It took about a week to readjust to the luxuries of living in the U.S. The first week home I made a few notes of all the funny little oddities that we experienced.
Night One: We arrive at the hotel around 1am. I question Steve on where the bottled water is not realizing that I can start using tap water again.
Day 1: Thanks to jet lag Mavis and I woke up at 5am and promptly got into our car without having to call, wait for, or unnecessairly solicit our driver prior to his 8am start time. I turned on the car and the radio station was in English. It was a song I recognized (Katy Perry's Firework). I drove to a store that opened before China's standard 9am start time (Wal-Mart) and cried as I first passed an aisle of nothing but cereal and then an aisle of hundreds of options of canned soups. I dont even like canned soup. I had a conversation with the cashier that didnt involve me looking confused or doing any scharades to indicate I needed a bag (in China you have to buy your bags).
Day 2: I catch Steve using water from his cup to wet his toothbrush.
Day 3:
* Mavis eats waffles for the first time.
* I notice that even after walking outside barefoot for several hours that my feet are barely dirty.
* Mavis plays on the playground at a park and looks as clean afterwards as she did before she started.
Day 4:
* Mavis notices ice cubes in Nana's glass and immediately reaches in, grabs one, and puts it on her forehead, not understanding that here people use ice cubes for more than just bumps and bruises.
* Mavis calls my parent's fireplace a fish tank and then the backyard a "park".
Day 5:
* Mavis gets scared by the sound of the garage door opening and the lawn mower.
* I correct my mom and tell her not to put ice in Mavis' drink, I don't want her getting used to having cold water...
Day 6: I feel guilty opening a pre-packaged ham at my parent's house because I would be eating their "good food". The reality that access to a grocery store full of everything I can imagine still hasn't sunk in and the mentality that all imported food is limited in quantity and very expensive is still in full affect.
And then just like magic it all seemed normal again, like we'd never left. Now it seems odd to go back to China.
Oh how quickly five weeks went by...
 |
| At the John Deere Pavilion with Grandma Duke. This started a love affair with tractors, well all motor vehicles really. |
 |
| Feeding the ducks with Nana at VanderVeer Park |
 |
| Tea party anyone? |
 |
| Aunt Shanny and James were the perfect hosts... |
 |
| Caution, she takes her bubble guns very seriously. |
 |
| Bike time with cousin Dylan and Grandma and Grandpa Duke's house. Gotta love backyards, bikes and pools in the same place! |
 |
| Love at first sight. Hudson couldn't get enough of his older cousin. And she loved the attention but hated the sharing... |
 |
| Tiny dancers |
 |
| Pool time with the Boyds |
 |
| Zoo time choo-choo style! |
 |
| A very intense bubble gun lesson from our older friend Lauren Johns. |
 |
| Oh how we missed lil' Teagan Zirbel! |
And I can't go without mentioning our trip to Colorado for Steve's college friend's wedding. Great friends, great times. One of the best vacations in history.
 |
| Hiking in Estes Park. No stroller! Woot, woot! |
 |
| Magician working his magic.... |
 |
| He was very good. I ended up with this tatoo on my arm that documented a card trick. How does one get something like that on their arm without knowing it? Interesting indeed. |
 |
| Front row seats at the Burlesque show. Bold move boys, bold move. |
 |
| Steve enjoying some time on stage. |
 |
| Last photo on our U.S. tour, capturing one of my and Maeve's favorite pastimes this summer, laying in the grass looking up at blue skies and perfect clouds. Home sweet home. |
It was the perfect trip. Thanks for making "home" even more wonderful than I had remembered!
