The journey home...

I'm here, back in my old bedroom at my parents house in the town that I grew up in and it feels so familiar it's strange. Like nothing at all has changed...except me.
My trip home was very smooth, no glitches at all...so thank you to those of you sending positive thoughts for safe travels. The journey took about 24 hours. Luckily Chiang Mai has an International Airport so I took the relatively short trip of 5 hours from Chiang Mai to Seoul, had a 4 hour layover at Seoul (I actually laid out on benches and got some good sleep), then the journey continued with the painfully long leg from Seoul to Chicago which is 12 hours. (I forced myself not to look at the flight progress screen, finally I had to and was so disappointed to discover 5 hours remaining!!! Which is the point when I said to myself, I live REALLY far away!) I didn't really sleep much on the flight, but caught up on some good movie watching and last night I sleep like a champion because I was so exhausted.
My folks picked me up at the airport and we picked up right where we left off...I'm grateful to say that even though I've spent the past year halfway around the world I don't feel like I've missed out on details of my parents life because we keep in such great communication. We skype at least once a week and talk on the phone several times a week and occasionally facebook chat in between. It really is true...with the technology we have available to us these days, the world is shrinking. Makes me think of  what Fuad always says to me when he travels far away for his work trips. "Distance is an illusion" at this point I'd have to agree...but I've learned this past year that you have to put some effort into maintaining relationships...you know, like send the occasional email, make the phone call, do the facebook chat, or send a card in the mail!...I can't think of a time when I didn't feel so happy to hear from a far away friend.
Anyway...
I know that this trip is going to send me reeling...and that many of the people in my life here might not understand the process of reverse culture shock and how I'm feeling, but I'm willing to share my process.
So...with that said, on my first morning back in this town that I love, I'm going for a walk on the lakefront, then I'm going to sit and stare at the water and contemplate the beauty of nature and the beauty of this life I'm so blessed to live.
and then...I'm going to find something really delicious to eat!
If you want to hang out...don't wait, contact me! For now, via facebook until I get my phone working.

One of my favorite wedding pictures taken on the lakefront in St. Joe, my hometown...