Moving on to Mombasa

I spent the majority of today on a bus from Dar Es Salaam to Mombasa, and most of my hour doing one of my favorite travel activities--drifting off into my own thoughts, gazing at the passing scenery, and just being alone, relishing in the relative anominity that the bus provides me. Cathy uploaded lots of East African Bongo Flava music for me, so I finally had some new tunes to bop my head to and nap my feet to. But it was when Kenny Chesney's "Don't Blink" came on that the memories of the past 8 months flooded my thoughts and the realization that this journey is coming to an end brought tears and an intense sadness. To say that this journey, this experience has been life changing, while it holds truth, doesn't do it justice. I've become the person I always wanted to be, I've learned to truly and deeply love myself, and I have found total happiness. This is a time of my life that no one can ever take from me, and no one can ever duplicate this experience. It is unique to me, and only me. I have shared my days with many wonderful people, some who simply passed through my life, others who have become close, dear friends. But I've learned something from each of them, and am forever grateful. Soon the freedom and adventure of a carefree life of traveling will end, to be replaced by a new chapter, one that promises to be full of lessons and new experiences too, just of a different sort. I have learned the value of being selfish, I have fallen in love and mended a broken heart, and I have found my niche with the girls of Team 100. The three things I hoped to accomplish this year. It's such a satisfying feeling to have come so far.