back in the states

monday morning i awoke at 4:30am(france time) and some how carried my heavy bags to the airport...checked them and sat to wait for boarding. just as when i had arrived, it was raining as i boarded the tiny plane, which i believe held around 20 people. i guess i take the sunshine with me! arrived in munich safely and had no problem getting to next gate(H 02). After seating myself in 39G I met a german boy named Franz, whose first time it was to America. he was overly giddy, like a kid trying to hold in a secret! we talked most of the trip, which is good because it kept me from feeling sad from realizing i may never see some of the best people i have ever met...we arrived in chicago, after filling out our forms for customs, at around 1:30pm(chicago time). after going through customs for 2 hours, collecting my bags, so that i could recheck them with united airlines, i finally sat down for another 2 hours of waiting to board. an american man sitting next to me accidently leaned over to look at something outside the window, turns and apologizes for hitting my personal bubble. i tell him after living in europe, there is no bubble, and we both have a good laugh! i adjust the cubs cap i just bought and think, maybe being back in the usa isn't going to be that hard getting used to after all!
we board and spend another hour waiting for clearance. i luckily am sitting next to a german man named lutz, who speaks superb english and we have in depth discussions on language and enjoy laughing at our flight attendant who is all over the place! 2 hours later, i arrive home and mom and head for a dinner at olive garden, with me driving!!!!
next day, i get up early and head to the golf course, and find that i still have a job! and there are 7 girls now working down in the bag room. john says i can start friday at 6:30am...so i am thuroughly excited!! then grandma and grandpa show up! we hang out all day and later with mom go check out aunt gi's amazing embassy hotel she designed. talked to my friend sar from australia for an hour tonight, he is doing well, but we are both a little bummed not to have gotten to see eachother a second time in europe.
today, is a day to relax, soak up some sun, clean clothes, and my room. as i add to this blog i am enjoying listening to dispatch play, 4 months without it and it is still as good as ever!