Back home

hi family and friends. of course i have talked to mom and dad several
times upon my return, so this email is to my aunts and uncles w/copies
to friends just to let you know i have returned safely. it was a
fabulous trip, probably my most favorite ever. it enlightened me as to
how the usa "fits" in the world. i lost my rosy view and have a more
realistic idea of our economic future in relation to china and other
upcoming super powers. i'm still very proud to be an american and
would rather live here than anywhere, but it all just "feels"
different. that's what world travel is supposed to do for you, so i
guess it worked really well this time. i've never been sick on a trip,
but was hit w/food poisoning, intense vertigo and/or a flu bug that
made me violently lose all my food the last 2 days of my trip. that
was before traveling 2 more days of not eating (i was scared to) to
travel half way around the world to get back to home sweet home. it
shows one can will themselves to do whatever one needs to do to get
back home. now that i'm in winston-salem, i am feeling better. instead
of writing details about my last week in united arab emirates, let me
just wrap it up by saying it was over the top. i have never seen such
bright, shiny people, places, cars, houses, jewelry, hotels, palaces,
mosques, etc. ever in my life. if you ever get the chance to go, do
so. these arab gulf states are phenomenal. i had the time of my life,
riding camels, smoking sheshas (i didn't inhale the flavored tobacco),
eating seafood, gazing at the dazzling sites, mingling w/the locals
and just absorbing the likenesses and differences of a totally
different culture. hope you all are well and thanks for your prayers.
if you want to see any of my photos, let me know and i'll put you on
my list. it may be a month from now before i get all that together as
it will take me a while to "recover" (smile). otherwise, happy travels
and take care, angela