reflections on travel...and my first hours back in the states

i'm not an overly patriotic person...but i gotta say...i love america! i saw a license plate this morning it said, "i luv usa"...and today, i agree!

here's what i've seen/observed/loved so far...

dinner yesterday, breakfast today...like a symphony in my mouth. i mean, we eat well in kolkata, but i gotta say, America knows how to make great food...i probably make really horrible meal company though cause i'm so excited about what i'm tasting that i can't focus on a conversation.

merilee met me in Chicago for my layover. we watched the world cup final together (awesome). i'm so glad someone won before it went to penalty kicks. i hate it when soccer games end in a shoot out. a crowd of spain fans had gathered, and when they scored and they started chanting, "Es-pan-a" it was pretty sweet.

also, my sister sent me great homemade cookies :)

a taxi ride from the airport to my hotel...a cool breeze, no horns, no traffic jams...man, it was beautiful.

a long hot shower.

a dark, silent room and a soft cozy bed...oh man...

i've turned into a coffee snob. how does that happen when you live in a country where the only coffee available is instant? well, its cause the only coffee i drink is great coffee that i bring with me from the states, or friends ship to me...so apparently my standards of a good cup of joe have been raised.

yesterday during my layover in chicago i hated that i was wearing pants when it was a great summer day. i told merilee i felt "trapped in my pants" - no more...today its cute summer clothes for me! (yeah for shorts!).

there were people riding bikes in the frankfurt airport. it was great

apparently stretch pants with droopy bottoms are in style in Europe. weird.

had a nice chat in bengali with my taxi driver on the way to the airport in Kolkata (he's our community taxi man, so i felt comfortable talking with him). small talk in bangla. it was so comfortable. i understood him. he told me that i spoke really nice bangla, and that i'd learned very quickly (cause he asked how long i'd been there). nice to leave the language with such an affirming conversation!

when the customs man hurriedly said, "welcome home" on my way into chicago, well, i didn't exactly feel like he meant it...but it sure is good to be in this home!