Snarking (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} snarking) wrote,@ 2006-10-27 21:37:00 |
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Well, since fully half (read: 2) of my readers responded, now I have to write something. Not that Justin has written anything lately, either. ^^
So, an update: I left Japan, flew to California, drove cross-country (in 3 days; I'm so proud of myself), and am now in Virginia. I'm staying with friends until I can move into my own apartment on November 19th. It's been 7 years since I last lived in the states, and I would say that it took me about 2 months to get over the reverse culture shock, get used to the new work schedule, and feel more comfortable getting around. I'm finally starting to feel like myself again, to get out, explore, and do the kinds of things that I like to do, and to not feel like a stranger anymore. It's weird; in Japan, where everyone stares at you as a matter of course, I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Here, where I look just like everyone else, I felt like people were staring at me all the time and that I really stood out.
And it was odd not only moving back to the states after being away for so long, but not being 'home' either. Virginia is not like California, neither of them are like Japan, and my friends are probably sick of answering my stupid questions all the time. Some things still freak me out - it's still a shock every time I see the Washinton Monument, the Capitol Building, or the Lincoln Memorial. It's weird to drive past the Pentagon every day. It's amazing to be around so many gorgeous old brick buildings, so many trees, and see so much green all around.
Anyway, it's about time for me to go and dye my hair an unnatural shade of red. I'm doing cool Halloween stuff this weekend, so maybe I'll post some pictures if I take any good ones. I miss the Halloween Haunt at Knott's Berry Farm, though, dammit!
So, an update: I left Japan, flew to California, drove cross-country (in 3 days; I'm so proud of myself), and am now in Virginia. I'm staying with friends until I can move into my own apartment on November 19th. It's been 7 years since I last lived in the states, and I would say that it took me about 2 months to get over the reverse culture shock, get used to the new work schedule, and feel more comfortable getting around. I'm finally starting to feel like myself again, to get out, explore, and do the kinds of things that I like to do, and to not feel like a stranger anymore. It's weird; in Japan, where everyone stares at you as a matter of course, I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Here, where I look just like everyone else, I felt like people were staring at me all the time and that I really stood out.
And it was odd not only moving back to the states after being away for so long, but not being 'home' either. Virginia is not like California, neither of them are like Japan, and my friends are probably sick of answering my stupid questions all the time. Some things still freak me out - it's still a shock every time I see the Washinton Monument, the Capitol Building, or the Lincoln Memorial. It's weird to drive past the Pentagon every day. It's amazing to be around so many gorgeous old brick buildings, so many trees, and see so much green all around.
Anyway, it's about time for me to go and dye my hair an unnatural shade of red. I'm doing cool Halloween stuff this weekend, so maybe I'll post some pictures if I take any good ones. I miss the Halloween Haunt at Knott's Berry Farm, though, dammit!
