Coming To America

I have been home for a couple weeks now and it is... not as weird as I thought it would be. As much as I love and miss Egypt, there are lots of things about America I missed. Things happen on exchange and things happen when you get back.

People may get sick of you talking

It’s not just when I talk about my exchange, but also just in general. By dinner my first night home, my sister was already sick of hearing the words “In Egypt”. 

Also, while I was gone, apparently it was a lot quieter in the house. So me talking about everything and anything probably gets annoying.

Crosswalks are everywhere

I live in Smalltown, USA. There is barely any traffic except during county fair season. Why are there so many crosswalks?

Also, if you don’t use crosswalks, or cross when it’s red, it’s illegal. This leads to standing on the sidewalk on an empty street corner forever waiting for the walking signs.

Missing things more than you thought

Driving gives me so much joy. I love it. It’s scary and complicated (I drive a stick) but it’s amazing.

In school in Egypt, I never did a lot of work. Since this year I’m taking AP US History, I have a lot of summer homework. I’m not actually mad about it. I’m also kind of excited for school to start.

I have a lot of hair. Therefore, I use a lot of shampoo and conditioner. I can finally buy huge bottles of hair products now.

I missed a year of life

If I could go back and do my year abroad over again, I would. I gained so much from it, but I still missed out on an entire year of things. 

My sister has had my parents basically to herself for a year (not counting the Costa Rican exchange student). Sometimes it feels weird because there are stories, jokes, and memories that I wasn’t a part of. 

Egypt feels like a dream

Once you get into a routine, everything in your home country feels normal. Sometimes I think about Egypt and it feels like it didn’t even happen. It went by so quickly, it doesn’t feel real. So little has changed in everything around me, I might not have even left home at all.

Leaving my life in Egypt was the hardest thing I’ve had to do, but I’m glad I’m back. I missed my family and friends so much. I also miss my other friends and family so much.

I promised to post on Sundays and I didn’t last week. I’m sorry, but I’ll be back on track now and next week. 

Thanks for reading.

Learn something today.

Byeeee

Corie.