'Timekeeper'

After almost 6 full weeks of travel, we are finally back in Lagos. If I count our trip to Denmark and Norway we have been on the go for over 8 weeks or two straight months. Despite our fatigue, I feel great about how we spent our time; primarily because we saw some of our nearest and dearest friends and family members. But if I am perfectly honest with myself, being on the go that long made it easier to come back - something friends had warned me was difficult after being in one's home country for so long (and becomes more difficult every year after that). I admit I was actually eager to get back to our flat, be in our own beds, and see some friends we have made here. I was equally excited to be back with our stewardess who I realized even more deeply is indispensible to me! 

When we first moved to Lagos, it was close to Easter and most people were going away on holiday. It seemed a lot of folks couldn't get away fast enough and lived from one vacation to the next. A few people finally explained that Lagos just wears you down. I had also been told that the company gives the families a long "home leave" in an effort to help everyone recharge. I have to say, this is good advice. Not only do we feel recharged from the constant efforts we made to be outdoors and see loved ones but I feel energized about our life ahead. 

For the first time in a long time, we are not coming or going, packing or moving. The transitional period is, for the most part over. While I know we will continue to face cultural challenges, we are finally past the logistical issues that accompany an overseas move. For me, this has absorbed the majority of my time for the past 6 months or more so I am excited to take on some new activities and actually live here. And if there's one thing an expat wife can find in Lagos, it's activities! Charitable fundraisers, school committees, American Women's Club, tennis and pilates - my bucket list is long.  For me, staying busy is the only way to ward off potential homesickness and ennui.

When we finally unpacked from our home visit, I asked "Venus" our stewardess to help me put up some of the colder weather clothes and adventure gear I had bought whilst in the US. I showed her the cute little safari jacket I found for K and the hiking boots for C. She asked me when we might need them again and I told her about our plan to go to South Africa for the fall break. We haven't planned it out yet but decided it was the best time of year to go based on the heat and the prices.

She politely reminded me the kids' fall holiday starts in early October this year; in fact we could even plan our flight the day the kids are let out of school, Friday September 28 - just 8 weeks away.

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