I’m home. Home from Algeria. Time to get back in the saddle, right?

As I was writing this, I thought of Ariella’s school in Algeria (the American Institute) that she started and now she and Ramzi run together. It’s a language school, teaching English. And I thought, how would one explain the idiom,”back in the saddle”? I’m guessing it came from the American west of riding horses.

You can see my mind is still caught up in all there was to take in and learn from being in a country so different than our own. So stunningly beautiful – the expanse of sea on one side and on the other. steep hillsides covered with white houses that were built before anything in this country . And you could see far away mountains – were they similat to the forest covered hills and mountains that hug us here in New England? The people were dressed beautifully everywhere I went (shall I contrast that with Boston ?) and courteous and kind and very welcoming.

I can see why Ariella loves Algeria. Also, now having made the trip, I can appreciate the time and effort it takes for her to travel to this country. For me, it was remarkable to make the trip, to be there, to be with her and with Ramzi and all their friends and family.

The wedding was stunning. It started at 5 and ended at 11:30, which, I’m guessing, meant midnight or later. Ariella did 4 changes of dresses, representing different regions of the country, and then, the last one, from “her region”. I couldn’t resist sharing, even though some photos are better than others.

And people danced! Any lull in the ceremony and they were dancing. All together. Or just women. Many or maybe 2 or 4. All spontaneously. The evening flowed and melted, relaxed and open.

Am I still there? Dancing. Hugging. Feeling the warmth of those moments.

Hmmmm.

I see Peaches.

Next post, I may actually be back. Maybe.

Have you ever been to “another world”? Have you ever come back? (Can you even answer that question?)