I'm not the only one.

Things I have to remind myself of while living in America....

1. People like their personal space. If you "crowd" them in line they will probably give you a dirty look and even say something. 

2. The shower will not run out of water. 

3. You can be specific about your food order...feel free to make it "special"

4. America knows very little about moderation, it is something you must implement yourself. 

5. You can not state something as fact and assume people will believe you...they will first look it up on their phone to make sure what you are saying is indeed true. 

some things never change

My last post I talked about being overwhelmed. On a more positive note there are some things about America that never changes and that I love.

Small town life is one of these unchanging things. Zillah, WA continues to be a small town with one stoplight. The Zillah Food Center continues to require you to put on a parka when entering and the cashier immediately knows my family by looking at the last name on my debit card.

The Teapot is famous in Zillah

American Food. I love it. Fair food is the ultimate American food experience. Meat and anything fried is what you will find. Although a daily diet of said food will most likely kill you it is tasty. I myself love the funnel cake…and churros.

Family and Good Friends.  Now, I know that these people change. Trust me when I tell you I know this. What does stay the same is the relationship. A Cousin will always be a cousin and a true friend will always be a friend no matter the time and distance. 

 Dad & Nephew 

 Cousin

 Aunt & Cousin

 Aunt & 2nd Cousin

 Cousin & her cute daughter

 Sister & Nephew

 Dad and Uncles

 Cousin and his sweet family

Nephew who only smiles for  Bob the builder

Bless you for making it to the bottom of my family photos. 

overwhelmed

Although I am back in my home country there are times when I get a little panicky and flustered. The home that I love and know so well becomes foreign to me and I am overwhelmed.

This overwhelming sense usually takes hold of me in places like Wal-Mart, Costco, and Malls. I think the specific trigger is the enormous amount of options. For the past 3 years I’ve only ever had one or two options. There is NEVER just one option in the US.  I’m pretty sure it would be un-American to have just one option..

I also become a little overwhelmed when people ask me the simple question “where do you want to eat?” I love eating out…that is not the problem. The problem is that I love everything from Taco Bell to Red Robin, to those mini chocolate donuts at the gas station. It does not take much to please me when it comes to American food so asking me to make a decision as to where to eat overwhelms me.

Surprisingly, meeting new people overwhelms me. I’m not sure how to answer simple questions such as:

Where do you live?

What do you do?

Where do you work?

I then find myself asking the question “do I want to make new friends” I have old friends, college friends, Portland friends, Nepali friends, current co-worker/friends. Making new friends = having to keep up with more people.

I’m telling ya, overwhelmed.

So, I take it one day at a time. Just know, that should you run into me I may say or do something strange…if so, please refer to this post.