portland

Went to Portland over the weekend to visit Kristin and her family! We have been friends for 12 years (!). Thanks for a fun weekend, love you :)

and now,

I am driving to Portland. Wahoo!

(Portland wishes it were Seattle.)

happy birthday linders

Lindy's 28th birthday celebration - unexpectedly in the urgent care center tonight! Our grandma got a little bump on the head that turned out to need a few staples. She is ok, but we had quite the adventurous evening!

photos

A few photos from Ramesh's wedding are online. Go to amberfoxphoto.com, click on "blog" and then click on the photo under "Ramesh and Allen Wolf" to see them.

processing

Kristin and fake snow at The Grove shopping center, Hollywood, CA

I've been back a week now. Seen lots of people, driven on 8 freeways (most of those in one day), gotten used to throwing my toilet paper in the toilet instead of the garbage, eaten more than my share of all that food I've missed out on this past year.

And, through talking with people and answering their questions, I think I have processed more about the last year in this week than in the whole year itself. It's really quite different being removed from it - when it's your daily life, you often don't think twice about things that I am now realizing are horrendous and not part of other people's daily lives!!! I often need the reminder "this is not normal," and I get that when people respond in shock to things that I just breeze right over. Oh yeah...they aren't used to these things. Really, I shouldn't be either.

But I have realized things like when I don't really feel much emotion when I find out about the death of one of the Nigerian girls, but then I weep for days at the plight of women in the DRC that I will never meet, I really am processing things. It just comes out in other areas that are not my daily reality that I must cope with. I detach from the streets of Athens so I can work every day, so the emotion comes out in other areas that I don't have to deal with personally.

It's really fun to be concerned with what restaurant to eat at and shopping for makeup for a change. Ha.

ramesh got married.

It was a CRAZY weekend. Spa and bachelorette stuff Friday, rehearsal stuff Saturday, hotel in Santa Monica, wedding yesterday. Persian dancing, a professional makeup artist for us (she has an Emmy!) :), Buster from Arrested Development!, more than a couple freak outs, very sore feet, amazing gluten free chocolate cake, lots of laughs and prayer ... She was a beautiful bride! I am so happy for Ramesh and Allen, and now we can all begin to recover. :)

I made it!

Today was a long day. About 26 hours long, so far.

First impressions of being back in the States for the first time in a year: So much English everywhere! I understand what people are saying all around me! People patiently wait in lines, walk in an orderly fashion, and when someone said "excuse me" to me I nearly fainted (not sure if it was because it was in English or if it was the politeness of the statement).

Americans are goofy. I remember my German friend Claas in Athens telling me that their impression of Americans comes from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (Americans shouting "Move that bus!" all together) and Obama's campaign (Americans shouting "Yes we can!" together). This is what they think of us in other parts - patriotic, cheering ourselves on, lots of team spirit. I remember climbing a big hill in the center of Athens a few weeks ago with a friend and passing some Americans on the way down who said "You're almost there! You're so close!" We didn't know them, of course, and my friend and I were amused and thought they were a bit silly. No one else in the world really does these things. So tonight when the customs officer started doing a little dance to get the attention of the next person in line, I marveled again at the "friendliness" and cheer and even camaraderie of Americans, like you find nowhere else. It makes me laugh, but after getting used to opposite behavior over the past year, I kind of like it. :)

And Yogurtland. Went straight from the airport. God bless America.

Important information about your flight...

I just got my email for my Athens-LAX flight...that is on WEDNESDAY. I can't believe it's close enough to get the email! I have just one full day left in Athens. I am excited to see friends and family and also a little sentimental about leaving my friends here for six weeks. Neither of these feelings is overwhelming - it just is what it is. What will be weirder, I know, is coming back to Athens after being "home" for six weeks. Never done that before. Now I know I will be here probably at least two more years, and unlike the last time I came here, I know exactly what I am coming back to. Yet, I also will be reminded for six weeks just what I am missing - in a way of comparison to Athens that I was never able to do before living here.

Most people tell me that it's going to suck when it's time to leave to come back, and that the first few days back will be tough, but as I start to see my friends here and settle back in all will be fine again. It helps knowing I have nothing material to go back to - no house, no car, no real place that I belong. I belong here in my apartment in Athens, for now.

What a long way I've come in a year! I arrived with no friends, no house of my own, no language, no sense of this city or my place or the culture. What a difference a year makes! :)

it is still my favorite holiday!

My first pumpkin pie = success! Andrea (staying with me for a few weeks post-Jordan) was the Potato Queen. We are quite a Thanksgiving combo -- fabulous green beans (I'm a good recipe-follower), mashed and sweet potatoes, and the pie. It wouldn't have been Thanksgiving without us... :)
We had five Americans, three Greeks, two Brits, one Canadian and one Greek Australian. It was a great time with friends and fabulous food!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Garbage strike, Athens

It is very fragrant around here these days. :) I am preparing to make my first ever pumpkin pie today, and joining a few friends in the neighborhood later on for Thanksgiving dinner. Hope you have a fabulous one!

Sunday!

What a GLORIOUS sunny warm day. I sat outside at a cafe for 5.5 hours with some friends. I was supposed to be working, but who wants to work on a day like this? (Don't worry, I am working now - this is why I am blogging instead of doing my financial report.) Is this really November, when I am sitting outside in short sleeves and sunglasses, drinking tea and then raki and then tea again?

Helping to teach a volunteer training tomorrow night on how to start conversations with girls, crisis counseling, and caring for ourselves - I can't remember which part I am supposed to teach, actually, so I suppose it really is time to get working. :) It's been a productive weekend, though; I am crossing things off my long list left and right. I'm hoping to be as stress-free and enjoyable as possible during my last 9ish days here. I'm also super excited for Thanksgiving - we have a great night planned with friends and all the traditional fixings. I think it's my favorite holiday and I'm so excited for it every year (which means I'm usually disappointed, but I guess that's ok since it's part of my expectations). :)