Once I returned back to the Northwest I was pleasantly surprised with warm sunny weather and Occupiers next door to my cousins apartment. My cousin Ang, Alyssa, and I, like true Portlanders, took advantage of the beautiful weather knowing full well that it would not stick around. We went on my favorite drives through the scenic highway stopping at waterfalls and taking pictures. 

Some of our pictures were inspired by a statue of George Bush in the TX airport. 

My friend Alyssa is a writer so she does not have to keep conventual work hours like the majority of Americans. This is most certainly to my benefit and often leads to her being my partner in crime. We became a little enthralled with the Occupy movement, especially since they were right out our front door. We often found ourselves walking by the camps and trying to work up the courage to actually take the path that cuts through. Here are a few things I learned about Portland....

*Portland is a people watchers dream...especially when occupiers are thrown into the mix.

*Portland people can appear to be cold and stand offish but they have great food so there has got to be something there. 

*Everyone should have a friend that aspires to be a professional tour guide. If you are ever in Portland please contact Alyssa Sellars, she will show you around...for a small fee that can be paid in coffee and food. 

Time. If flys

Time. It flys....it also freaks me out. It seems like just yesterday I arrived in America and it was sunny and warm. Before I knew it the weather was distinctively cooler and I was stuffing my face with a Thanksgiving feast. Where did the time go?!

I think my constant traveling has played a large part in my loss of time. Over the past few months I've spent very little time at my parents house. I've spent more nights on friend's couches than in my own bed.

My adventures have taken me from Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, back to Portland and the occupiers, a WSU football game and the Oregon coast. Here are a few of the highlights....

My company had me go to Virginia for some debriefing. It was a much needed trip and it also allowed me to catch up with some old friends. On my way home I decided to make a pit-stop in Tennessee and visit my good friend Jenn Hand. The trip held a few surprised, as it always does when one spends time with Jenn, but best of all it was great to spend time with my friend. I was impressed with Southern hospitality and the beauty of Tennessee. Let's face it coming from the Northwest I can be a bit of a snob.
Here area few things I learned on this trip
*Southerners like to hug, listen to Christina music in restaurants, and ask EVERYONE how they are doing. At times their affection was exhausting for this Northwest girl.
*Chattanooga TN is a very cute town. I loved the cute coffee shops, and street performers.
*The South's love for rocking chairs is contagious. I want one.
*Everyone should have a friend that is a professional counselor. Jenn is currently working towards this and she is skilled in asking all the right questions.
*Purchasing a phone with GPS was one of the best investments I've made in America.

I'll tell you more about my adventures tomorrow.

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. 

6 months off

In case you have not figured it out yet, I do not lead a “normal” life. I am an American living and working in Nepal. I constantly speak in another language, I often go to places that can only be reached on foot, and there are times when the locals have never seen a girl like me.

Although the nature of my job can be absolutely amazing it can also be stressful. Because of the wear and tear that my job can have on a person physically and mentally the company I work for is giving me 6 months off after 3 years of service.

In July I hid the valuables in my house, packed my bags and caught a plane back to America.

I have a few responsibilities here and there but I am virtually jobless. The next 6 months should be interesting. I will try to keep you up to date as I adjust back to life in the States.

I felt special

I know that I am crazy far behind on my blog. I'm not sure were to start so I will start small and pic up where I left off.

I had a good birthday. My friends and family made me feel special be it through facebook, sending me packages, taking me out to dinner, or throwing me a surprise party. All in all I felt special.

There is a blog that I follow and it just so happened to have an article on Reading Rainbow during the week of my birthday. I thought I would share this little video in honor of those out there who would like to reminisce with me.
Enjoy