1) I had a sense that I didn't belong. We went into a restaurant on Day 2 of being back and waited for our food...I just got this weird feeling that I didn't belong. I actually almost started crying---it was really weird. I felt like I didn't belong in America, and I didn't belong in England. I can't really explain the feeling. It has since passed, and I feel like an American again. haha
2) I have been extremely excited to go to the grocery in America again. People are so friendly. I love having conversations with the cashiers or other customers in line. There is just something inviting and comforting to talk to a stranger about random things. You never know when you could make a person's day by being nice to them! I never was really able to do that in England, mostly because the minute they heard my accent they started asking questions about America. Now, this was fine in the beginning...but when you live somewhere for 1.5 years, you're hoping to fit in at that point. That's where my fake British accent came into place. Yep, many of you didn't know this. I would often say "Thank you" , "Cheers", "Have a good day", etc. to people in stores so they wouldn't know I was American. Hints, they stopped asking me those questions...
My first outing at the grocery in America. It was the small one downtown, so it wasn't as intimidating. But loved getting some of our favorite foods!
3) Laundry. AHHHHH! If you are a loyal follower, you know how excited I was to be able to do ALL my laundry in one day (wash, dry, fold, & put away). I do not need to go on as this was a happy EXPECTED adjustment.
Small but mighty. Still bigger than our UK one, and does SO much better. In two weeks...I'll have an even bigger one. AHH!
4) Interesting enough, the food in America bothered our stomachs at first. I had a really difficult time eating out, and not coming home with an achy belly. I think food in England is just so much cleaner and lacking the extra hormones/chemicals/whatever you call it---was just better for you. Who knows the logic here, or if I am all wrong in my thinking? It is the only thing the other American wives and I can come up with!
5) Being available all the time. This one was definitely unexpected, but the feeling of being overwhelmed with the amount of texts, calls, etc. In England, my phone conversations were done via Skype and done once a week with a friend/family member. I have absolutely LOVED talking with friends over text and phone conversations, but at times it can become overwhelming given I was not used to that for our time abroad. I'm not sure I can explain myself on this one, as it is a GREAT thing to have my American phone back to communicate easier...it was just a bit much at times. I'm still getting used to it!
6*) This is a bonus one, as it was just a funny unusual experience. We were at church, and a new [British] pastor was speaking, sharing the announcements for the congregation. I didn't immediately recognize that he was British, and just was listening to the announcements. He said "Indianapolis", and I immediately freaked out thinking, "Oh my goodness, he is speaking about Indianapolis...I live there! No one ever knows where that is over here!" Then I felt completely dumb, realizing HE was British in America...and not ME being American in England. I then realized that I was not recognizing he had an accent at all, which was an odd feeling. Hope you followed that---it is past 11:00 a night, and I'm getting a little loopy in my storytelling. I promised to finish the blog, and by golly that's what I'm going to do!
Overall, Jeff and I are so extremely happy to be back in the states. We have appreciated our time abroad, but there is no place like home.
On to the next adventures...
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