Wednesday, May 9, 2012

looking forward...


As we get closer to our departure from the Philippines to begin our six-month home assignment, we find ourselves contemplating both what we are looking forward to in the U.S. as well as what we are not so sure about. The following list is some of what we’ve agreed we are looking forward to. 
Does any of it surprise you?

Things our family is looking forward to in the US:

*A quiet atmosphere

*Being together again with family and friends.  We've missed you!

*American restaurants - we talk about this one quite a lot.  Some of us even have our own separate lists of restaurants we can't wait to try again. We won't mention who.

*Clothes driers and soft, fluffy, warm dry clothes

*Efficiency

*Being ‘invisible’ – not standing out as foreigners everywhere we go

*Walks in the woods

*Target (and other American stores) and good sales on summery clothes!

*Strawberries, peaches, blueberries, pears, cheese, milk, bagels, deli meats, and boxed cereal

*Bug-less houses

*Understanding what everyone around us is talking about

*Fast and reliable internet (this especially matters to Mark)

*Public Libraries and all those glorious books!

*Carpet (though some of the family thinks it sounds unsanitary and a little disgusting)

*Hot running water.  Ahh!  Luxury!!

*Dishwashers - though we aren't sure we'll quite know what to do with them

*Driving a car after using mostly public transportation for 3 years

*Learning to drive (that's Amy & Elise)

*Public parks

*Trying AirSoft guns (that’s Michael!)

*Cool fall temperatures; wearing long sleeves and seeing our breath…

*Clean streets

*Did we mention American food?
Soon to come...things we are not so sure about...

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

The restaurants and food were me :)
-Michael
P.S. Not all me ;)

Judy said...

Michael, do you even REMEMBER the restaurants and food? 3 years must seem like forever to you!!!

Rosalie said...

I'm excited for you all to arrive and start experiencing all those things!

Carl G. said...

Y'all come on over, yah hear!

Sherrey Meyer said...

Libraries and those "glorious" books would be me, plus the fresh produce you mentioned.

Elysa said...

Loved reading your list. I remember that Chick-fil-A and Sonic strawberry milkshakes were what I wanted the most when I returned to The States after my 2 years in Swaziland.

us5 said...

i knew you were from the south, but, you know, the OTHER south...! ;D

us5 said...

it's funny what you miss, isn't it? and how much you totally forget about - totally forget to miss! hope you get your fill of those Sonic strawberry milkshakes and Chick-fil-A sandwiches in the next few months, friend. ;)

Elysa said...

Well, I better NOT get my fill of strawberry milkshakes or I'm gonna have to replace my whole wardrobe before we leave for Africa! LOL!

Choate Family said...

I vote for the dishwashers and clothe driers! I can't believe how fast clean up is now :-)