My first month on the islands has flown by. I´m pretty sure I went through culture shock. I was here before but my last time here I think I was in a kind of bubble. Perhaps the bubble that all tourist to new places have for their first while here.

I expected my return to be more like my last time here but things have proceeded much fast than that. I´ve spent most of my time here so far stressed out. On the surface I thought I was stressed about the need to work out my visa status, or have enough adequate supplies for my flat but really those were just the symptoms. What I was running into was a total different rhythm of life. The life in my hometown of Boston, Massachusetts is fast paced, take no prisoners and non-stop. my experience on this island has been one where there are challenges, yes, but a deeper sense of peace seems to permeate this island than I am accustomed to. The people here have difficulties and challenges in their lives, yes, but quality of life seems more important here. By quality I don´t mean that the people here have nicer things, truthfully, as cosmopolitan as the island appears, most of the¨things¨ that we value either are not here or are ancient by comparison. Take my washing machine for example. It takes 4 hours to do laundry and there is no dryer :-), but the people here seem more human and more connected than I´ve experienced to date.

To put it simply, I am in love with this place but it is an unfolding romance as I find my way into new challenges, new adventures and new shenanigans.

I am experiencing deep longings to have my family and friends here with me. This was always part of my thinking but it really brings home just how important friends and family are. I am making new friends and family here. I look forward to the day when those worlds combine.

Until then, this is Martin Welch, on a small island of the North West coast of Africa saying,

Namaste!
With love,
Martin