Checking Out

I was happy to get out of the hotel for a run in the surrounding area this morning. Although this trip has been a lot of hotel, taxi, office, taxi, hotel, I do feel like I was able to comprehend the country and culture a bit better than the last time. Even as I ran through the shanty towns this morning I was slightly less shocked than 6 months ago. I was also happy that I forgot my iPod so for the first time in addition to the sights and smells, I got to hear the start of the rural Indian day with people washing themselves outside, waiting for rickety buses, ordering and eating food in one of numerous road side snack shops, and riding creaking rusty bikes over speed bumps and potholes. That said, as I weaved my way around sacred cows and stray dogs I did think to myself that I am very happy to be coming home tonight. We have another full day of work before dinner at the restaurant. I’ll go to the airport from dinner and my flight to Paris leaves around 2AM on Saturday morning. I should be home for about 2PM on Saturday afternoon. The other really good news is that I don’t have any trips planned for next week.