Back on US Soil

So I made it!! Around the world going east to west! I landed safely in LA, California and made my way via Amtrak to Anne and Zach's in San Diego. It feels really great to be back 'home', better than I was expecting. The greatest part I found is being able to walk up to anyone and know they will speak English. As a tourist you know that not everyone will speak English, but to a small degree you sort of expect those associated with tourism will. Usually this is the case, hotels and travel agents usually speak passable English which is GREAT. However, sometimes you are in a restaurant or on a bus and you need something answered and no one speaks English, and you ashamedly do not speak the local language, so you rely on gestures and pointing. That is part of the experience I suppose and it is terribly arrogant to believe or expect that those people should know English. So I can't say I'm upset when they don't, more that I got frustrated that I couldn't communicate effectively. I went an entire day without eating because I couldn't be sure that the food didn't have beef or pork in it when I was traveling. Thank goodness Coke is sold everywhere and has calories, because that was all I consumed that day - not the best day of my trip that's for sure.

So now I'm back home. The customs agents even welcomed me that way, once with a "welcome back" and then later with a "welcome home." I must admit it felt great and wonderful. So I'm attempting to readjust to US time, which usually isn't too hard for me. However, this might be a bit more difficult than previous times because I was traveling for over 27 hours (really closure to about 33 with the taxi to the airport and then the train to San Diego) so I slept for over 12 hours last night. I didn't wake up until 1:30 pm today. So I need to adjust and catch up on sleep which seems to be hard to do because I'm not sure I'll be sleeping again until much later tonight - we'll see though, I'm trying my best!

After a few days here with my Big I'm heading back to CO for the whirlwind of moving to Chicago. In about 10 days I'll be enjoying the wonderful view from my new home near the Belmont Station in Lakeview. I'm not sure but the view might be of the building next door - but I'm going to love it! So much change is going on right now in life which is both wonderful and overwhelming. I'll feel like I can manage everything when life settles down a bit - after Rachael and Michael's wedding of course! Thought that wedding will be great fun to see everyone :)

Until I get to the real home (Denver? Chicago?) I'm still traveling, only now on US time - maybe soon... hahaha