First Trip Back to US
Five Beds, No Waiting, or, Would You Like to Get on a Plane
In the space between November 1 and November 19, Billy and I slept in 5 different beds (technically 6 for him) and traveled through six airports (and one of them twice). We have slept in:
- Our home in Arnhem
Ready to get on the next plane! Two of these are 100% boardgames, with more in the other two. 😀
- Our home in Denver (and then hotel in Atlanta for Billy)
- Friends’ house in Dallas, Texas
- Convention hotel in Dallas, Texas
- Billy’s parents house in Michigan
It’s been a whirlwind tour. We’re back in Denver now and it’s time for a recap!
Six weeks ago (has it really been that long?) I posted about our upcoming trip to the US, and that it was going to be our first trip back. I posed a number of questions and thoughts, so I figure it’s time to come back and look at those.
Are you happy to be back?
I’m one of those people who take my happiness with me, so I’m generally happy wherever I go, but I know that’s not the heart of the question here.
In the US some things are familiar: I know where to buy Harry Potter and Lt. Uhura pajamas, I can indulge in lots of sugary and fatty foods that are maybe harder to find there or cost more (like ice cream and Halloween candy), and I’ve gotten to visit my favorite Pho and Thai restaurants. I mean, I’m writing this while eating chips from a giant bag and dipping them in onion chip dip.
My body is not happy with the food I’ve been eating.
I know where to buy ointment if I get a cut. I still have health insurance here (using it is a different matter). I can use the subtle and nuanced words of my native tongue.
But I’ve noticed other things too.
When we first arrived, it was like I was seeing things I knew, but they were slightly askew. The world here is just a little bit different than it is in my memory. I think this is normal for people who have lived somewhere, moved away for a while and then return. You start to notice things that you brushed over before, and your new habits may conflict with your old life.
I expected this, so I’ve been watching for it. I think the one that stands out the most is clutter. Our Dutch house is really tidy. Partly because we don’t have much stuff and partly because we are making an effort to keep it tidy each day. Our US house, well… Let’s just say that there are a lot of people and there’s a lot of stuff. No flat surface is clear.
When we first arrived, it was making me edgy and anxious. I seem to have settled in a bit, but I’m still uncomfortable around it all. (And note that a decent portion of it is mine.)
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Another thing I’ve noticed is that the fruits and vegetables in the US are all uniform, looking the same in color and shape, with no blemishes. In the Netherlands, it’s more varied, like you find in a garden. I was surprised on eating the same fruits and veggies in the US as I had in the Netherlands and noticing that they were lacking in flavor. No wonder we eat so much junk food and use so many seasonings; we’re looking for taste!
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Our current political environment in the US has people very polarized (a very Us vs. Them feeling). I think resolving conflict requires the ability to see the other side’s point of view and people are really struggling with that right now. Whether it’s true or not, the likelihood of there being a physical conflict (between people) feels higher.
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We were walking home from a bus stop in the US yesterday and I compared the distance to walk home from the stop in Arnhem. I thought they might be comparable but the US one was definitely longer. We checked maps; the distance from nearest stop to home is 2.5 times longer in the US. (And we chose the US house partially because of how close it is to the bus stops!)
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Being in the US has reinforced that I like a lot of things about the Netherlands. We like not owning a car, we like living where walking and bicycling are encouraged, and we are enjoying eating healthy, fresh foods. We like our small fridge, and walking or bicycling to the store every few days.
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My 7 year old niece did my hair. Isn’t it gorgeous? 😀
What I have missed most are my friends and family and the years of history we have together. I know that I will get to that point with our Dutch friends as well. Right now, I wish I could pick up all of “my people” in the US and take them to Europe with me. 🙂
I think overall this trip has solidified for me my desire to be a citizen of the world, not just seeing things from one side, but enjoying the richness of many different cultures. My mind and my body are looking forward to getting back to our new home.
