I didn’t do a fantastic job of writing publicly about what Peace Corps was like for me, and I sort of regret that. So here we go, retroactively. Over time I’ll get back to all that happened the past two years. If that’s not your thing don’t worry about it - I won’t take it personally.

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Almost anyone who’s left for an extended about of time and then come back will tell you all about the intricacies of re-entry. How coming back is harder than leaving. People will say things about “reverse culture shock” how you “can never go home again.”

For me it wasn’t immediate or profound; it wasn’t loud or obvious.

It came slowly. Settled in bit by bit. Almost too slow to notice until one day things aren’t as shiny and novel and exciting but are just strange and embarrassingly confusing and Gosh, has it always been this cold in November?

It wasn’t the first trip to the grocery store, but the third or fourth or fifth. The first trip was full of wonder and amazement and awe. The hard part came weeks later - when you actually set out to buy something rather than to simply bathe in the splendor of an American Grocery Store.

After a while you’re just Back. Things aren’t the same (the iPad was invented and smart phones took over and what, exactly, is a Groupon and when did people stop liking Obama and why didn’t I know that Elizabeth Edwards died?), you’re probably not the same, and you can’t expect anyone else to be the same anymore, either. But you’re here to stay, it isn’t vacation this time.

You’re here, you’re back, and your new job is to re-learn all of this. And, excitingly, you get to start almost all over again. Think of all the opportunity! The places! The people! What kind of job? Do you want a career? To start playing cello again? To run your first 5k race? Do it! Why not? You’re in a unique position - a very real fresh start with new perspective.

Dwell in it. Use it.