Back in the land of the free and home of the brave

Hey everybody. So I've been back in America for about a week now and I'm finally starting to get over the culture shock of being back in the US of A. It had been four months since I saw white people I didn't know, grass, rain, or McDonald's and I was reintroduced to all of that as soon as I stepped off the plane. 

From a pop culture perspective, as I told some of my boys, two of the first three songs I heard on the radio back home were "swag surf" and "turn your swag on." I didn't know that one could surf on swag nor that one could turn swag on and off. Obviously, swag has made major developments since my departure. 

I'm enjoying this time to kind of relax and unwind but next week I'll be back on a plane headed to New York. I'll be there until August 1 working for both UNICEF and the World Water Organization, as well as conducting an independent research project on the cultural dynamics of the Catholic Church thanks to a grant I got from Davidson. So, I'll definitely be keeping myself busy, but if you know me you know that's the way I like it.

It's great being back home with family and friends (and pork....mmmmm pork). But Senegal was one of the most powerful, humbling, and enjoyable experiences I have ever had. I consider myself extremely lucky to have had this opportunity and the friends I made and memories I created will certainly remain with me for the rest of my life.