Reverse Culture Shock

So, Nikki and I have been home since Saturday afternoon. Most of that time has been spent resting and trying to top the tanks off to re-enter the normal world. I can’t believe that the ride has come and gone, and now I’m watching Facebook and Twitter posts from everybody as they make their way back home. How quickly this experience has passed.

Everybody’s heard about Team Awesome’s crazy battle with Tropical Storm Rick, so I won’t belabor that, other than the fact that we have another nickname because of the effects of all the rain, wind and cold: Team Snot Rocket (goes with the green).

However, I made a promise that night before we set out on our shift. I want to thank Deputy Sheriff Daniel Wagner of Grimes County, TX for keeping us company at that lonely gas station before we met up with Team Polka Dot. He was a super nice guy and gave us some pointers on how to get through College Station in the dead of night. Thanks Deputy Wagner…

Anyway, I want to drop a quick note about what has been one of my biggest challenges on this ride: reverse culture shock. It’s a phenomenon I’ve experienced several times when returning from stints overseas to friends and family back home. It’s odd. You go on a journey, become changed by the experience, and you come back, and everything is just a touch “off.” It takes some time to reintegrate with people that didn’t share those experiences along with you and go through the same changes. It’s like they don’t understand.

In any case, I’m feeling it again, now that I’m back in the real world. There are no maps to check, transition points to scope out, kits to clean, or food to be shoveled down in anticipation of the next shift. What’s more, there are no more of the intense emotions of triumph, loss, fellowship, pain, joy, and friendship that I got hooked on while with you all. I talked with my father after we completed our last shift and he said to me “you know, I reckon you’re coming back from this a completely different person.”

Know what? My Pop is right. I’m different, and I’m glad for it, even if it makes me feel a little out of place for a while. I guess this is my weird way of saying that I miss everybody already, and I hope that you all get home safe and get some rest so that we can get out on the road (or dare I say the trail for those of you with mountain bikes) soon!

Safe travels, and God bless

BoZ