How Connecticut is like China

It's been too long since I've posted. I'm working on a long, reflective-type post about my past year in China, but haven't finished it yet. And since I may not any time soon, I might as well move on and update about some other things.

I'm back in America! I arrived on September 24 and spent my first few weeks back with my family in Connecticut. They live in Norwalk. It's close to NYC. I was surprised at the number of ways my family's new home was like the place I had just come from. Here are a few examples:

• I heard a foreign language almost every time I left the house. Mostly that language was Spanish, but at Linens and Things I overheard a Chinese couple arguing about what kind of rug to buy.
  
• You can't drink the water. Maybe you can, but my sister has convinced my mom it's not ok so I too resisted the urge to drink a glass of water directly from the faucet.
  
• It was loud like China. I didn't hear fireworks, but loud traffic, honking, and sometimes yelling were quite common.
  
• I felt like a foreigner. I didn't get stared at like one, but I felt foreign sometimes.
  
• Just like in China I didn't drive. I don't particularly enjoy driving, so having my mom, dad, sister, or brother-in-law chauffeur me around was a nice treat. It was like the privilege and convenience of Chinese taxis, without having to pay and being able to speak English.
  

My dad and I drove around and saw some great coastal scenery. I enjoyed looking at the houses. Each one seemed to be so different from each other and have so much character. And I loved being close to the water and seeing all the boats:

And my mom and I went to a National Park for a walk and wading in the ocean:

I don't have a picture, but I enjoyed going to the farmer's market each Wednesday and buying delicious fresh fruits and vegetables that became our family's dinner each night.

But maybe the best thing was my last day there when I got to accompany my sister to her doctor's appointment and see the ultrasound and hear the heartbeat of my future niece or nephew!

I had a job interview there also and it went really well. But, I turned the offer down in order to come back to Oklahoma. That's where I am now and I'll update the rest another day.