Damp Mild American Summer

Hello! Some of you have been asking what my impressions of America are since I’ve been back, so I thought I’d give you a little update as to what’s been on my mindbrainbutt since I’ve been home and what some of my general observations/feelings have been on what I’ve seen.

First of all, let’s talk about this girl:

What is everyone's deal with her? I don't know about you guys but when I see these pictures the first words that come to mind are “CLASS” and “ROLE MODEL.”

Second of all and more importantly: what is up with greek yogurt and kale? They are NOT THAT GOOD YOU GUYS. Kale tastes like grass and greek yogurt tastes like sour cream mixed with margarine. Just sayin'. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go make myself a greek yogurt coffee and kale pancakes. (These cannot be be real. Tell me these things aren't real).

Also... Smartphones. I tried to talk to my mom the other day about this really bothersome golf ball sized growth I have under my armpit? She shooed me away and told me to come back later when she wasn’t playing Candy Crush. Sigh.

Anyway, I can tell you that I have reveled in not being forced to get up at 5:35 AM every day to run for fear of melting in the past 8 AM heat. Eating cereal with cold milk at 10 in the morning, having water with ice in it, going to the grocery store at midnight for an emergency cookie run… These are all luxuries I have missed dearly and can say in all confidence that I have welcomed back with open arms, at least for the time being.

I have also greatly enjoyed seeing my family and friends, despite the occasional fantasy of strangling them and/or buying a one-way ticket to Iceland leaving in the middle of the night.

As for summer travel: I will have covered about ¾ of the U.S. by the end of the summer geographically-speaking, having been to TX to visit my maternal grandparents, AR to visit my paternal ones, gone up to MN to shove Sarah out the car door to go to college (wheels screeching as my mom and I lifted up our shirts screaming "SPRING BREAK!!" and drove over the horizon), and to AZ here in a couple of weeks to meet Garrett's family. Being adored is exhausting, you guys.

Here are some of the highlights from my travels: 

It is a requirement of living in TX that you take a picture like this at some point, so grandma- you're now covered.

I ate it all. Along with two diet pepsis. Impressed?

Proof

Discovered this in my grandparents' home. It explains a lot.

I hung out with this lovely human.

And cooked lots of yummy things with her. #notpaleo #notcleaneating #nogreekyogurt #kalefree #longhairdontcare

nom

My family moved out of its current home and into a new one across town.

We made sure to pack the essentials

I found these old pictures

Come on, mom. We both know I am too cool for you to take this picture, now let's get me to kindergarten.

 #matchingswimsuits #notcool

We had this lovely dinner for my dad's birthday in AR.

And then this happened.

And this. I love you grandma but I will never again tell you when my feet are cold.

My mom and I kept it classy, as always. #bathroompictures #GeorgeCostanza #notclassy

Sarah and I got to play.

#naturalbeauty #nofilter

I took this beautiful selfie outside of Joe's Crab Shack in Des Moines

And this one when Garrett asked me to send him a picture of myself before I went to sleep.

WHEW. Are you still with me? I won't blame you if you've left already, but if you're still here, WAYTOGO and YOU ARE THE TRULY DEDICATED. So, for those of you who may be wondering, Well, what is next for this polite young lady?: you would be right to wonder this as I haven’t told you. Get this: prison. Just kidding, you guys! Grad school! I am moving to Portland, OR to start my MA in teaching English to speakers of other languages (or “TESOL” as we in the field like to call it) at Portland State. How does she expect to jump into a grad degree after napping in a hammock for the past two years? you may be asking yourselves. And you would be right to ask it, as I haven’t told you this either. This, you guys:

Because if this face isn't incentive enough to get out of the apartment and go hide myself in a library cubicle, I don't know what is.

That's right: somehow I managed to convince Garrett to come to Portland with me, where he'll be continuing to work on his pre-requisites for nursing and whip me into grad school shape by turning the heater on full blast in the summer and force feeding me white rice all day every day.

As the truth will have it, we figured out that we kind of like each other while we were in Cambodia and figured the mere fact we didn't claw each other to bits while we were there shouldn't be ignored. Why not see how we work in the land of plenty? 

I’m afraid that may be all I have to say for now, folks. I will be sure to keep you updated as things unfold for Garrett and me in Portland, and I will try to stay honest on this blog. I apologize in advance if some of my observations offend you (kale sucks. Sorry but it's true. I will try to find ways to choke it down because "antioxidents" and "cancer prevention" and whatever but I just hate it), but I hope you’ll stay with me on this journey and continue to give me your feedback as you read of my readjustment/future ‘Merica travels/grad school endeavours, etc. Sending you much love from the Manhattan, KS library (prime place for people watching…). :)

xo

Leah