After almost 2 weeks back in the USA I am trying to fit in. The first clue that we might be a little strange was at the Dulles airport. Hannah found a drinking fountain and was so excited. She rushed over to me begging me to use it. I said go ahead. She ran off and came back and said kind of sheepishly, "How do I work it?". She quickly figured it out and her brothers joined her in the "drinking right from the tap" fun times. Ben decided he could get more water in his mouth quicker if he wrapped his mouth around the whole drinking spout. Sigh. We had just shown our lack of cultural savvy.
Starbucks is a whole other matter. My first Starbucks was slightly embarrassing. I nervously stepped up to the counter and the peppy overcaffeineated coffee girl asked what I'd like. I said, "Uh...a...er...medium coffee?". She said, "You mean a grande? What kind of coffee?". Crap. Too many choices. I settled on an iced tea. But then she wanted to know what flavor and did I want syrup? I wanted to cry with shame at not being able to remember how to order a stupid coffee. Yesterday Dan and I went to get a coffee. I asked for a grande cappaccino, thinking I finally had the lingo down. The girl says (kind of smugly if you ask me), "How do you want that?" What? She sighs at my stupidity and says, "Dry or wet????". Uh...dry? So I get the coffee and there is only like an inch of coffee and 8 inches of foam. I was so annoyed with myself.
Other things are coming easier. Like eating. We have avoided too much processed food since we don't usually have a lot of that in Uganda. But after resisting for a week we stopped at McDonald's. Our kids were so happy. An hour after eating the food Dan had a headache and I felt like I was about to go into a coma. We ate at our favorite mexican restaurant two days ago. I inhaled my weight in tortilla chips and salsa and then shared a burrito with Dan. I wished later that night that someone would put me out of my misery because I was to full. I have stuck with salads and yogurt since then. (Greek yogurt with honey and blueberries is the best thing in the world.)
Shopping has also come easy. With everyone clearing out their summer stuff we are just in time to scoop it up. I came with empty suitcases and they are gettting dangerously close to being filled.
All in all we are slowly remembering how to engage with our own culture. Thanks goodness we have had such good friends and family helping us along the way. Stay tuned for more adventures of the un-socially skilled Team5Morris. We are off to Montana next!
