Can you go home again?

We said a final good-bye to the water, the cool weather, and early sunrises.

We had a uneventful taxi ride to the airport with five suitcases, a tandem in an over-sized case, a bike in a bike box, and six carry-on pieces.  The Air Berlin staff was helpful and the cost for the extra pieces and extra weight was not the $600 I thought it might be.

After a short flight to Düsseldorf we spent a few remaining Euros on soccer cards (including cards from the Women's World Cup), German erasers, and lunch.  Then it was back on the plane for the 11.5 hour flight to LAX.  No one got sick, all our luggage arrived safely, and the customs person asked three questions before wishing us, "Shalom."  It doesn't get any better than that.

After a culture-shocking drive back to the inland empire (the airport traffic!  the honking!  the billboards!) we were happy to arrive at my parents-in-law's house where the beds were made, the split-pea soup was ready, and pool was inviting.  Maybe you can never go home again because there are still tenants living there!

I hope we don't constantly compare things to Denmark, but two big issues stood out to me initially (really three, but decaffeinated coffee didn't seem worthy of a whole paragraph).  I am literate!  I can speak!  I was at the store and a baby dropped something that was unnoticed by the parent.  Instead of getting the parent's attention and handing her the toy, I could get the person's attention and say an entire sentence without stammering.  I was also excited to see that all the magazines were in English!  I could eavesdrop on conversations.  The library is filled with books we can read!

The other difference is noticing how people differentiate themselves in the US by putting bumper stickers on their car, signs in front of their houses, and messages on their shirts.  Kids are encouraged to do things to make themselves stand out (cello at age three, sports camp at age five, amazing science projects at ten).  I knew this about the US, but saw it more clearly after our return.

Now it is on to unpacking our suitcases, unpacking items in storage, and doing all the things we said, "We'll do it when we get back from Denmark."

Thanks for being loyal readers and for your positive feedback.  Look for the next blog in 2016, give or take a couple years.