On summer in Lithuania

Well... always an interesting time. Now... I am going back home.

What I miss from South America:

• My little Sarita. My gosh, living without her has been an experience. I hope I don't have to do this too long.
• The disposition of people. Ok, this is something I wasn't really expecting. You know, people from Peru/Indonesia would often describe themselves as being from a "third-world" country. This title does not do them any justice whatsoever. There are some great evils in this world that keep people separated based on their nationalities. These separations are most visibly financial and consumerist differences. I remember a small number of people in Indonesia and in South America that had some kind of bitterness against me just for being from Europe and having the freedom of movement that they couldn't have: due to currencies and visas mainly. This was definitely a minority. A lot of times I remember people mainly being curious and inquisitive about me. Why am I there? How do I like the food? Where have I been? What do I think of the women in whichever country I was in? What foods have I tried there? People begging from me and the joy to be had with being able to talk with them at least somewhat. The street kids that I gave money to and who started calling me Tio (uncle).
• The prevalence of the music. You know I remember reading in a guide book that South America (again this single entity) is POWERED by music. Ok, so the guidebook over-romanticised it somewhat. I think I got de-sensitized to it somewhat, which is something of a shame. I had been accused (by the two most important women in my life) of being a musical snob. It's true. But I do really miss the random music that you find in Argentina and Peru on the buses, the stalls, the markets, the shops, the taxis, the combis, the supermarkets (actually no), and .. the country away from the capitals.
• The currency. Being the rich man is nice, for sure.

On lithuania:

• The saunas.Well, I guess I was going to write about them, but that is all I seem to have written. I did enjoy the saunas in Lithuania. The best was on the beach (beautiful beaches in Lithuania), you go in the sauna, then when it's too hot to handle, run into the sea. Really invigorating.
• The cepelinai. These are really awesome meals made from... well... potatoes cooked several times in different ways... really heavy food and really delicious.
• Algis Jusionis' Studio: This is the place we were living, it was really a great space. Algis was an artist and teacher. Tadas knew his him and his wife very well. It was a really inspiring place to be staying. Unfortunately, it took a lot of effort to heat , being so big, but it was an awesome space.
  
  

What I look forward to going home to:

• Music. Boy. I have really missed this. Lithuania... no it's not the greatest place. I miss the variety, the emotion, the fact that not having an ear is much more uncomman than having an ear for music.
• The language. Being able to talk to random people, understand what people are saying on the street. Sure, in Peru I was beginning to get it. But, it was still guessing somewhat and an effort. I hope I can make an effort more to talk to random people. Hopefully after 17 months of being mainly around non-native english speakers, I will appreciate the opportunities and hooks to get into conversation.
• Obviously, my family. Why do I only mention them third? Well, they know I love them; I know they will forgive me.
• Magna Tandoori. My god I have missed a good curry. I did have a nice one in Georgetown, Panang, Malaysia. With REAL indians. But you know, it wasn't my home-grown indian subculture's curry. Sure, it was cheaper. But those guys in Magna are deservedly expensive.
• My guitars, computers and all my techno-junk. What? This is only third? Well, I definitely don't have to worry about offending these guys. There are some tools though, that I have missed, that I had previously under-utilized.

So now ... I am to return to the UK.