Hello!
I made it back to the States. For those of you who don't know, I came home for Christmas. I will be here about a month. So, here are a few first impressions - jet-lag fog and all.
Driving - what do I do with my left foot? There is no clutch. My windowshield has no dust on it. The wipers have gone several times when I meant to do the turn signal. RIGHT! Stay in the right lane - my mind thinks it is wrong, but it is amazing how annoyed other people get :). No, I have only been on the wrong side when there hasn't been other traffic around to give me clues - only my parents in the car with me get annoyed. People drive fast! I must be getting old as I drive slow - of course being jet-lagged probably has something to do with that. Give me a few days and I'll be back to normal.
Restaurants - Americans are noisy! Almost every restaurant I have been to has had loud music and lots of loud people. Chik-fil-a still has delicious Chicken biscuits, but now they take your name and you go sit down and wait for them to bring your food. I still have to read the menus to see what is on offer and people behind the counter get annoyed that I don't know what I want before I come in. So, I guess we are impatient too.
Shopping - I haven't tackled that one much. I did go to get a few toiletries at Target, but I have avoided malls and such. Maybe next week.
I head out with my parents tomorrow to meet some Pottengers that we don't know - yet. It should be fun trying to figure out how we are related. We got connected through facebook and a college friend. After that, we have lunch with the Mangels and then start our driving trip to Indianapolis. I will be seeing some folks in Blue Springs, MO who came to visit me in Turkana in 2009. It should be a fun evening. Then on to Indy to see family and another party with friends and supporters. I am looking forward to seeing everyone!
I guess that is all for now. I hope you are enjoying the season and have a chance to reflect on Christ's Advent in the past, the present and the future! Be blessed in this season of our Lord!
Tell your parents hi for me - such sweet people!
ReplyDeleteOh, and, feel free to eat a soft pretzel for me if you get the chance :)
Thanks Angie! They said hello back. I will see what I can do on the pretzel. You like it with mustard or just plain with salt? :)
ReplyDeleteYeah! With mustard - oh yum!
ReplyDeleteI will get right on that :).
ReplyDeleteHave a great time back in the US Lynn!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a pretzel fan.... but chicken... oh yeah. Never been to a Chick-fil-a but it's been recommended to me. Perhaps if they open a franchise in the UK.
Thanks Tim! I am enjoying my time thus far. Chick-fil-a is a very nice franchise here and the chicken biscuits (scones to you I think) and sandwiches are very good! If I thought I could, I would try to ship you one, but I don't think that would work very well :).
ReplyDeleteSending fresh food to other countries doesn't work at all well Lynn..... I've looked into it. You have to get "Inventive". :-)
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoyed meeting the new Pottingers.
Tim.
Okay, so I'm a little late checking in. I know you're having a great time with family and the end is coming all too quickly. Reading your blog reminded me of coming back after being in Ethiopia for two weeks a year ago. I remember getting frustrated with people very easily and not really knowing why. Maybe it was having so much, but wanting more; getting so impatient in a drive-through society; insensitivity, etc. I don't know what all the reasons were, but I'm sure you go through culture shock everytime you come back. Look forward to reading more of your blogs. Blessings, Donna
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