America's Pasttime

Yesterday for Grace's birthday we went to the Brewer's game with Grace's godfather, our Uncle Potter, and his fiancee, which was the perfect reintroduction to the United States. What says USA like a night at the baseball field (except maybe watching fireworks next to the Statue of Liberty while eating apple pie in an American flag shirt)? It was all the great things about America rolled into one, like hotdogs, the national anthem and comraderie. Of course, the things that I was most excited about was the large fountain drinks (in Europe you usually just get a small bottle of Coke for the same price). Once I go somewhere with free refills I will be in heaven.

Many times when I was about to talk at Miller Park I thought "Now they are going to know I'm American because of my dialect," but then I remembered that in the US most people talk like I do! No more feeling like a foreigner. Another thing that is going to take some getting used to in my American cell phone. The other day I couldn't figure out how to charge after more time not using my new phone than using it.

And the Brewer's beat the Mets. It was a good day at the ol' ballpark.

Home

After 4.5 months of living the dream in Europe I have finally arrived back in the great city of Chicago and am writing this entry from my very own chair in my very own family room in my very own house.

Grace and I got on the plane at Charles de Galle after almost failing to get a taxi and checking in our bags that were thankfully underweight, but more on that in later entries. After the eight hour flight we arrived at O'Hare Int'l Airport at 2:30 local time. We went through passport check, as well as customs, and they saw nothing suspicious and let us in the country. We then went out to the waiting area only to be greeted by our parents and Aunt Pat (from Maui) waving American flags, and I was happy to see the good old red, white, and blue waving in the air of the land of the free and the home of the brave.

We arrived at home and as soon as we got in the door we turned around to realize that Freddy, the small child from next door, was also inside. Apparently my family has adopted other children since I've been gone (or at least let them play with the pets), but Freddy was cute enough and likes hanging out with my dad so I was glad to have another scapegoat to blame things on in the house ("Freddy must left those red stilettos in the middle of the floor"). For dinner we had a lot of Grace and my favorites and for dessert my aunt brought some pastries from Maui.

Naturally I had to show my family all the great souvenirs that I had accumulated throughout the past four months and did not wait long to do so. I also got a surprise when I went into my room and found that my mother had cleaned it while I was gone. What a wonderful (and somewhat needed) surprise!

While at home I also had the pleasure of bathing in a bathtub, and opening my dresser which reminded me that I have more clothing than the two suitcases full I brought with me to Europe (it's almost like I have amnesia).

I'm glad to be back and will be working on updating the blog with all my adventures. I know you're all panting with anticipation.