Everyone on our squad is starting to write their reflecting-on-the-year blogs. Many of them are sentimental, full of newly-discovered wisdom and incredible stories of growth. Some of them share the most impactful moments on the race. Some share the emotional struggles with adjusting to life back at home. Most of them have a tone of wistfulness for the times that have just passed, and many have a sense of solemn reverence for the precious months that we spent abroad.
This is not one of those blogs.
Things that are exciting/weird about being in America
- We heard an American accent on the airport PA system. Oh sweet blissful relief.
- I understand every word of every conversation around me. Consequently, I have to remember that every word of every conversation that I have can be understood by everyone around me. This makes comments like, “Oh, that little old lady is so cute!” or, “I want to put that puppy in my bag and run away with it immediately” much more awkward when uttered at a normal conversational volume and in earshot.
- At the airport in LA, I needed a water bottle. I went to a convenience shop. There were about 13 different options for water. All of them were between $2.50 and $5. Thank you, corporate America. I missed you too.
- I have refilled that water bottle at least six times with TAP WATER.
- Blueberries, cherries, grapes, and strawberries are all in season. These fruits do not exist anywhere else in the world. (Except for strawberries, but the ones in Africa were pretty awful. Israeli strawberries are awesome.)
- Being able to pet dogs and cats with no worries of fleas, ticks, or other as-yet-undiscovered bugs is the greatest thing ever.
- TWO-PLY TOILET PAPER. And I can flush it.
- We went to a cowboy store in Santa Barbara yesterday. That store exists.
- At said cowboy store, David asked the woman at the counter if they carried hats in large sizes like this: “Do-you-have-haaats (insert hand motions for hat) for-big (hand gesture for big) heads?” She said no.
- I can walk outside without immediately drenching my back in sweat. This is a delightful sensation.
- I have my cell phone with me from the few days I spent in NYC before the Race. Remembering to carry it with me is challenging. Using it is equally challenging. Don’t even get me started on how hard texting is.
- Coffee shops play coffee shop music, like the Beatles, instead of raging techno remixes of Lady Gaga or Snoop Dogg.
- Chai tea. It exists. And it’s delicious. And the serving size is huge.
- Joe’s parents took us to In-N-Out Burger for lunch the day we landed. All sodas came with free refills. Free. As in you don’t have to pay for them.
- Also in the don’t-have-to-pay-for-it-anymore column: public restrooms. I don’t have to shell out 10 cents to a dollar for my bladder to empty itself.
- Also at In-N-Out, when I ordered, the person at the counter understood everything I said the first time I said it. My overenunciation of “Number 3?” was completely unnecessary.
Gosh, I love lists.
