HOME(LESS) LEAVE

Foreign service officers are required to return to the U.S. at the completion of each overseas tour for a minimum of 20 days to reacquaint themselves with their home country.  We call it “home leave” – but those in the ranks tend to refer to it as “homeless leave” because it’s not as if we have a physical “home” to return to.  After our Belize tour, we spent several weeks in Portland, couch-surfing with friends who would have us, dog- and house-sitting for others, and generally living a migratory existence out of a suitcase for the better part of a month.  This time, we did things differently.

Oregonians and others know this iconic PDX carpet.  Definitely a sign that I'm home.

First, after surviving the 40-hour trip back from Harare*, we spent two weeks in Portland in an Airbnb.  When we first started planning our leave, we weren’t sure if we’d be vaccinated, or need to quarantine, or what the COVID rules du jour may be, so we figured we’d play it safe with a space of our own.  We found a 1-bedroom basement apartment.  At first, I wasn’t too sure how I’d feel living like a mole person.  Then I realized how coveted our basement spread would become as we experienced the first (of TWO) 100+ degree heat waves while we were there.  In a city where A/C is not commonplace, that basement apartment turned out to be just the spot to beat the heat.  In between stints of hiding from the scorching earth in our subterranean apartment, we were able to get in some visits with family and friends, hikes around Portland, and LOTS of Tex-Mex food.  (A favorite of mine that was decidedly absent in Zimbabwe.)

* Our trip back from Harare really deserves a post in and of itself.  It was nothing less than a miracle that after a journey of four legs (Harare-Johannesburg-Paris-Atlanta-Portland), we arrived on time AND with all our luggage.  Our flight from Paris was an hour late, leaving us less than 45 minutes to get our bags, clear customs, recheck our bags, go back through security, and get to our gate in Atlanta.  I credit the heroic efforts by airport staff and complete strangers in Atlanta for pulling this off.  The slightly crazed look in our road-weary eyes may have helped a tad too.

The roses were in full glory in Washington Park.

Catching up - and rehydrating - with friends.  A great way to survive a heatwave.

Next, we headed to Hawaii for an actual vacation.  We started off on Oahu, meeting up with our friends Joe and Michele for a few days to kick off our rest and relaxation.  While seemingly the entirety of the U.S. decided to vacation in Waikiki at the same time as us, we were able to find some quieter spots on the west shore.  

A Santa Cruz reunion in Hawaii with Joe & Michele.

Just looking at that view makes me go "ahhhhh..."

And then we headed to the big island and met our friends Meg and Chris there to wrap up our vacay.  This was my first trip to the big island, and let me just say, it is FANTASTIC!  The crowds that had swarmed Oahu had not found their way there – or there was more space to accommodate them – and we thoroughly enjoyed getting to see all the sights.  We swam in amazingly clear water, hiked through volcanoes and lava tubes, saw dozens of sea turtles lounging beachside, took in some incredible sunsets… drank many mai tais.  It was everything I’d hoped it would be, and it was some down time that we both desperately needed after an especially hard year.

Getting to hang out with our friends Meg & Chris in Hawaii!  Last time I "hung out" with Meg in Hawaii, we ran a marathon.  This was definitely better.

These guys were EVERYWHERE!

Working off some mai tais with a hike at Volcanoes National Park.

Just strolling through a volcanic crater.  No big deal.

One of many gorgeous sunsets during our stay.

We wrapped up our home(less) leave back in Portland and stayed with my parents for our return visit, so we got to play a lot of bridge… and drink a lot of wine.  We did much of that card-playing and wine-drinking in their basement, since we were there for 100+ degree heat wave #2.  It was great to be back in Portland for summer to see all the flowers blooming and get to celebrate Father’s Day and my parents’ anniversary with them in person for the first time in several years… but I could have done without the sweltering heat.  Good practice for what comes next, I suppose.

This is actually the perfect spot to play cards (and drink wine) during a heat wave.  Look at the multi-tasking you can do!  Laundry?  No prob.  Need some potato chips?  You're set.

Now we’re back in Washington DC where I have some training – including “learning” Indonesian – before we head to Jakarta next year.  After our palatial digs in Harare, we are getting acclimated to living (and working – since we’re both teleworking for now) in a 700-square foot apartment – our “home” for the next year.  But Whole Foods and Trader Joes are a stone’s throw from our front door.  It’s good to be home.