Jenna’s question

Jenna has great questions. Today’s was a classic: “Mommy, do you know a place called The Middle Of Nowhere?”

“Yes, Jenna. I’ve been there.”

All the way to Connecticut

Something that I missed being in Chile, especially these last few months without a car, was roadtrips. But now that I have survived a three-day roadtrip with my three kids, I may re-think that.

Whew! We made it all the way to Connecticut from New Mexico, and I have been glad to see my parents and my brother here. It’s weird to see so many trees! Santiago was much too big to have too many of those, and New Mexico only has trees in the bosque. Here you can often only see trees and not even know there are houses in there.

We have been learning a few new terms around here. What I used to call a ‘garage sale’ is apparently called a ‘tag sale’ in Connecticut. And don’t bother looking for a ‘cart’ or a ‘buggy’ at the grocery store; they only have ‘carriages’. I guess we will have to do a little ‘cultural adjustment’ here, too!

Coming Home

In Chile, when it’s summer, everything is warm. In the US, when it’s summer, everything is cold.

That’s the first thing I have noticed after being back for a week. Houses and stores are air-conditioned. Drinks have ice. (I could go on and on about drinks: how big they are, how free and free-flowing the refills are, how many options there are…) The coldness of everything inside when everything is hot outside reminds me how much we as Americans value our comfort. Something to get used to again.

My kids are adjusting nicely, I think, to our new surroundings. Rachel was amazed by what a large selection of toys Target has. She may have the hardest adjustment, at 5 years old. She looks like me when I am in a foreign country: very quiet, taking in everything, trying to copy what everyone else is doing, not wanting to leave home where she feels comfortable, sleeping longer than usual.

This blog will be about our readjustments as a family after four years in Chile, how we settle in and make a new home in the US with our third-culture kids. You’ll see our family photos and hear our family stories here. Welcome home.