culture shock in the ol' USA

Hello folks,

Well, we just got back from our trip to the US. I have to say, we've finally been in the Netherlands long enough to notice a few differences now.....When did every town in the country start to look alike? Why is there a Home Depot/Kohls every three blocks? I knew it was coming - you can't ignore chain stores. Turn your back on them and they sneak into your backyard in the blink of an eye. I just thought MAYBE it was limited to Texas. Yeah, right. Turns out Illinois is infected too!

Not to say I didn't enjoy shopping in Kohls and a jumbo store called Meijers. I like picking up good deals as much as the rest of us. I just was a little surprised at how big stores have gotten. I know, I know, I'm europeanized (is that a word?). I shop in miniscule grocery stores and little outdoor markets. But do you really need a store that is as big as a city block just to buy milk and/or underwear?

ANYWAY, after we adjusted to riding in a car everywhere and the size of everything, we had a great time on our vacation to Illinois. I saw practically every one I'm related to by blood or marriage. How often can you say that about your vacations? Mostly we ate good food and visited with family. I forgot how nice that can be....we did make it out to a "Founder's Day" in Algonquin, Il (see pic above). Strange place but fun!

After being in Holland for 10 months, it was so nice to not have to translate everything. (not that we even come close to figuring out what everything means!) and ask if people speak english! I was at a little park and just couldn't stop smiling at the conversations that I could understand....people thought I was a little strange. I guess I pick up the accents of where ever I am because all of a sudden I'm sounding like a native midwestener. In the Netherlands, people have no idea I'm from Texas - they think I'm English because I can't help picking up a slight foreign accent! Oh well, I guess I could be a good spy one day if I ever work again...... (BTW, I love this picture of Miles with my cousin's kid, Owen. They are only 5 and 3, but their expressions have to be about what, 17 years old? "What are you looking at?")


Plus, not having any family here, it was really wonderful to see my parents and sister, my grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins....you get the idea. Miles had met most of them when he was a baby, but of course he didn't remember. Now, he can talk with them and interact - it was so nice! And all the babysitters - boy, I already miss that part! I always wanted to be part of a big family - we were always a little isolated down in Texas - that when I see everyone together, playing games and drinking and having fun - it's really great knowing that I'm related to all these fun people!

We spent five days catching up with my family, then spent the day in Chicago with Aaron's brother and his wife. Aaron's mom generously offered to babysit (Yea!) so it was great to check out all the sights! If you haven't seen Sears, excuse me Willis Tower lately, they have these cool glass boxes that you can stand right over the city and look straight down! Not recommended for those afraid of heights.

Then we made our way up to a cute little town called Utica, Illinois to be with Aaron's family! We stayed in a vacation home with them and got to see them much more than if we were visiting in Austin! Everyone in their pajamas, eating a great breakfast that my sister-in-law cooked, you can't beat that! We played Uno, and kept adding silly rules until we were swapping hands with people and moving all around the table. So much fun! The place also had water and amusement parks on-site and a state park down the road. We were not lacking for entertainment....


One word about air travel there and back- British Airways is the way to go! I highly recommend them. What I don't recommend is Enterprise Rent-A-Car at O'hare Airport (panic-inducing hard-to-find place) or 5-hour layovers in London with a toddler. Enough said!

Now that we're back from the States, we're settling down to our old routines, finding some new places. Friends of mine are all on holiday - Croatia, China, Scotland, Paris, Germany.....looks like we need to branch out a little on our vacation ideas! All in good time, all in good time.

Hope everyone's summer is going well and that no one has completely melted into a little puddle. There's a reason we didn't come to Texas this summer........:)

This is a picture of Miles after our marathon plane journey while we were waiting for a taxi at the airport in Amsterdam. He was the only one I was going to take a picture of after all that!

Love
Nicole