Home - 1 Week

I made it home exactly a week ago.  I think I'll keep the blog going because it serves as a journal and in some ways an outlet to my family and friends in other parts of the world.  

Being home has probably been more positive than negative but it has had it's uncomfortable"ness".  Prior to coming back I had read and talked with a lot of people about re-entry into your home country and kind of what to expect.  And so I think it has been smooth.  

I was very nervous to do 3 things.  Get off the plane and walk to my family in the airport.  Go to the YMCA where I used to "live".  And go to church and see my extended family. All went fine.

I have noticed some things about Boise and my home that I never had before.  First,  the mountain range behind Boise called the foothills is very pretty.  The weather here is HOT, hotter than any place I'd been in Spain.  We use a lot of resources that we don't need.  Our cars our bigger and use more gas, only one person is riding in the car or pickup.  Our toilet bowls have more water in the basin, in Europe there was less, saving more water.  At the Fox family there is no wonder that sometimes we worry about our weight, there is food everywhere and always available, cookies on the table at all times.  ( i did add to that btw :) )  Electricity; there is AC in the house, lights left on, dryer, dishwasher being run 3 times per day.  Along with the water comment I even noticed that sprinklers near the road don't hit there intended grass and flower targets completely and that they are wasting water by formulating big pools of water on the sidewalk from missing, just a lot of things I have been realizing that I never bothered to think about before.  I thought life was similar everywhere you went.  Apparently it is not.  If I were to become a guy in the business to have to cut and find ways of saving money, I would enjoy that. ;)

Americans.  I have some criticisms and praises of my fellow countrymen.  But the first thing I noticed about being home was just how nice and friendly Americans can be.  For the past 9 months I was not used to getting "excuse me", "sorry" or friendly eye contact.  I also wasn't used to small talk, and so still here in Boise I will be "split-second" wondering, why a store employee or cashier is asking me "so what are you going to do today?, etc". To Europeans and they told me on numerous occasions, "Americans are nice but they are fake, they act like your friend but really aren't that good of friends after"   Well there is some truth to that, we come off superficial in some areas, but it is our style of communication to chat and make "small-talk" just as it is for Europeans not do that and be more direct.  It is culture.  I find both ways to have strengths and weaknesses. ..so political. :)

It is nice to be back in a country where I speak the language.  Not just English.  But the slang, some of these words have come up (dope, yoked, tight, feel?) and then just being able to speak at any rate I like and knowing, if spoken loud enough, will be comprehended.  I have also enjoyed the abundance of food as mentioned in the above paragraph, I don't have to go to the grocery store right now or think about what I have to buy for tomorrow, etc.  

My impression from Americans at home before was that Europeans are sex crazed.  I don't have that view anymore and I think that Americans are more promiscuous and have much more modesty issues than their European counterparts.  I see many 12 year old's wearing "spandex booty shorts", on average more woman showing cleavage, and when I see Television Ad's or posters it's more in your face. I would never see the amount in Euro. as I see here of little girls and woman wearing revealing clothing.  It's just interesting to see it for what it is now that I have 4 countries to solidly compare with life here in the U.S.

Now my plan is to find a job this summer, an apartment, and continue developing.  I feel much better about my life now than I had before and I would like to as my friend Robin in Germany told me," take what you've learned here, that energy and keep it going".  I have been so far and it's worked out much better.  You have to treat and respect your family like you do people and they will give much more back than if you treat them like "family" and think you can say and do whatever you want without consequences.  Be nice.

'til next time