Back in the USA

It's been nearly 1000 hours since my last post on this blog. In celebration I will finally write an entry. Of course, I have an excellent excuse in the travelling that we've done in the last month. In case you don't know, we're on vacation in the US. As we've been gone 2 years, this is twice as long as the longest time we've ever been out of the country. Lots of people ask us about reverse culture shock, and I can't really say that I would call it shock. Maybe it's more culture surprise. So here are some of the things that have surprised me.

1. Rudeness: As we came in through immigration at LAX, we cringed to think that this was the first impression many people have of America. Throughout the airport people were cranky, complaining, unaccomodating, loud and stressed. I suppose it's not much worse than LAX has always been, but coming from Thailand, where one of the highest values is a quiet and polite manner, it was jarring. We were glad to arrive in the midwest where several people smiled at us for no reason.
2. Forgetfulness: We've only been away 2 years, but Gabe remembers almost nothing from America. Dishwasher and garage were new vocabulary words for him. This I expected, but I didn't expect my own forgetfulness. As we landed at O'Hare, I went to call my parents to let them know where we were. As I picked up the phone, I realized that I didn't remember how to dial a phone number in the US anymore. It was a strange feeling. After a minute I figured it out, but I've had similar experiences since then. I couldn't remember how to use the debit machines at the grocery store, I frequently find myself searching for words I used to use frequently, I can't remember names of streets in towns I lived in for years, I can't remember whether it's acceptable to wear a bathing suit in public (away from the beach) or not, I can't remember whether the cultural norms that I now practice are for America or Thailand. On the flipside, sometimes I find myself remembering things that didn't happen. We spent a week at my parents' in a somewhat rural community outside Chicago. As we hung around Big Rock and Hinckley I found myself getting nostalgic for the small town life of my childhood. Unfortunately, it's a complete fabrication. I spent my entire childhood in a large suburb much closer to Chicago than Big Rock. How does that happen? Maybe I've been watching too much "Andy Griffith Show."
3. Choice: For everything I could possibly want to buy, I have more choice than I can handle. I spend ages looking at the choices and as often as not, leave without picking anything because I don't know how to choose after years of having no choice in many things.
4. Never sweating
5. Gary, IN can be a nice vacation
6. Beauty: I can't get over the pleasures of the midwest: The pleasure of being outside in the early morning chill, walking on green, green grass in the afternoon under the sun and not feeling too hot because a cool breeze is rustling the trees, cornfields sparkling with thousands of fireflies at dusk, laying on a blanket and being dazzled by fireworks, the clear waters of Lake Michigan and ripples of sand underneath, mounds of cherries, blueberries and raspberries at the farmer's market, concerts in the park with families in lawn chairs. These are just a few of the things that fill me with joy.
7. What we know and don't know: Why is it that we know about "Lost", but we don't know about Sudoku? "Lost" certainly gets no publicity in Thailand.
8. Stress: When we're in the US, whether for our 2 year furlough or a month long vacation, our lives our full to the max. We rush around and feel perpetually busy. I don't know if that's the experience of everyone in the US, but I look forward to not being quite so stressed in Thailand.