Never sleeps

[khaleesian]

TL;DR version: I have moved back to the US after 10 years away. It's nice, but I often still feel like I'm in a foreign country.

Comments

[lexstar29]

So much of this resonates. I can only imagine the depth of change, from Abu Dhabi and desert living, to New England.

When I was still in a very nomadic existence, I went from a tiny island to going back to London, and that took some adjustment for sure.

Sending you all the best for this next chapter.

[khaleesian]

Thank you my dear.

[lousy_science]

My Florence of Arabia trip is one of my fondest memories. I feel ya; on one hand, you're growing as a person, learning new stuff, understanding your feelings and being sensitive to them - all super good things - but ouch, they hurt. Which is the downfall of taking the harder way, you gotta take the discomfit.

[khaleesian]

Pro tip: never go back in an election season. :/

[lousy_science]

Perhaps you can find a Chrome app that will auto-switch "Trump" to "Clownstick von Fuckface"?

[amai_kaminari]

Welcome back to the US! (And, specifically, to the East Coast.)

Hopefully there's enough diversity in your new neighborhood that you will be able to find your footing and transition smoothly. :)

[khaleesian]

Thank you! Upper West Side is kinda so so on diversity, but there's plenty to be found just a short subway ride away!

[cattraine]

If I could I would be living in Vancouver, B.C. in a heartbeat. Its the most beautiful city in the world as far as I am concerned. I need some kind of career that lets me travel.

[khaleesian]

Were you still thinking about teaching in the Gulf?

[cattraine]

I am still considering it, not sure I would like the area.

[mandragora1]

I really envy you the peace and quiet of your new neighbourhood. ;D Must be such such a change from the pace of London life *cough*

A bit of culture shock is, I think, only to be expected. I remember experiencng that even moving within England, when I was a child and you've moved between far more varied cultures than that. You're very adaptable so I suspect that you'll be swimming along merrily soon.

[khaleesian]

We're getting there. I'm really looking forward to autumn! One thing I hadn't considered: we're going to have a new president next year and things are already gearing up to be ugly. I literally cannot watch television....it's like being bukkake-d with stupidity. :(