I knew that I was missing something but really could not figure out what it was. I would be standing by the roadside waiting for a bus, just wishing that someone would stop and talk to me. I would find myself wanting to get on the bus and just go somewhere, anywhere, where I would find someone to whom I could talk and who would really understand. However, I knew that it was only a pipe dream; it would not matter where I went, I would not find what I was looking for.
Wednesday I spent the day in Moshi visiting with Gary, my friend and neighbor from Apex. He was doing some work in Tanzania and made time to come and see me! (Thank you Gary) We met at an outdoor restaurant, ordered a cup of tea, and began to talk. When I first checked my watch, I was surprised to see that four hours had passed. It had seemed like only minutes. We moved restaurants to have lunch, but continued talking for another couple hours.
On the bus ride home, I realized what it is that I am missing here: conversation. Not just quick greetings and "how is your day?", but real conversations. Meaningful conversations that make you feel like you have accomplished something. Conversations that make you think. Being surrounded by people in a foreign land is often a very lonely place to be.
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