Back in the USA

“Back in the USSR, you don’t know how lucky you are...”

The old Beatles’ song is reverberating in my head as I sit here, just over 2 weeks after our arrival in the USA (or the USSA as one calls it - the “United Socialist States of America“). I’ll leave the political bantering for others to debate...

What I’ve enjoyed about being back in the States:

1. Seeing old friends and spending time with them


2. Meeting new friends (mainly Samantha (Sam), Caleb’s girlfriend)


3. The availability of ”stuff“ and the variety of ”stuff“ (more flavors of soda than one can imagine) and the ease of finding a solution to a given problem (ie, finding a dog training setting to help our Labrador get over her fear/aggression issues with other dogs (caused by a German Shepherd’s attack on her as a 6 month old)


4. The weather here in Arizona - 90-95 degrees is really a nice summertime temperature!

What has taken/is taking time for adjustment:

1. Driving 20 minutes to an hour to get to a desired location (car shopping, malls, church, etc.)


2. Re-acclimating to the American culture (whatever that means, I just don’t yet know)


3. Realizing that just because a friend is just next door in another state, that does not mean that it’s only a 2-3 hour drive


4. Realizing that driving is almost a ”have-to“ in this culture and that walking is hardly a means of transportation, but more a mode of exercise