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One of the great things about travel is that it reminds me to be grateful for the many things I take for granted at home. When my parents lived in Botswana in the 1980s, they were often told "life is hard in Africa," which has become a little inside joke in our family. But the truth is that life IS hard in Africa. As much as I feel disturbed, disgusted, even ashamed of the country of my birth, returning home from 17 days in Senegal reminds me how lucky I am to have been born here and not there.

Since my arrival this morning, I've been savoring some of the little things: taking a long, hot shower with loads of water pressure; brushing my teeth with tap water; coffee that tastes like coffee; a subway that whisks me across the city without worrying about traffic. OK, that last one is an exaggeration--I've been waiting for the subway for 15 minutes now. I hate the MTA. But it's still easier than getting around Tambacounda.