I have been home for almost a month now, and it feels like I've been home a lot longer. In fact, after being home about three days, it felt like I had been home for a lot longer than a month. Before I left for Switzerland, my study abroad department gave an informational meeting about stuff we should know while in our respective foreign countries. One topic was reverse culture shock- where we might have trouble readjusting back into California life. Nope. Not such a huge problem. My beach is right where I left it, my sisters are still silly and the weather is, at 90+ degrees Fahrenheit, where it should be for summer.
The flight from Geneva to London was easy- I slept the whole way. Then, I got to Heathrow. First off, the new terminal 5 is amazingly huge and looks like an extended set for Doctor Who or some other future-y show. But, as I should have guessed, security is high, and they didn't like my 25 pound carry-on bag filled with books. So I had to unpack my bag and flip through every page of every book to prove I was hiding pieces of bombs between my copies of Italian Edgar Allen Poe and my German-English dictionary, then repack and run to catch my flight. Good news is, it turns out I'm not a terrorist. I did break the plane though, on the way to LAX. During take-off, there was a bang above my head and then the oxygen masks came tumbling down. Not everywhere- just my row. I thought it was exciting, but my terrified Scottish seat-mate did not agree. She was pacified, however, when we were escorted to the first class "World Traveler" section.
After a couple naps, Harry Potter 4 and Sense and Sensibility, I was home! I don't mean to brag, but I think Chad and my mom were impressed to see me wheeling two oversized suitcases by myself with that only-slightly-ridiculous carry-on slung over my shoulder through LAX customs. I spent a few days at home, visiting with my family, handing out chocolate and telling stories to anyone that would listen. I think the most well-received story is the time when the Swiss Ninjas raided the building next door to mine. Good times. Ask me in person if I haven't told you- it's more fun when I can see your reaction. Anyways, I tried on my bridesmaid's dress, danced crazy with my sisters and future-brother, and inherited Jenette's old apartment stuff. Hand-me-downs are like Christmas without the actual holiday, just the presents.
Then, too quickly, I moved into my new apartment in Long Beach. I love it- it's big and it's mine! I keep my fish in the living room; my kitchen is slowly gaining cooking food (like Kool-aid and Bisquick!); and I have a queen-sized bed! I still don't have queen-sized blankets yet, but it's summer- so two twin blankets are perfect, even if it looks kinda funny. Thank you, by the way, Auntie Colleen for the afghan and Kelly for the quilt! But, although I love my apartment, I work a lot, so for the first week or so, I didn't see too much of it. Plus, it's weird coming home to an empty place. Heidi, where have you gone? So my family came up and made me dinner to help break my kitchen in. All friends are welcome to to keep me company!
I started work right away- my first morning, before I even had my key card encoded, the fire alarm went off in my old building, and we had a visit from the Long Beach Fire Department. Welcome back to RA life! Then we had the hubs check in. Our residence halls become a sort-of dorm-hotel during the summer, and most groups having any sort of conference on our campus stay in the halls. The hubs, a group of warm-hearted, good-doing, volunteering, new-age humanity-business people (they were that complicated) came. I had to learn new stuff in the office and figure out a organization system really quickly, because as kind as they were, they needed our office's help in organizing themselves more than I thought anyone would. I think that they were a good group to learn on, because that answered any and probably all "But what about this unlikely scenario" questions.
Life continues on like normal .I got a new public library card from Long Beach City, so I just finished Fahrenheit 451, which I loved and already want to read again. Now for The Picture of Dorian Gray. (or is it Grey?) Three chapters in, and I'm already in love with it. I went to Huntington Beach and got milkshakes with Genevieve and Kelly at the Ruby's on the Pier, and I am catching up on the movies I've missed. Definitely see Chronicles of Narnia and Wall-E, but skip The Happening. I'm still way behind on pop-culture in general, especially music, but I'm not disappointed in the least about that. I like my Irish music and Hollywood jazz and Big Bill Broonzy better than popular music anyways.
I am settled, and happy and finally warm!
