Lists

Things I loved about being overseas:

- Learning to drive on the other side of the road
- Small, functional grocery stores without much bloat
- Amazing food (particularly Indian food...)
- Good beer
- Courtesy as a default, not as an exception
- Some of the most peaceful countryside imaginable
- Castles and buildings much older than the US
- Choral Evensong
- Outstanding public transportation
- Equal access to "city" events as well as relaxing spots in the countryside
- TV that wasn't total rubbish
- TV that was total rubbish, just a different kind of rubbish

Things that make me glad to be back in the US:

- Baseball/SportsCenter on ESPN (vice Cricket on SKY)
- People with accents that are more southern than mine
- Jack Daniels
- Steaks big enough to be worth eating
- Mass (I only saw one Catholic Church in two months; it was on the Welsh coast...)
- Friends & Family
- Feeling more able to understand others and communicate with them
- More variety on the radio/tv
- Manageably sized plugs for electronics
- Friends & family
- The comfort of being home
- Making use of the "Discover America" pamphlet that Colin and I picked up at a rest stop in Yorkshire

I think it's fair to say that I changed a bit over the past couple months. I definitely feel more independent, and in a lot of ways more clear-headed and sure of myself. It was great to have a big break in my routine and to find myself in a series of totally new situations, learning to adapt. Coming back is always a little bittersweet, but I think it's fair to say that I got what I wanted out of the trip. I'm feeling pretty excited about life at home, and like I worked myself out of some of the rut I felt like I was in before I left.

Still no major insight on "what I want to do when I grow up" - right now I have a good job, and I'm taking interesting classes, and I really can't complain at all. I think at some point I'd really like to work for myself.