Back in the US

After 5 years abroad we returned to the US with tears in our eyes. There is a saying in German about one eye smiling and one crying…it fits our mood perfectly. We are smiling, thrilled to be closer to old friends and our family. We are crying thinking about missing our German friends who became our family. We can’t wait to eat Americanized Mexican food, wash and dry our clothes in a little over an hour, and drive on roads wide enough for two Suburbans to pass each other going opposite direction. Every sentence won’t start with “Sprechen Sie Englisch?” but we also won’t feel the pride of holding a real conversation in German. This will be hard and lovely and emotional, for sure.

After we get off the plane, the kids say that they know we are in the US by the smell. Not a good or bad smell, just a familiar smell. The jet lag doesn’t take over until the next day and we are giddy talking about all that happened and how the familiarity of home feels so good.

What’s next for us? We have vague ideas about travelling across the country, seeing sights, meeting friends, and visiting family. The Oregon Trail sounds fun and fits a lot of where we are going. We”ll begin on the plan to spend months on the road, but first, a birthday trip to Florida. I’m celebrating a milestone birthday and I want a pool, to be close to the beach, and a hot tub. Check, check, and check. Oh yea, we have to homeschool as well, so lets watch a rocket launch and search for baby turtles. Sounds awesome!