I have been home for 7 days at this point, and it has been a hard adjustment. I have woken up after falling asleep on my own couch wondering where I was. Tomorrow I am leaving for a long planned cruise, so I am not doing much.
After 6 months in Europe, I have noticed:
(1) Some places have "supermarkets" about the size of 2 7-11's. (and they are called Supermarkets), and people seem quite content with them. Yesterday I went to a new Trader Joe's, which is twice the size of these foreign supermarkets, and then to a new Whole Foods, which is twice the size of the Trader Joe's. And of course I didn't go to Publix, which is larger then both.
(2) People in other lands make due with small cars, in some places 30 year Yugo's (the same type sold here long ago). Now I REALLY can't understand the obsession with Expeditions and Tahoe's.
(3) Going to the gym isn't the same as walking everywhere. It's just exercise truncated. Europeans walk a lot more, and it looks it. Even those who have smoked for a long time (and look it with horrible skin), and have bed teeth, are thinner then most Americans it seems.
(4) After 6 months in Europe, I realize that Florida is REALLY bright and sunny.
(5) The more places I have been, the more places I realize I haven't seen.
Yesterday I went to Miami and the International Auto Show-it was nice to be around people once again who are speaking a language other than English. (It felt comfortable for a reason). At the auto show, I spoke to one woman from the Hyundai display about Hyundai's in Europe (there is a small model called the I10 which isn't sold here). She was actually very interested, since she was only trained on US sold models.
Not an easy adjustment. I miss paying $3.00 for a meal and tipping only 10% (if really satisfied). I miss culture, history, etc. But I AM looking forward to the cruise.
