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As the lights of Dakar disappeared into the night, I came to grips with the fact that this adventure was over. I was going home, wherever home was. As I read Howard Zinn, I realized that a part of me had really loved this country. I slept and read my way through the first flight, and the next few stages of the trip went by without a problem. I arrived at the airport in Florence, where I was greeted by my parents and my little brother. We embraced, and they gave me fresh fruit. I was home. Upon arriving, I showed my family the presents I had gotten them. I went to my room, laid on the mattress, and, after a long, hot shower, I FaceTimed Anjeli. Already, the familiar dynamics were put back in place. This was a reassuring return to normal. I then had a lunch consisting of prosciutto, pecorino cheese, bread, and tomatoes. That was another stark reminder of the differences. However, after the lunch, my mood took a turn downhill. I became idle and bored, and I missed the constant activity of Dakar. I found myself missing the city more and more. At dinner, my dad and I talked to our family about Layenism, Islam, and the strange traits of the religion. For example, we told our family about the inescapable recitations of the Quran, recordings that ranged from the beautiful and musical to the loud and jarring. I have a passion for Layenism, one that is both ironic and not. My ears will forever perk up at the mention of Sedyna Limamou Laye, and his portrait will hang in our house. 

In all seriousness, my return has been very traumatic. I miss life back there. I have a very nostalgic, not entirely accurate view of my days there. I remember the sands of the village, but I forget the hopelessness and the disgust. That can be a good thing, as I will remember the great times I had, but it can also prove to be problematic, as I will lose the very formative experiences I had during those hard times. 

In any case, on the plane yesterday I selected my favorite and most significant photos from the trip. They're below, in no specific order