American surprises

June 10th marked the beginning of our third year in Africa.  Some of the things I missed in America when we first moved here I no longer notice.  Now that I am back in America for five weeks I am finding humor in things I had forgotten about or never noticed before.

Like tv commercials, there are very few of them in Africa which I appreciate but I had forgotten how funny some of the American ones are.

And I had forgotten about the customer service you receive in restaurants, like that they will re-fill your drink without asking, or that refills are free, in Africa you ask and you pay each time.  I could go on and on how fast service is in America and how I don't ever have to repeat myself when I order.

Stores in America I find overwhelming, from the options, to the lower prices to the feeling that I need to over buy since this is my only time in the US to get these things.  Of course there are stores similar in Africa, but the way I felt going into Target when I got back to the U.S., I had not felt in Africa.  I am a bit out of it using the credit card machines at checkouts, forgetting to sign my name on the electronic spot, always waiting for the cashier to hand me a slip of paper to sign like in Africa. And I never swipe my own card in Africa but it's all self service here.  Feels funny to hand your card to a waiter to take back and run your bill as in Africa they bring the card machine to your table.

Waiting for someone to load my car with groceries was another thing I got a laugh at.  In Africa someone loads your groceries after pushing your cart out of the store.  Of course this does not happen in America but it sure would be nice, along with having someone to direct you to open parking spots and guiding you in and out of them.  I had forgotten what it is like trying to shop with kids then load the car...exhausting.

It was nice to get back to fast internet in America again and having wifi everywhere is something I had taken for granted before moving to Africa.

I had forgotten how light it stays outside at night when the sun does not go down till 9pm.  In Africa with no day light savings time it will be dark earlier in the summer compared to the U.S.

Since Grant is now walking it had been a pleasure to have carpeted floors, something I did not think I would miss.

Air conditioning is a biggie, of course we missed not having it in Africa, but I had forgotten how it can be such a drastic change from inside to outside.  Having to bring along a jacket to go out to eat or to a store I had to remember again.  It feels weird to dress for one temperature indoors and another for being outside.  I have become so used to one consistent temperature no matter indoors or outdoors in Africa.

Having lived in Missouri my whole life I am surprised I could forget the humidity but when you come from winter weather to muggy, heavy, hard to breath Missoui summer, it takes some getting used to.  Pretoria, South Africa, has very little humidity so even on a 90 degree day, you can step into the shade and cool off a bit.  Back in Missouri we have not been outside as much as I thought because of the humidity making it too uncomfortable.

I did not expect to be re-teaching Adalyn about American life again.  We have only been gone a few years but she did not remember yellow school buses or what water fountains were ( she thought they were a sink). She has asked what floor vents for central heat/air are when she saw them and what the  outside air conditioning unit is.

I do miss restaurants with kids areas like we have in Africa and the conveniences of having people do things for you.  I miss the indoor/outdoor living as I am always forgetting to close doors here letting pets and air conditioning escape. Eating out is cheaper in Africa and I am always shocked at what restaurants want you to pay in the US, though it all seemed reasonable when I lived there.

When we moved to Africa it took a while to get used to electric fences around every building and neighborhood but I rarely think of it now.  The severity and amount of poverty in Africa just does not exist in America.  And although it is nice to not be bombarded with such sad images all the time in America, the constant reminder in Africa made me a more grateful person each day and I think I appreciated my life more.  I do feel safer in America, putting my purse in the seat next to be as I drive and not watching my surroundings as much.  I have adjusted to driving on the other side of the car and road just fine, only mixing them up in parking lots mostly.

Of course we miss experiencing all our American adventures with Mark, as he is back in Africa working, but I bet he is enjoying his month vacation without any demands by the three of us.  It is nice to see our family and friends again, especially the kids with their grandparents.  Not sure when we will be back to America again so I am trying to take it all in and savor the amazing things that make America great to me, which of course is far greater than this blog can ever say. Spending the 4th of July in this great country just might make me cry this year.