Ah, it's good to be back stateside! As me and the boys were walking through the Detroit Metro Airport Terminal (trying to complete the near-impossible task of deplaning two tired, but awake children and one sleeping one, going through customs, unloading our baggage, rechecking it, going through security, and walking to the other side of the airport in about 45 minutes before our flight to Virginia boarded), Reid said, "Mom, my heart just leapt with joy when I realized that we are in America." Mine too, son, mine too!
Since being here, we've discovered several more things that have made our hearts leap with joy. While driving down the road the other day Riley said, "Ah, it's so nice to see Taco Bell again." I guess some things you don't know you miss until you see them again! We've made a pact to only eat things that we can't get in China (except for Starbucks), not eat any Asian food, and do all our favorite things here. Here's a list of what we've been indulging in: blueberries and nectarines, real corn on the cob, beef hot dogs in real hot dog buns, Trader Joe's yogurt, frozen waffles, swirled cheese sticks, bagels, ice cream, bread that doesn't mold in three days (though I know the quick-mold bread is better for us!), all-natural deli turkey meat, big slices of colby-jack cheese for our sandwiches, real Dunkin Donuts doughnuts (not the not-really-sweet and mung bean/green tea topped ones they sell at DD in China), Chick-fil-a, Moe's, the movie theater, TARGET!, the beach, the pool, a baseball game, Barnes and Noble, the library, etc., etc.
I asked the boys the other day what their favorite part of being in America was, and they said it was getting to be with their (extended) family - sweet boys. I would have to agree, but would add (1) being able to drive myself anywhere and everywhere I want, (2) seeing the blue sky pretty much every day, not a smoggy one, and actually being able to see the moon and stars at night (Riley kind of freaked out one night when he saw the moon again), (3) not having to try so hard at everything - it's nice to know exactly where I am, where to go, how to get there, and how to communicate to everyone around me, and (4) not being stared at or watched.
A little lower on the list would be things like (a) toilets that actually flush toilet paper and have seats, (b) the ability to drink water from the tap, (c) the DVR, and (d) not having to worry about our nasty China-street shoes. It's funny the things that become important to you! Bottom line is, it's nice to blend in again...it's good to be back in our American home.
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