I am having the hardest time adjusting to being back in North America. I’m not sure what it is (my second cousins that I spent so much time with? the warm weather? the slower pace of life? my identical twin cousins? my grandmother’s husky laugh?) but if someone told me to pack my bags yet again, that I have to live in Nigeria for the next year, I’d happily pull out my suitcases (and go buy a couple more: a year is a long time). I wouldn’t hesitate.

Well, I guess I would hesitate, actually, but only because of my brother. I was telling him how I want to move to the UK so I can be halfway between Canada and Nigeria and he reminded me that um, I bought a house here. That was quite sobering. I forgot that I loved living here for a moment. I guess I’ll have to go back to praying the Atlantic Ocean shrinks and the continents move closer together.

All last week, I woke up between 3 and 4 in the morning and usually spent an hour or two online before returning to bed and then waking up — sans alarm, shockingly— with plenty of time to get ready for work. I was early for work every day last week. The last time that happened was three years ago, when I first started working there.

And if that isn’t the perfect segue, I don’t know what is. Things I missed while I was away, in no particular order are:

My Three Year Anniversary (at my place of work)
The middle of November marked three years since I got the phone message* that changed my career. You see, I had interviewed for the job in January 2005 but they chose a more qualified candidate over me. But then, the qualified candidate decided to start a family and she went on maternity leave and it just so happened that I was the first runner up that they called on when the winner was unable to do her duties. And somehow my one year stint became a permanent position. I am so blessed.

(*I’m not sure if I should admit this but I saved that message. Hear me out though: I have 40 messages on my voicemail that I just keep re-saving over and over again. They date back to 2003 and include gems like my youngest brother singing happy birthday to me, my mom apologizing for driving home and forgetting to take me with her (she sounds so contrite), to a friend congratulating me on the completion of my Biochemistry degree. I’m a packrat in all aspects of my life; what can I say?)

NaBloPoMo
If I had been here for the month of November, this would have been my third year in a row pledging to post every day for the month and hopefully I would have made it again. Now that NaBloPoMo is a year long thing, I’m going to do it for the month of December, which to me is the easiest month to mess up because it’s just so busy. Especially when you haven’t started brainstorming gift ideas, talk less entering a shopping mall and attempting to shop.

An Indian Wedding
Indian weddings are such a treat for the eyes because they are so colourful. I have never been to one. One of my friends got married the weekend we left so I missed out on their wedding. I haven’t even had an opportunity to ask anyone how it was, nor have I seen any pictures. I’m sure it was gorgeous though.

What I didn’t miss: the cold weather. In fact I’m partly convinced it’s the jarring difference in temperature that’s responsible for my body’s inability to get used to being back. This may also be why I haven’t called any friends to let them know I’m back (I did send a few emails, text messages and facebook messages), and I haven’t seen anyone (though it’s been a week). I need to shake this vacation brain of mine.

Filed under: Job, Mundane by jummy