Diattakounda: April 2010

Having grossly underestimated how difficult it would be to move from Chicago to Washington DC, I have spent the past two months wondering why this move has been different. This is the fourth time I have moved away from Chicago. My previous moves to Pennsylvania, Ecuador, Senegal were not exactly just down the road. I know what it's like to be a stranger in an unfamiliar place. I've struggle before to balance homesickness and the guilt of leaving behind family and friends. So why has this move taken me by surprise? Here is what I have concluded. The is the first time I have moved away indefinitely. Unlike college, a study abroad, and Peace Corps service, there is no pre-determined end to this adventure. I might move back to Chicago in a year or two, or I may never move back. And more importantly, the adjustment does not belong solely to me this time. With Youssou and Joseph by my side, we are adjusting to our new home as a family. While this is certainly easier than going it alone, it also means that all three of us must adjust. Here's an example. After sending Joseph off to preschool five long days a week in Chicago, Youssou and I were really excited that Joseph was going to experience life with a stay-at-home parent. Little did Youssou and I understand just how much Joseph would miss being around other kids. After we moved, whenever Joseph would see other kids his eyes would get big and he would whisper "Look Dad! There are kids here!" It was as if he was speaking of some extinct species or something. Realizing that he needed more than just us two adults for company, we enrolled him in a soccer program. Now we are exploring preschools too, hoping to find something that he can do on a part-time basis. We are still feeling our way around, but we know we will get it right if we keep trying. One thing is for certain--- having a three year old on our team makes all of the difference. What a fun - and funny- age this is! After a long day at work on Tuesday, Joseph climbed up on my lap, gave me a kiss, put his hands on my cheeks and said "I want you to marry me mom." Heartwarming and hilarious. That is my son in a nutshell. Last weekend, while my mom was in town, she bought Joseph a small bag of sunchips. He was delighted by this treat, and proceeded to eat them happily. While he was smacking his lips, I asked him what the chips tasted like. Much to my surprise, he reported that they tasted like a cemetery. A cemetery? After regaining my composure, I asked Joseph what a cemetery tasted like. "Good," he said, matter-of-factly. As a side note- we were out in rural Virgina helping my mom with her geneology research. As part of our exploration, we visited a few cemeteries. Although we tried to explain to Joseph what a cemetery was, clearly, he did not quite get it. But I digress... So here are a few pictures of the Diatta family adjustment to life in DC.