Home is sweet

Almost 1 year after making the move to Singapore, I made my first trip back home to surprise my parents for their 40th wedding anniversary. The surprise was a great success. Having an identical twin sister comes in really handy for tricking your parents. You can watch the video here, but please excuse my bed head and pajamas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcCMCUaBFGM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

After the surprise, we just hung around the house and caught up. All 7 of us, under the same roof, for the first time in a very long time. And the next day we headed to the barn, on my grandparent’s old farm ground, to help decorate and prepare for a celebration of my parent’s 40 years together. The night was perfect. My sister & Aunt Barb did an amazing job planning. My aunt Sara and Uncle Steve made the trip all the way down from Minnesota and helped us set up when they arrived, as well as my awesome cousins and uncle Randy. Uncle Don had the barn in tip top shape, mowing and hauling in hay bales despite being sick. And my uncle Stevie set up all his DJ equipment and filled the air with wonderful sounds of good ole American music. It really was a night I will never forget. Just as wonderful and sweet as the two people we were all there to celebrate. My only complaint is we didn’t finish the keg. I thought we were better than that!

I got America’s best while I was home. Complete with a trip to the Drive-in Movie theater to see Smurfs 2. My own personal class-reunion with some of my closest classmates and all their kiddos, including Cullen, the newest addition. Which I’m really kicking myself for not getting a photo of all of us! (and really sad to have missed Maranda and her kiddos) A convertible ride with the cutest girl in St. Marie. I helped mom make a quilt! Had a few beers at the WSL, pork burgers, Pizza Man and my mom’s homemade blueberry muffins, and on my last morning in Newton, a cup of coffee with Michelle to see Evan get on the bus and head off to the first day of first grade. It was fantastic and crazy to think how much changes in just one year.

Part 2 of my trip was spent in my second home. Chicago. The most beautiful city in the world (still holds true, even after my new exposure and travels) It also doesn’t hurt that I’m lucky enough to be friends with the coolest people in the city. We had fancy cocktails at some place Amanda was mayor at (which could be a number of places) Nick and Nat threw a real american BBQ, with like 35lbs of smoked pig but, a whole family of chickens, 2 turkeys and a partridge in a pear tree. It was a great place to catch up with a ton more awesome people and pig out on the best food in the world. (Again, speaking from more international dining experience now and it still holds true) My only complaint is, we didn’t finish the keg. COME ON GUYS, WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS!!

Every part of my trip was absolutely perfect. Which is why I’ve been struggling to write this post. Because after just 10 short days of being surrounded by the friends and family you love most in this world, I felt pretty lonely when I got back. Tried to keep myself busy and surrounded with people as much as possible to fight off what I knew was going to be a nasty case of homesickness. And it was. Or shall I say, it is. Probably 87% worse than when I first moved here. But I think that’s probably normal, right? This time last year I was taking a giant leap, starting a new adventure and moving to a country I’d never seen all on my own. I was all pumped up on adrenaline, living on the rush of the excitement of being the new kid at work and meeting new people. Now, Singapore is more familiar, which is really good in most ways. I’ve got some new experiences under my belt and have met some amazing people, but the kind of bond I share with all my Americans peeps just takes time. So, here’s to the next year of learning, loving, growing and pushing forward with the support of all you back home. Thanks for making me feel so damned loved! 

the sky flying into chicago

coolest cousins in the world (and one awesome aunt)

Drive in movie (the company was better than the flick )

double rainbow on my parent’s 40th anniversary!

best dog in the world (but not the smartest)

Meeting little combsie 🙂

 finally meeting Harper! cutest nephew in the world.

Lounging in Wicker Park

Meeting Cullen!