hey, remember that time i went to sweden for 10 and a 1/2 months? well tomorrow will mark exactly 2 months of having been home in lugoff, south carolina, and it really has taken me this long to get adjusted. i was warned that i would experience a bit of reverse culture shock when i came home, and buddy they didn't lie. i think i am finally at the point where i can focus on one thing for about 2 hours before having a mental breakdown. this could also result from adult onset ADD, which i've never been tested for, and probably never will, but i'd rather blame it on the reverse culture shock, for that seems a more legitimate excuse.
let me fill you in on what has gone on in the past couple months:
unemployment. i think i honestly thought i would magically have a job as soon as i got back, and i also had these plans of having at least 3 of them to start saving up for my next adventure (i have an english wedding to attend in june...in a castle #nobigdeal). haha nope. my plans haven't worked out...YET. i am blessed beyond measure to find the little knick knacks here and there though, like babysitting, working for my mom on job sites, box paper scissors, and funeral housesitting. it helps that i grew up in this small town and no one has left, so thankfully once the word got around i was home for a while, i've had many phone calls. still my profession is in education, so if i could focus for an entire day at a time, i might actually be able to fill out an entire application instead of going crazy. and literally, because i have no routine (and no car because my dad drives mine for his job...that he goes to every day...it's his routine), i don't wake up with much to look forward to, except P90X (told you i was crazy). For the longest time i had the hardest time physically getting up before 930, and felt like my entire day was wasted. i am definitely a morning person and very much enjoy the quiet moments with a cup of coffee and the Good Book. but it didn't work out that way at first. Now, however, with my knick knack jobs and the addition of training for a half marathon, i have mnore of a reason to wake up and get myself involved. i also occasionally have a lunch date with a friend in town or with someone passing through from greenville. hopefully, i will get into the classroom asap, even as just a substitute for now, but having had this time to adjust, my spirits are lifted and every other semi-productive day brings me closer to finding a career in education. soon and very soon.
living with the rents. i might only need one word: empty nesters. yeeeeaaahhh...you can only imagine what that's like. i have a little brother, but he knows better and has his place in columbia. with people his own age. while i can live with anybody, it has been very interesting living with parents again after having lived in another city for the past 5 years, including another country. while they are so gracious to have let me move in again without having to pay for any rent or utilities, i cannot wait until i can move out. don't get me wrong, i love my parents and we have a great relationship, but when the time comes to have my own place again, i'll be bolting out the door. have i mentioned they are "empty nesters?" yeah, that should say it all. wierd.
catching up. extended family and friends. this has been the most overwhelming part of returning. i have a very large group of friends, in all different groups as well, and it has been so sweet and fulfilling to be able to hold my sweet friends again and love on them. the first weekend back, i watched a collge buddy get married, went to a christmas party, went to church for the first time in almost a year, and saw my sweet babies from landrum. my heart almost burst and i honestly could not stop running my mouth for i had so much to say, let alone i could talk in english all i wanted and everyone understood me!! and they got my jokes!! it was amazing! i catch myself having moments where i cannot breathe from laughing so hard at the fact that i am so incredibly happy. i also feel like myself more than ever, minus the breakdowns. however it is very overwhelming, and at this stage in life, we are all moving all over the place, so it is hard to keep up with everyone, especially when my dearest friend lives in kentucky-oh kate, the day i see you back in the states again will be epic. slowly and happily though, i have been making my rounds and look forward to when i can be in the upstate again, for most of my sweetest friends are up there, and i've sort of built a life over the years. camden/lugoff in all its charms will do, plus, baseball season is almost here, and i can't to go to my hometown kids' baseball games. best time of the year. can.not.wait.
boys. haha...hahaha...now this has definitley been interesting. i cared about someone when i was in sweden (he lives here in the states), but we didn't work out, so i was very much looking forward to being with myself again, as a single 23 year old, taking a break from love and boys and figuring out what this next season will bring. SIKE! hasn't happened yet, because it seems like there have been a line of fella's waiting for me. either that, or i honestly think boys have some kind of sonar or rador that tells them "oooo fresh meat back from sweden.." because literally, the boys have also overwhelmed me. i want to just say "no" to them all, and be back in my little closet in sweden, hiding and watching life pass by on facebook. honestly that would be easier. but there are a few guys that happen to want to "get to know" me better. i ain't trying to brag, this is just for the readers that want to live in another country for over 6 months, and come back knowing another language. you will be bombarded with love interests, and then not know what to do about it. hide. run. do what you can to stay sane. i will be honest and say that it's nice to go on a date here and there, but homegirl ain't lookin for anything serious and exclusive. homegirl wants to be home and enjoy life. so that's what i'm doing.
now that i have found my way back to normalcy, i can't think of any other way to end this than to say, i am still uncharted, still on an adventure, and will write as much as i can this time around.
and scene.
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