re-entry

after a feverish journey from Accra -> Amsterdam -> Amsterdam -> San Francisco, i made it "home" to the ole' abode on Alabama Street. The flight was emotional and tiresome, as expected, but overall quite good. i was babied by the KLM crew -- who were all well informed of my health status and took excellent care of me. (thanks, Sawyer)

Sawyer greeted me ever so warmly at the airport with a flower, electrolyte enhanced water, and food -- then a much needed trip to in-n-out burger for a double animal style with fries animal style. (can i get an amen?) my first evening back i was visited by Kwesi (latest GH/SF transplant) which definitely made my night. my back porch wasn't the bush k, but it was still m'adamfo. the following weekend the lovely Miss Gabbie (dear friend from GH cohort) journeyed from Davis for a catch up lunch date. such a treat.

my health still isn't 100% (stubborn kidneys), so i'll be checked out this week at my beloved Lyon Martin Health Services to make sure i'm a-OK. i've already been to the lab where every test in the book was run on my blood and i'll learn the results this thursday. i'm sure i'm fine! i'm getting plenty of rest and hydration so i can prepare myself to re-join this struggling American workforce. my treatment plan includes catching up on Desperate Housewives, LOST, and becoming severely addicted to RuPaul's Drag Race, which is clearly the best development in American culture since my leave.

I drove to the top of Twin Peaks with Jenofeve this morning for the best view of SF. It was breathtaking, as usual. By grace, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I love seeing my favorite little city from that point -- even though it totally looked like a surreal snowglobe joke. I needed to see it. Make this all feel real.

this friday i'm Midwest bound for at least a month. it's time to visit the family and get some R and R at Nana's house. it's funny to be back in SF for 1 week and already have to plans to leave, but i think it's best for the re-entry process. i'm easily overwhelmed by things like large groups of white people, hot water, and regular internet access -- so i need to hit the sticks and practice my Spanish. i'm thoroughly excited to see my family, especially my wonderful.gorgeous.genius brothers. Dad and Suz recently adopted a golden doodle "Harpo" that i can't wait to cuddle with. homemade food, puppies, sleep, and marathon reading are about to become my world. i am blessed.

It hasn't hit me that i won't hop on a tro-tro to campus to sit in the TA's office to play scrabble and bust some balls -- or hit the bush k for a guiness with the boys -- though i'm feeling the lack of GH presence in my life more and more each minute. I'm growing frustrated already by how closed off Americans are from each other and how we create obstacles around ourselves to prevent contact with "strangers." just yesterday, i greeted a man on the street with a simple "good morning" and he acted so surprised as if i had thrown a pie in his face. we don't touch each other or smile at each other or greet each other enough here and it worries me. i'm bored with it. lay down the armor, people. call it cliche, but life is too damn short.

Jen shared a hilarious clip with me from Conan with guest Louis CK which is hilarious and speaks to how i'm feeling with American Culture re-entry:



i'd love to hear from friends near and far to reconnect.
ronijacobs@gmail.com

never leaving Ghana?

just kidding.
Really I just never managed to leave on Thursday March 5.
Malaria got me once again, so after being admitted (for old times sake) I was forced to postpone my return to San Francisco. I'll be leaving Accra March 12.
In the grand scheme of things, I'm happy that I was treated for Malaria while still in Ghana because the clinics in Ghana KNOW Malaria. I was on a drip in less than an hour and feeling worlds better within days. I was admitted next to two little boys who had cholera. These kids were SOLDIERS! I swear. They didn't even cry when their iv's were started. I held their little hands and they didn't even flinch. Tough as nails. I was a bigger baby than they were. I went to Nat's sister's clinic in Madina and had much better care than I ever recieved at that bs Nyaho clinic. Apparently not ALL nurses in Ghana are mean, because Esther was the sweetest thing ever.
I left the house for the first time since I passed out after being discharged and I'm feeling a bit better. I'm dizzy, but I needed some sunshine. This week is all about R and R before the big ride home.
As my life mantra goes: let go, let Ghana.