Last American Update

before heading to France! New York is dirty and teeming with life as always and Melissa and Sean are my halfway home to home. Life is good. After a particularly trying summer (in terms of family, financial resources, and distance covered) I'm ready to go back to Rouen. "Ready" here meaning I've been mentally preparing myself for the last few weeks and it's finally taken. I'm ready! (I think I can I think I can) I have protein powder! New sports bras! New shoes and inexpensive American fashion (don't wanna get confused with my students again) and reinforced friendships and relationships that will hopefully allow me to never fully feel cut off from my Home. Also there are several hopefuls interested in coming to visit this year so maybe I won't have to miss certain individuals for long. I love France and I love my life there but there's of course, so many ingrained American habits and cultural aspects I can't get enough of. Then again there's a lot of irritating parts of both countries and cultures. At the end of my 2 year contract in June 2013, I will have to make a choice. Much like the American and the French people will/have done already in their respective presidential elections this year, a choice will be made between the lesser of two evils. Sacré bleu cheese!

Consistent.

I just checked my blog dates and found that I did the exact same thing last year, where I posted in April and then was so busy the next post I eaked out was in August. Just like 2012. Consistent.

Lazy

August 2012. August??! Where has the time gone! I've been pretty busy since April 1st, my last post, finishing my first school year as an English professor (lectrice) and then preparing and departing for the United States. I spent a few days in New York with my bff Melissa and then returned to home home, the great golden state of California. It's been about 6 weeks since I got back and I have about 2 weeks to go until the end of my American summer vacation. I returned home to experience for the first time ever, Reverse Culture Shock. Reverse Culture Shock is characterized by 'fish out of water' feelings that you normally experience when you go to a country with different habits than your own, but in your own country. After spending a 2nd year abroad in France, I returned to the United State totally BLOWN AWAY by the size of things. Trucks, 4 x 4s, washing machines, refrigerators, drinking glasses, burgers, houses, beds. I also apparently lost my personal bubble while abroad (although I am painfully aware of how nonexistent personal space is in France, in the supermarket in particular) as I had to remind myself to remain more than 6 inches behind the person in front of me in whatever line, instead of my habituated instinct of 2 inches. What, you need ID?? Why did not everyone acknowledge my presence at the bbq with a kiss hello?? Am I being shunned? Why are there so many tvs in one bar?? What is the Grimm series and why is cheese so expensive??? HOLY CRAP I CAN DO TWO NORMAL LOADS IN THIS THING! I love it and even while I was completely bewildered at times I was conscious of much I missed everything about my country and my home. P-baby is also with me for the summer, having bought a ticket under the lure of probable job prospects. This turned out to be true but only for one day, the imminent day before his departure from LAX. Timing. It's everything. It's been wonderful together and allowed us to experience more of my world together, which has included some stressful family moments. So it's been good but somewhat difficult, more so due to the language barrier for him and some of my family members, but as well comforting for me to have him around during tense moments. Update.