Traveling from Nepal to Costa Rica is no small task (especially when on the World Race) so of course when we had a 20-hour layover in NYC, we hit the ground running. HARD. My bestie Emily Madden and I pretended to be normal Americans again and make the most of our girls trip to the city, but we forgot how living overseas would change our perspectives on “normal life”. So here are some thoughts from two Americans reuniting with their homeland after 8 months abroad.
We immediately got off the plane in JFK (after a 14.5 hour flight from Abu Dhabi) and I begin uncontrollably chanting “USA… USA… USA” while Emily began softly sobbing. Man did it feel good to be back home.
First thoughts at the airport:
– Wait, I can use my cell phone service and CALL whoever I want?!
– I can FLUSH my toilet paper?!
– EVERYONE IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
Em and I then took a shuttle to the Hilton hotel because our squad-mate’s mom got a room for our squad to drop off our bags for the day (shout out to the nicest woman, Dana’s mom, you’re the true MVP!!). Being at a legitimate hotel for the first time in 8 months was amazing.
Thoughts at the hotel:
– Everything is SO NICE!!
– Wait, there’s an elevator? I don’t have to climb 18 flights of stairs to get to the 9th floor?!
– The tap water changes temperature?
We then caught an Uber into Manhattan for our first venture of the day…. to CHICK-FIL-A!! So many thoughts as we drove down the highway:
– I swear, this Toyota Corolla is the nicest car I’ve ever been in.
– Wow, people use their blinkers AND stay in their lanes?!
– *rolling down the windows* This is the freshest air I’ve ever breathed.
– Wait, is that a GPS??
Once we got to Chick-fil-A, we were ready for a feast. We were met with a long line that wrapped out the door and around the street corner. We expected it would take at least 45 minutes to get through, but because of the employees that greeted us at the door with their little magical iPad registers, we had our food within 8 minutes of arriving!! (& don’t worry guys, I would NEVER forget my Chick-fil-A order: original chicken sandwich with extra pickles, waffle fries with Polynesian sauce & a small Dr. Pepper.)
So many astonishing thoughts:
– Man, efficiency is why America is #1.
– Everyone stays in their place in line and I won’t get cut off by four locals before I place my order??!
– Wait, there are more soda options than Coke or Fanta?!
– My gosh, the register guy didn’t ask me if I had change or a smaller bill size, he just took my money and gave me back the correct change!!
– *opening my meal*: Oh my gosh, the smell… SO GOOD! And the taste… pure heavenly, quality, white-meat glory!! And there are no bones or weird hidden chicken bits, praise God!
– GOD BLESS AMERICA FOR CHICK-FIL-A
Emily: “Watch out, I’m about to make love to this Chick-fil-A.”
Em and I had a few errands to run and things to buy while in the city so we did a lot of walking… over 9 miles!! We went to the Post Office, Whole Foods, Victoria’s Secret, and Patagonia and walked through a farmer’s market.
Thoughts throughout the day:
– This city is sooooo quiet… I thought everyone said it was hustling and bustling?
– HOW IS EVERYONE IS SO CLEAN?!
– Personal space… I forgot what that was like to have.
– Wait, there are recycling bins?!
– I can talk to people in plain English (and not need a translator)?
– Darn it, I threw out my toilet paper in the bin, AGAIN!
– This produce is so clean and BIG… I want it all… all the nutrients!
– Man, 72 degrees is chilly… (I literally had to go buy a sweatshirt)
We ended the day with a Yankee’s game and a trip to Target… because was it really a trip to America if we didn’t stop in Target?!
– Watching baseball, eating hotdogs, drinking beer, and belting out “God Bless America” …does it get any more American than this?!
– Wow, I don’t remember hot dogs being this big!! American portions are literally out of this world.
– *going into Target* there is something so homey about this place…
– *don’t even cover 10% of the store* alright, I think it’s time to go!!
Overall, our 20 hours in NYC was amazing. I was beaming with an uncontrollable sense of American pride and honestly couldn’t stop smiling the entire day. As much as I have loved traveling over the past 8 months, I am deeply grateful for the land that I get to call home. Sure, our nation is not perfect, it often gets divided by differences, but it is a place I am proud to be from.
If you find it hard to be proud of this country, I suggest you travel. Get out there and see the world God has created for you. Experience what life is like for a child living in extreme poverty. Go visit a nation where the value of a young girl is less than a cow. Try and understand how millions of people around the world live without human rights. Then you’ll hopefully understand that we are extremely blessed to call the United States of America home.
Bleeding red, white, and blue,
Britt
