart wrenching bout of homesickness. One early morning while taking Risa for her daily
walk, we stepped off the concrete path onto earth only to step upon the same
water soaked, mossy earth like in Western Washington. As my feet sunk into the
earth, a bittersweet bolt of nostalgia shot through my body and upon reaching
my face, it filled my eyes with tears momentarily. For that second, I swear I
smelled Washington; fresh rain drops upon pine and fir trees. All
Washingtonians know that wonderful scent after it rains. Equally pristine and
wild. No tree shaped air freshener or Yankee Candle can mimic it exactly. I
couldn’t handle it and immediately stepped back onto the concrete. It was torture, to be teased with something
that felt so much like home while knowing you are nowhere near it.
On December
18th, I will return to the unbeatable beauty of the Pacific
Northwest. That is 78 days from now. In 78 days, I will inhale the fresh
Washington air. In 78 days, I will smile while my feet sink into the mossy
earth. Best of all, in 78 days I will embrace my father, my sister, and my
adorable labs in the shadow of majestic Mount Rainier. 78 days from now, I will
finally be treated for my homesick-ness.
