I have returned to the land of the free~

Welcome Back to Amurika

Today was the first day I drove a car after nine months of being in Japan.  Yesterday was my first visit to Walmart since nine months ago.  Since about two weeks ago I had bbqs, days at the mall, movie theater experience, and many other “all-american” things for the first time in a long time.  Although I have been experiencing a bit of reverse culture shock mostly in the forms of “Oh my goodness, they don’t make xyz-food or drink in these sizes!  This small xyz-food or drink is the same as a large in Japan!” and “Service in America will never compare to Japan’s.  Geez, so rude…,” I’m actually really glad to be back.  It’s nice to finally have been able to spend time with close friends and family I haven’t seen in so long and be able to hug and kiss people and not feel awkward about it in public.  However, I do really miss the mountains in the horizon, my Japanese friends, the ease and convenience of travel and consumerism, and all the memories I made there.  It’s really bittersweet actually.  Both countries have good and bad to them, and I can understand and appreciate both.  BUT, seriously, there is no place like home.  I’m so happy to be back.