Door Etiquette and Bluegrass

Last night I went to see a bluegrass concert in town. Great live music is one of the reasons I love Moscow. My friend’s brother was playing. Another reason to love Moscow: you are somehow connected to everyone.

And the other highlight of my day was walking into work behind a cute guy who held the door open for me. I am not one of those women who continually need men to open the doors I go through, but I do appreciate someone in front of me being courteous enough to notice I am right behind them and not let the door shut in my face, regardless of gender. But a cute guy doing so is definitely noteworthy.

And as of today I have officially been home for two months. I no longer feel obligated to explain to everyone that I have just returned from two years in Africa in case I am behaving oddly. One might say I’m relatively adjusted. But I think having a routine to go by is the most helpful; that’s part of how I adjusted to Senegal. I generally know what time and day it is, and I no longer marvel at things like my morning breakfast smoothies, though I still can’t handle being in Wal-Mart. (Can anyone?) And even though I still find myself staring at people frequently, I think that might be a Senegalese habit that will be difficult to shed. I have a car, a job, a schedule, and I can eat whatever I want. Is that all it means to be American again? Today I missed waking up each morning in Senegal and walking out in my backyard still in my pajamas.