So for the past three weeks I've been back in the US. First in North Carolina where I stayed in Sanford with my very disgruntal sister for the majority of the time. Although I had every intention on coming back to the States when semester one had finished, I only made the trip out to North Carolina first because my best friend was getting married, and she had asked me to be a bridesmaid (note: even if she HADN'T asked me to be in the wedding, the simple fact that she is my best friend means I would have made the trip out...that and I'm in love with the groom ;-) Just kidding...) Anyway, so from the very first day in NC I was reminded of all the reasons I hated it for the nine miserable years I spent there before: it was ridiculously hot, humid, and...worst of all...country. I've never taken a shine to much-too-cocky-rednecks waltzing around in there cowboy boots. I mean seriously people...move to Texas...at least there you don't look as much like a...nevermind. Moving on. As you can no doubt tell I have zero love for the eastern part of the country, but not all was bad. I was able to see Drew, Phil and Joe, friends from high school with whom I have all but lost contact...occasionally there would be a random Facebook message, but generally I knew nothing of them. And then of course there was Ms. Carlee Macon's wedding, which was absolutely fabulous.
On July 4th we were all in Charlotte (perhaps the one exception to my hate for the south) for the Bachelorette party. Drinks in the hotel, followed by dinner and drinks, followed by the best bar in Charlotte to have a bachelorette party and drinks. It was great fun from beginning 'til end. It was the first time in six months I had seen my lovelies Lauren, Char'Lee and DeAnna, so it was a great reunion (the only reason I had seen Carlee before was because she picked me up from the airport when my own family came up with every excuse not to). The weekend following was the main event. We all (the bridesmaids) spent the night at the location where we made an attempt to finish off some of the left over rehearsal dinner wine...didn't happen as we switched to Sweet Tea Vodka and Lemonaide instead...great combination...(I had no idea it existed until this return visit). Saturday we set up and got ready, shielding with all our might the fact that it was raining from Carlee. Fortunately right before pictures it stopped and sky broke open with sun, only a gift from the Lord. Our hair all done, pictures taken, we broke open a bottle of wine to toast the beautiful bride and walked the isle...or the grassy patch between the rows of seats. She picked a gorgeous location for an outside wedding, and fortunately that day the rain had cooled the temps. The ceremony lasted a good 20 minutes followed by more pictures, more wine, food, cake and then dancing. I caught the bouquet again...I need to stop doing that or I'll end up...well you know. I saw the Marshbanks at the wedding, the couple that gave me my scholarship to attend Mars Hill. It was great being able to see them again, as they were unable to make it out for my graduation.
Monday after the wedding, I left super early in the morning for California. I woke up at 2:30 am (after only going to sleep at 1am) to get to the airport by 4. My flight left at 6am. All was going well until our unfortunate delay in Texas due to mechanical problems...finally an hour and a half behind schedule I landed in sunny Southern California to be greeted by my mommy. Oh how I have missed this place...and then, not. I was once again in awe of the grandness of the highways and the ridiculous amount of money poured into buildings, but a part of me never came home with me when I left Costa Rica and although I'm home...I'm not. Arnold, my big red Blazer is out of order, so I've been sans vehicle all week, but Mom has been coming home early at lunch time so we've been going out shopping and running errands, buying things for my apartment in Costa Rica. On Saturday we took a trip to the Queen Mary, a retired Cruise Liner and toured that for a few hours. It could quite possibly be my only look at a cruise ship for a few years...maybe until my honeymoon when current chances are that my future husband kills me. Sorry, morbid moment.
Anyway, all that being said. I really enjoyed church this morning as I saw all the people I haven't seen in six months. It felt like I had never left, minus having to answer "So how's Costa Rica?" every five minutes. I actually miss the guys there...not that I'd EVER admit that to them ;-)...well not seriously anyway...
To top off the ridiculous contradiction that is my life, sitting here thinking that in one week I will once again be in Central America makes me oddly sad. I have an excelent opportunity now to sell Arnold and buy my Mazda 3, but chances of having this same opportunity in December of 2010 are slim to none. Leaving Mom and my dogs is always hard...they always unknowingly make me second guess my study abroad decisions. But when it comes down to it I think, I only have three semesters left. Yes semester one was hard. Yes it dragged on and on. Yes Saturday at 7am classes are zero fun, but where else can I get a Master's education for a little more than $500 a semester? No where. So I'll suck it up again. Go back down. Kick ass at semester numero dos, and come back in December for another visit home and then another maybe-I-should-just-stay-here-and-finish-up-at-CS San Diego second guessing-myself-session.
P.S. Don't you love how in English we can make adjectives by stringing together a bunch of normal words??? I do...until I have to translate them :-S
No comments:
Post a Comment