Actually, going back to America even for a quick look sounds so great I don't even want to think about it until I've got the tickets in my hand. I would start to salivate thinking of the cheeseburgers, the light on the buildings, the people, and the sound of the English language all around me--I would swim in it.
How long has it been since I've been back? I don't even know.
Anette says everyone over there is excited about Obama, and excited to be excited about politics again. I wish I was there for that.
But underneath her news and gossip about the US, particularly the New York corner of it, I heard darker things. Mean streets. Sometimes it sounds like people in that city are just holding on by their teeth. Heart attacks, looming evictions, outta-sight daycare costs--all of these fabulous adventures await YOU! if you are not rich and/or famous in NYC. This I don't miss. I'll try to remember that the next time I'm feeling blue about living in a musty dusty capital of Olde Europe.
My life has changed. We have a bathtub and we use it almost every night. Our family is too big to fit inside of a New York City life. And I don't think you should have to be rich and/or famous in order to have a bathtub and a family to put into it.
On the other hand, I hear life in Austin, Texas is pretty goddamn great right now....
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Having just been there, I assure you that Austin will be utterly unrecognizable to you. It's been invaded by the most hideous people, all of whom seem to have a overweening sense of entitlement to luxury and waste. There are huge skyscraper condo buildings all over downtown -- mostly empty since the economy is cratering -- and a trip to the new Whole Foods is like going to a zoo populated entirely by people you don't want to know. Hummers in gridlock on Lamar, everything in gridlock on I-35, downtown a construction site that reminds me of Berlin (all because they're building even more skyscraper condos), and nobody can afford the place anymore.
My wife was talking about going home for a wedding, alone. Man I would be happy for her, but sad for us. I remember exactly how many months ago I saw the US - 18 months. I guess that's not too long. But long enough to miss it.
During 6yrs in Hungary, I only went back once, at the 4yr mark. With 3 kids, it was just too expensive. Germany we did in two 3yr periods, we didn't go back during either.
Now I've been back in the States 4 years, and I'd give anything to live out of the country again.
There were things from the US I missed while overseas -- to the point of awful cravings -- but it seemed to eventually fade. Probably being a vegetarian contributed to that -- we can't eat 95% of fast food, ha! I did always miss being able to shop on weekends and after 5 or 6pm on weekdays -- that's hard when you work. On the ohter hand, going back was overwhelming in some ways, like sensory overload.
I was really glad when TESCO came to Hungary, though, and I could get cheddar cheese!
Come to Los Angeles! Sunshine awaits you all!
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