Apparently I had to return from a former Soviet country to get a firsthand experience of those dark post-communist days. After 26 hours of travelling, all I wanted when I walked into the house yesterday afternoon was a steamy hot shower. No such luck. The pilot light on the heater was out and I didn't want to mess with it, but I was so stinky and desperate for a shower, so I heated water in the biggest pots we have and still was only able to fill about a fifth of the tub. It was better than going to bed dirty.

So now I'm back home. Strange. Coming home is always familiar, but it's like I wasn't gone and instead am just back where I started with some new memories.

This month has been an adventure of the soul. No life-altering epiphanies, but plenty of simple personal revelations that have helped me shape my idea of what I think my life ought to be. I've seen things but I haven't experienced them. Now I'm ready to experience them.

My week in Dubai was restful. I think it helped stave off some of the jet lag. While I went in search of warm weather -- and I did get some on the first day along with a nice coat with sand covering everything -- I got two days of hard rain. Because it's the desert, no one in Dubai ever thought to build a drainage system and so many streets flooded. Thankfully, the scene wasn't even close to the apocalyptic scenes from Southeast Asia. What horrors.

Though my heart isn't always in it, one thing I've learned to appreciate on this trip is my American passport and my freedom to come back to a comfortable lifestyle. I never took it for granted before and I appreciate its value more now.

Now, I have a week to write my story. I've started but it's slow-going. A few more interviews left and hopefully it'll be done and ready to roll by the end of the month.