Whirlwind

 Re-posted from May 6, 2010

wooooo it's been quite a whirlwind since we got back to texas almost two weeks ago! there's so much i want to write about but there's still SO MUCH else i have to do! i'll try to at least write some today. might be easier if i do it in list form...

reverse culture shock so far:

-everything is huge!

-we have to drive pretty much everywhere

-everything is far apart

-walmart is evil but oh so cheap! i just can't resist! :o/

-it's super windy! don't remember it being that windy...maybe because we're on the plains and there aren't tons of big buildings to block the wind?

-it's already getting REALLY hot!!! oh nos!

-you have to have a driver's license and car insurance and inspection tags and registration tags and you have to get gas and aaalll that mess! lol

-i've been overwhelmed by selection at nearly every store.

-i almost didn't remember how to check out groceries here lol it's not that different but enough to get me a bit frazzled. the belt automatically pushes your stuff to the end, there's a store card for nearly every store and they always ask you for it, you do the debit card machine yourself, someone else bags your groceries, they'll put it in plastic automatically unless you tell them not to and they don't move on to the next person until you leave! lol

here's a more positive one: 

-people are really nice! they ALWAYS say sorry even if they don't really need to. even if they just have to walk somewhat near you to get by!

-and it's nice to be able to understand what the salespeople are saying- things like how can i help you, have a wonderful day, etc. and i can actually ask them to help me find something and understand what they are saying! that's really nice :o)

other things i'm loving!:

-i have a little house! (no apt. neighbors!)

-i have a little porch! (we've been eating a lot of meals out there and it's sooo nice!)

-we share a HUMONGOUS yard with my parents- tons of trees, plants, grass and flowers. everything is SO green right now! and the dogs LOOOOOVE running around in it all day long. can't wait to start a garden!

-we have a spacious living room/kitchen so it'll be easy to have parties.

-the kitchen is so much nicer than any kitchen we ever had in korea- more counter space, more drawers, 4 burners! a regular oven! aaahhh it's heaven! :o)

-our bed is like sleeping on a cloud compared to a korean bed!

-we have a huge walk-in closet! no more packing stuff away in suitcases for a season lol

-we have a washer AND a dryer!

-the bathtub is huge compared to our korean one and the water gets hot within a few seconds. no more turning the hot water off and on and waiting on it and not being able to have one person showering and one person doing dishes at the same time lol

-i like having a car even though i do wish i had other options too.

-ALL THE WONDERFUL FOOD OPTIONS! you can get pretty much anything here!! it's so great! same goes for drinks and alcohol!

-the sunny warm weather!

-the shopping options

and the list goes on!

things i've gotten done:

-went through all my grammie's stuff out at "the bungalow" (our house) and boxed up what we can't use.

-unpacked our suitcases and lots of boxes we had in storage.

-found lots of wedding presents we hadn't been able to use since our wedding!

-put stuff away and now our house is more livable :o)

-ordered a driver's license and debit card.

-got a computer, phones, food, misc.

still need to:

-go through a TON more stuff out at my parent's house

-have two or more huge garage sales

-do yoga

-change our weon!! (still haven't done that! lol)

-start a garden

-get dogs' tags

etc.etc.etc.!

hopefully it won't be too long before i write again! :o)