Life in the USA

It is wonderful to be back in the US. It feels strange, yet so familiar. I was worried about not fitting in, about feeling out of place, having reentry culture shock, but all those worries were foolish. Everything here feels so finally NORMAL. Like everything is just how it should be. Now that Hungary is abnormal, just different than what I am used to. I feel surprisingly comfortable now in both places, but maybe a little more comfortable in America, and I think that has a LOT to do with being able to speak the language so fluently.

My first week back was eventful in the fact that I immediately got very sick and have no health insurance. I had a high fever, was feeling nausous, and had a sore throat. It seemed like sore throat was an option, and I would need antibiotics. I called ESI to foot the bill, as going to the doctor would cost a lot paying out of pocket, and they agreed to take the money out of my account balance. So I got to go to the doctor, and after 2 days of medicine I felt all better.

After that little escapade, I decided that I really needed to start raising support for next year. I spent the rest of the week writing and mailing support letters, to cover all the expenses that are piling up (new doctor bill, buying a ticket back to Hungary, getting some teaching supplies) etc. I also have signed up for an online class this summer that will give me a TESOL (teaching English as a second language) diploma. This will be very helpful if I ever leave ESI and want to continue teaching. I will be actually certified. It will also give me some more resources for next year. This was more money I don't have.

I also bought a plane ticket to Texas and went to visit my best friend Charissa who just moved there, and went with another close friend, Katie Calvert. This trip was just what I needed. We went to Charissa's uncle's lake house, which was big and beautiful, and spent time talking and talking. Here I felt I could share everything I wanted to, to describe my experiences in detail, to a captive and interested audience who truly cared! I love these girls very much, and am so glad that we could get together and it feels like no time has gone by at all.

This week has been spent preparing for an Open House. If you haven't heard about it, you are more than invited (if you live in the area, of course). This will be a chance to meet all my supporters, to thank them, to share stories about the year, and explain a bit about Hungary. My birthday is also on Saturday, so it'll be a pretty good weekend.

There is a lot happening, but it is a wonderful blessing to eat Mexican food, to be able to talk to anyone I don't even know and not worry about the language difference, and just to see my family and friends. It is really a wonderful vacation. I do miss Hungary though, and I think this time will be refreshing and rejuvinating to be able to return and start again in the fall.