Aaah. The South!! - Post Europe Blog

I have officially been home for a week now! And it is the strangest feeling - now that I am home, I feel like I never left. It is as if the last month and a half was all a dream, and I only have the memories, pictures, and a few extra pounds to prove that I ever left the country.

I won't lie, I thought I was going to cry on the bus from Bristol to London last Monday. I was not ready to leave my dream world, not ready to return to reality. The morning of my departure, I didn't have time to fret: I woke up at six and my plane left at nine; thank goodness for airport hotels! As soon as I set foot on the plane, I heard the flight attendant's sweet southern drawl and started to get excited. Funny how thoughts of hamburgers and fried chicken didn't excite me, but something as small as an accent pulled my heartstrings and made me miss home. My Europe trip was great, amazing, wonderful, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But it was time to go home.

During the ten hour flight, I watched The Hurt Locker and Dear John, made friends with an 87 year old lady, and read two London newspapers - how productive! As soon as we landed, I realized I could a simple device that had become a luxury to me - my cell phone. I could actually use my cell phone to call friends, check email, look at Facebook! Wow! I was in Georgia - the South - with tons of Southerners! Everyone spoke English, and without a funny accent! No one cared if I said k(r)wäˈsän  or k(r)wäˈsänt (for the word croissant)! I couldn't believe my eyes or ears!

The novelty of the United States amazed me the entire time I was in Atlanta. I am sure I looked a little bit crazy; I was like a child in a candy shop: amazed by the smallest things. I called some friends and actually giggled when I heard voicemail recordings. I kept forgetting to walk on the right side (instead of the left like in England) and would laugh at myself. I drank lots of coffee - hah, surprise! 

When I finally arrived in Gulfport, I had been awake and traveling for over sixteen hours. Needless to say, the novelty had worn off - I was ready to be home. My sweet sister picked me up at the airport and brought me home to my parents. I immediately began unpacking and doing laundry. I was finally home! It was time for real life.

Since last Tuesday, I have had the chance to visit with my grandparents and immediate family. Chelsea drove down from Starkville to visit, and we spent the weekend together: Sex and the City, shopping, picking blueberries - perfectly American. Unfortunately, I have developed a bit of a cold or virus or infection. It began on Thursday, was most violent yesterday, and is still lingering today. Hopefully tomorrow will bring more strength and less coughing, headaches, and weakness. The to-do list of my "real life" is quite long! I must get well so that items can be checked off soon, soon, soon!

This week I hope to unpack everything that I meticulously packed at my Starkville apartment in December. My company offers a moving service (whew!), but they must pack every box themselves to ensure no broken items. While this will be a huge job, it will allow (or rather, force) me to reevaluate my belongings and decide whether or not they are necessary for my new life in Washington. 

For months and months I have been procrastinating; I kept saying that I would do this or that "after my trip". Well, now it's time. I need to unpack, reorganize, find an apartment, plan my itinerary for getting to DC, and create a budget. It is finally time to grow up. I am going to have a big girl job. And pay my own bills. Wow. 

I start work in 41 days. The countdown has begun.