There's no place like home

At the passport check during my layover in Germany, the agent scanned through my passport looking for the stamp showing my European entrance date. He looked a bit confused and asked 'how long have you been in Europe'? I looked even more confused than he did, because I didn't know what to say. Maybe because I only had 3 hours of sleep the night before and couldn't think straight, I replied "I don't know, a while?" He didn't looked amused, so I continued "What do you mean?" I didn't know how to answer! What he really wanted was for me to tell him that I live in Poland, and to show him my residence card.  That's because it had been over the 90 day limit of staying in the EU without proper documents. In fact, it had been 16 months since I left Europe at all (unless you count going to the Asia side of Istanbul). That's a long time not to be back home.

The flight to Frankfurt was less than 90 minutes and Frankfurt to Seattle was an easy 10 hours. I passed the time taking short naps, and watching kids movies. I saw Ice Age 2, Johnny English Reborn, and my personal favorite of the 3, the new Muppets movie. It's a bit embarrassing when you watch movies on a personal screen when everyone can see what you're watching...and you're 34 years old, and choosing to watch the Muppets instead of Mission Impossible 4 or some other manly movie. But I figured if Jack Black and Neil Patrick Harris are in it, it's ok to watch. The movie was quite nostalgic and I found myself laughing out loud on the plane to myself, and planning to download episodes of the original Muppet show when I landed.

My parents picked me up at the airport around noon, and after visiting Grandma and feeding her some spaghetti in her nursing home, we went home, I ate a bit, then started (continued) my long day. I tried not to think about the fact that I woke up at 3:30am Poland time that morning, which was 6:30pm Seattle time the night before. As long as I could stay awake until a normal time that night, I could defeat jet lag before it had a chance to get me.

View of Mt. Rainier from my parent's deck

When I was clean, my dad drove me downtown so I could surprise my friend Audrey at work. She used to be my boss 10 years ago (back when I used to think 26 was "old age"). After visiting a while, I was on a mission to buy some new clothes. Macy's, Nordstrom Rack, Banana Republic, Urban Outfitters, and a few others got my business that day. Over the course of my first 24 hours in Seattle I bought so much stuff I had no idea how I was gonna bring it back (including stuff from Costco, Fred Meyer, and the Apple store - I convinced my dad to get me an iPad for my birthday instead of the subscription to the eHarmony dating service he originally wanted to get me). My favorite must have been the 10 different free samples I tried from Costco. I miss weekends at Costco.

My dad has turned into a caveman, and he can't open his eyes for pictures

After shopping, BJ picked me up and we went to meet a bunch of friends at Pho Cyclo, which is the tradition every time I visit. 14 people came and it was great to see everyone. A lot of things are the same as the last time (18 months ago), like the way we are all still immature even in our mid-30s, and we make the same childish jokes as we did in college.  But also, a lot is different, as everyone is married and/or having kids. 10 years ago I never would have guessed some of these guys would have kids before me! (I mean that in a very nice way, of course). After pho we went to get frozen yogurt, then to a bar for a couple drinks, and finally to Dick's for a midnight burger. That's 3 foods that I craved taken care of in one night! I lasted until midnight that first day, defeating jet lag before it even started.

Of all the foods I craved, I think Haas avocados was #1

The next morning I woke up completely confused as to where I was. I recognized the room, but couldn't put a finger on the exact location and didn't know what I was doing there. After a couple confusing moments, I realized I was in my old bedroom. How crazy that I didn't even realize I was in my own room (and this had nothing to do with alcohol, mind you!). It was even more confusing when I went upstairs and my parents are sitting there doing the same things college kids do when they wake up: sitting in their pajamas, playing on their computer and iPad.  What world did I transport to???

After a day of some work, and shopping, it was time for Scott's wedding. Before Scott's wedding, I had to do something else I hadn't done in 18 months...drive a car. I was actually a bit nervous! In the end, it was ok, but it took me about 10 minutes to park the car...I kept turning it off, getting out, checking the distance to the curb, going back in to adjust, coming out to check the distance to the next car, etc...it was pathetic.

Scott and Sibyl's wedding was a lot of fun. It was pretty intimate, and they did the ceremony and reception in a nice restaurant. I got to see friends and friends' families I hadn't seen in a while. I spent the whole night trying to convince everyone to come Poland, and as people drank more, they were all yelling 'let's go to Poland!' Even my friend's parents said they'd visit me! Unfortunately Scott didn't let me make a speech about it. Speaking of making speeches, if there are any of my friends with a lot of stories to embarrass him with in front of his wife's family, it's Scott. I don't even know where to start with the stories. We've been through a lot together, including carpooling to college together for 4 years, which meant me never being on time for an 8:30 class because he was always sleeping when I picked him up. His mom ended up giving me a key to his house so she didn't have to always get out of bed to let me in. Scott committed to waking up on time and told me I could pour water on his head if I ever caught him sleeping when I got there. Lucky for me, I got to pour water on his hear to wake him up more than once. I definitely didn't mind being late those days.

Scott and Sibyl, with a bun in the oven (Sybil's oven, not Scott's)

I had a 6am flight the next morning for my 24 hours in San Francisco, so I left the wedding early, and didn't drink since I had to drive and I was exhausted. In Washington state you can have about a drink per hour and be under the legal driving limit for blood alcohol level, but since it's been so long since I've driven, or driven after any drinks, I didn't want to take a chance of even getting close. In fact, it seems that if Europe can survive on a legal limit of basically zero alcohol level, and it can be a part of culture that is taken so seriously by the people, why can't the US do that? It would sure save on a lot of drunk driving deaths and accidents during the year.

After the SF weekend, which I will write about next, I came back for a few more days in Seattle of family, playing tourist (Pike Place Market, the first Starbucks, etc), meeting friends (and getting treated to meals and drinks...thanks!), and shopping (plus a bit of swimming at the YMCA for triathlon training).  I ended up with an extra duffle bag filled with clothes and food to bring back, including hershey's kisses, honey mustard, quinoa, contact solution, and a few other things.  We had a very nice Easter BBQ with some family and friends who came over to enjoy our new deck at the house, and the weather was 70 degrees on Easter Sunday.  My allergies were miserable, but there was good food, and even a couchsurfing friend I met in Venice came to the BBQ, because she was visiting Seattle at the time.

Happy hour on the Amazon.com campus

Home made BBQ short ribs and shrimp

One funny thing happened when I visited my Aunty Lilly (Grandma's sister).  She is 101 years old, and moving around just like she did 30 years ago. She kept making jokes and hitting me, telling me I look handsome (no, that's not supposed to be a joke!). When I told her that she looked good, she hit me and said "now don't say that just because I said it...and stop changing the subject!".  Then she'd change the subject herself by asking "How tall are you?"  She stood up and compare who was taller...there aren't too many people I feel like a giant next to, but Aunty Lilly is one of them!. Then I gave her some Turkish Delight (chewy candy).  She put it in her mouth, stopped chewing with it sticking out of her mouth, paused, then yelled "it made my teeth come out!"  She's hilarious.  It's funny because her false teeth actually did all come out.  :)

Aunty Lilly, at 101 (with all her teeth in)

All in all, it was so nice to go home for a few days, to see all my family and friends, and to go back to how life used to be.  I don't think I "fit in" as much as I did years ago, when I last lived there, but it was still nice to see even though a lot of things have changed, the best parts have stayed the same.  Seattle will always be "home" for me.