After a last meal at Pellicci’s and one last walk around the neighborhood, I met Shane at the flat for a very generous and helpful escort to Heathrow. The trip from London to Boulder felt like some kind of traveller’s purgatory -- no sleep, yet too tired to do anything useful with the painfully-slow-passing time and many mixed emotions. The fluorescent-lit plastic patriotic poster that greeted me as a returned to US soil was simply underwhelming and a bit disheartening; the first words uttered to me by another American while being herded to customs was all too appropriately rude and territorial. Visions of a romantic, cheerful greeting for Ira at the airport were squashed by my emotion-crushing exhaustion.

Initial impressions upon my first day home included: Why do I have so much stuff (in contrast to what little I was comfortable with for the last four months)? It’s really bright here, which is not so becoming considered the brown, dead look of winter. It’s quiet, even on Broadway and I miss the sounds of the city. The streets are so wide.

Over the first few days home, I waited for the jet-lag to wear off and some distinct I’m-so-glad-to-be-home euphoria to wash over me. But, instead, I felt mostly conflicted. I was glad to be with Ira, catch up with friends, and get out in the mountains, but sad to leave London. Weeks after returning, the most frequent question I still struggled with was, “are you glad to be back?” I gave my stock answer about missing Ira and friends and how great London was, but this never seemed to be a full answer or, at least, not what people expected. I suppose people expected me to say, “oh yes, it was great, but I so missed Colorado!” I certainly did my best to spread the word on the beauty of the west to the many Europeans who only seem to venture as far as New York City when visiting the US. But, missing a place is a different thing. I have been in Boulder a long time and I was overdue for a change of scenery, a different perspective. I knew I was coming back and soon; Boulder and all it entails would still be here, the same as it was when I left. So, what is there to miss?

Talking to Shane upon my return, he made a comment that echoed in my head; “Soon, it will be like you never left.” All too true. I am determined to not let that be so, but how? Perhaps the answer lies in a different question. Instead of “are you glad to be back?” the real question is, “what will you bring back with you?” This is something I began to think about only a few weeks into my London stay. By “bring back” I don’t mean the leather coat and the groovy shirt by a local designer – but the ephemeral shifts and ideological subtleties that occur to someone who journeys abroad with an open mind and a desire to fit in. So, here’s a preliminary list:

An interest in history – I have always been simply terrible at history. I just don’t seem to have the knack for remembering dates of when things happened and keeping important names straight. But, with enough repetition (of which I got plenty of) and being steeped in a culture obsessed with history, it was impossible not to get over this shortcoming.

Tea drinking – As someone who doesn’t like coffee, I have always drank a fair amount of tea. Being in England only solidified and reformed this habit into a slight obsession (addiction?).

Greater appreciation for art.

Generosity for visitors – I was the recipient of an enormous amount of generosity and hospitality during my four months abroad. I’ll spare you the Academy Awards “I’d like to thank…” list – you know who you are and you all have a place to stay in Boulder, Colorado, anytime.

Being obsessively fit is not the most important thing in life. Boulder is insane on this front, which has its pros (lots of people to enjoy the outdoors with) and cons (people who pretend they haven't been training while they put the hammer down and "beat you" on the weekend ride... pathetic). Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be glad when I’ve finally regained enough fitness to actually enjoy riding with my friends again (instead of simply suffering), but a little perspective on the insanity I had been a willing participant of was/is necessary to be able to enjoy a greater range of interests.

An improved interest and attention to world events and news.

Ira and I have caught the interminable travelling bug with no hope whatsoever of being cured.