Wow, we've been home for two months already! I promised I would keep this blog going but time has gotten away from me, so apologies for the long lag since the last time we have posted!
Everyone has been extremely busy since we returned! I know Dr. Tonya and Meredith have been busy up north and we haven't had a chance to connect, so it will be good to see them at the District Conference for our home district 5510 in June... And Holly has been stuck in a training program on the other side of the country, but I will get to see her even sooner- we are planning a trip with friends to New Orleans next month, I am excited for the reunion!
We have been very sad to hear all that has been going on in Bangladesh since we left, lots of hartals and riots and violence- this was not the side of the country we saw! I am glad to say our friends are all safe and sound, and I have been trying to make sure to check up on them every once in awhile via facebook.
Since our return I have been trying to get involved with the Rotary clubs here, joining them for service projects as well as going to several meetings. I think I have filled my quota for presentations, including the Tempe Rio Salado club (Holly's sponsoring club), their sister-club Camelback Crossroads, Phoenix East Rotary Club, and my own sponsoring club, Mesa West! I also volunteered to join RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy) as a mentor, but since they have had a surplus of volunteers I am currently an alternate. Just a few pictures from before Holly left Arizona...
It was a little rough getting back into the groove of being home again- it is always hard to return the the mundane activities of real life when you have been traveling or experiencing something as wonderful as an entirely different culture. You get used to living more simply, needing less stuff when you are traveling, and coming back home to a job that requires you to wear a certain type of clothing and behave a certain way is a let down. Everyday life does not provide the constant learning opportunities of operating in a foreign culture or being in a new place, so you have to search that much harder for the same mental stimulation.
I will say though, it is nice to be amongst friends and family again, the only bad part about traveling is that I can't take them all with me!
Like I said, I am hoping to get back into blogging at least until our district conference, and then maybe I will let it rest, but the Facebook page is still alive and well :) Here's hoping I have more to add soon!
Stephanie
Everyone has been extremely busy since we returned! I know Dr. Tonya and Meredith have been busy up north and we haven't had a chance to connect, so it will be good to see them at the District Conference for our home district 5510 in June... And Holly has been stuck in a training program on the other side of the country, but I will get to see her even sooner- we are planning a trip with friends to New Orleans next month, I am excited for the reunion!
We have been very sad to hear all that has been going on in Bangladesh since we left, lots of hartals and riots and violence- this was not the side of the country we saw! I am glad to say our friends are all safe and sound, and I have been trying to make sure to check up on them every once in awhile via facebook.
Since our return I have been trying to get involved with the Rotary clubs here, joining them for service projects as well as going to several meetings. I think I have filled my quota for presentations, including the Tempe Rio Salado club (Holly's sponsoring club), their sister-club Camelback Crossroads, Phoenix East Rotary Club, and my own sponsoring club, Mesa West! I also volunteered to join RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy) as a mentor, but since they have had a surplus of volunteers I am currently an alternate. Just a few pictures from before Holly left Arizona...
Presenting at Holly's sponsoring club, Tempe Rio Salado!
Volunteering with Tempe Rio Salado at a local television station!
It was a little rough getting back into the groove of being home again- it is always hard to return the the mundane activities of real life when you have been traveling or experiencing something as wonderful as an entirely different culture. You get used to living more simply, needing less stuff when you are traveling, and coming back home to a job that requires you to wear a certain type of clothing and behave a certain way is a let down. Everyday life does not provide the constant learning opportunities of operating in a foreign culture or being in a new place, so you have to search that much harder for the same mental stimulation.
I will say though, it is nice to be amongst friends and family again, the only bad part about traveling is that I can't take them all with me!
Like I said, I am hoping to get back into blogging at least until our district conference, and then maybe I will let it rest, but the Facebook page is still alive and well :) Here's hoping I have more to add soon!
Stephanie
