Ladies, Do You Ever Feel Like This?

:::raising hand:::

This should keep you entertained for the next couple days while I'm on my transatlantic flight. That reminds me, I need to pack my hat...

The Rollercoster of Emotions

So I'm sitting here, dying to get on a plane but not wanting to pack anymore...

I'm really kind of nervous to go home. From the beginning, Kyle and I have both said we didn't want to go home unless we had to. We are afraid that if we go home we won't want to come back. And it doesn't help that the 3 people I've told we're leaving for a month all say that leaving after your first trip home is 10 times harder then leaving to move here.

So, right now I'm nervous, excited, a little sad, overwhelmed, and still nervous.

Once I get there I already know that I'll be overwhelmed and lonely. Overwhelmed because I know I'll be bombarded with English. OK, I know this is going to sound weird but I am not the only one that thinks this. Here I have learned to tune out conversations, mostly because I don't understand them. But now I don't even know that people around me are talking.

Even when we came over for 1 week to find our apartment we got back to the airport in Dulles and my brain went into overdrive. People talking about their dogs pooing on the floor or not getting a receipt for the water bottle they just bought....first I felt like I was listening in on their conversation (maybe they shouldn't have been SCREAMING) and then you just want to scream and them to 'talk about something not lame'! I'm sure the Swiss people talk about things that are just as lame but I don't understand them so I don't know. And when I talk to the Swiss it's always about how I have to pay for something or 'how do i...?'

We already know that Kyle will be working some crazy hours while we're in New York; and I'll be in a hotel for 2 weeks. Luckily there is a mall and some restaurants across the street to entertain me but I can only assume that after I spend all my money and gain 20 lbs I'll be done. But I have English speaking people, bad hotel MTV, and books to keep me company...so I'm all good! Plus, I would much rather be bored and alone in a country that I can go to the movies or out shopping and communicate with people then in a country I can't.

Then we move on to KC:

Hopefully by then I'll be over my talking phobia. (The first week in the states, I can assume, I will have my ipod with me at all times.) I will be SO excited to see everyone! But again I'm sure I'll be overwhelmed. Then, I'll want to go hide in my room because I won't be used to being around everyone. Then I'll be sad that I have to come home.

Then we come home:

I'll be glad to come home becuase I'm always glad to sleep in my own bed and quit living out of suitcases. But I'll also be sad that I'm back here and all my friends are not.

OK. have have to go back to packing and cleaning and pretending to be a good hausfrau...

Let the Packing Finish!

Here's my suitcase for the trip there. I'm going to be gone for a month, that's right - like 29 days. This bag is the size of a carry on - I have never EVER packed this well, EVER.

Here's what's in my bag:

• pair of jeans
• pair of short
• workout top and shorts
• 5 shirts
• black sweatshirt
• 2 pairs of shoes (flip flops)
• shower bag
• toiletries
• jewelry bag
• hairdryer
• hair straightener
• 2 bags of random stuff I always take when I travel (extra contacts, nail clippers, mouthwash, hand sanitizer, etc)
• undergarments
• swimsuit

Now this suitcase will be nested inside of 1-2 others so it'll end up being HUGE...but look how well I can pack when I have a mission. The less I pack going home the more I can bring back.

I've already figured out that I can bring back over 250 lbs worth of stuff. Kyle gets two check bags weighing up to 70 lbs, I get 2 50 lbs bag (don't get me started on the fact that Kyle get's to fly direct in business class and I have a layover in Amsterdam and have to fly coach, BAH!). Then I get a purse and one carry on (my new Vera Bradley duffel) Kyle get's 2 carry ons and a 'ladies handbag'. For the sake of our marriage Kyle will be carrying a 'ladies handbag' onto that airplane...

So we'll be taking home 3 pieces of luggage. We'll buy 2 new pieces in KC (the bigger the better!) and that will give us each 2 checked bags, one carry on, and one 'ladies handbag' a piece. If that's not enough then we can pay for heavier bags or for a 3rd bag (and I think we have bigger problems...)

You Better Be Nice To Me

Shhh...I Have A Secret....

I'M COMING HOME!

($100 says you thought I was going to tell you I was pregnant...I accept cash, check, and dinner at Jose Peppers)

That's right. I just booked my flight today. Kyle has to fly to Armonk, NY to do some work for a couple of weeks and then since he's already that close to home he's going to fly to KC and work from that office for a week and take a week of vacation. So I'm coming with (really, what am I supposed do to by myself for a month in Switzerland...it would be much cheaper if I fly home too).

So we leave on Sunday for New York. Are there until Sept 19th then fly to KC and fly out early morning on October 4th. THAT'S why I've been thinking about all the fun things I'm going to do when I go back to the states...

I'm off to start packing and eating all the perishables (cookies perish right?)!!