Before we go somewhere for the day, Chickpea has this tradition of asking if she can take with her any myriad of toys.  Sometimes it’s reasonable - a notebook and pencil for drawing at a restaurant, for example; but other times, it’s positively bizarre.  Her toothpaste, a Little People-brand polar bear, a bouncy ball, some socks, and a block, all in her purse, for instance.

We were laughing about this today as we headed out for a day of rest as a family.  It had been awhile since we vegged just the four of us, so we decided to make a day of just strolling, browsing some shops, playing at the park, and eating lunch at the new! Schlotzsky’s now 10 minutes from our house (glory, glory hallelujah).  (We also now have a neighborhood Gap, Banana Republic, and Sephora, but more on that some other time.)

So as we left the house, it got us to thinking about what exactly we’re going to bring to the States.  We’re not going to bring much - our plan is to buy quite a bit of stuff there (clothing, books, etc.) and bring it back with us, since everything is so much cheaper and better quality across the pond.  For the four months we’ll be out of our home, we’re only going to pack two suitcases, for the four of us altogether.  I’m sure we’ll be bringing much more back.

It’s funny how we’ve been feeling the past week.  It’s been quite awhile since we’ve longed for the States.  When we first moved here, we went through serious American withdraw - we’ve been reminded of that lately, as we’ve witnessed the adjustment of our friends who’ve lived here for just a few months.  It’s hard to believe just how American you are until you leave American soil.  And then it’s painfully obvious.

But somewhere along the line, the yearning for all things American starts fading away, and before you know it, you’re pretty used to your new lifestyle.  Sure, there are things you always miss (queso, margaritas, libraries), but you don’t dwell on it anymore.  It’s no longer shocking to make absolutely every. little. thing. from scratch.

So now we’re just a few weeks away from being stateside again, and the shakes are coming back.  It’s weird.  Things about this culture that haven’t bothered me for over a year are starting to grate me again.  I’m longing for cheddar cheese again.  Both of our brains are already in the U.S.  The problem with this, naturally, is that our bodies are still here.

We’re just packing the bare minimum.  But when we return here, there’s no telling what we’ll lug back.

Tonight, sitting on the balcony, after dinner…

CHICK: Mom, can I tell you a princess story?

ME: Sure.

CHICK: Once upon a time, there was a princess.  She was walking through the jungle, and there were tigers, and she was scared.  But then, angel came to her, and he said, “Don’t be afraid.  God loves you so much.  Be happy!”  So she was not scared anymore.  And then, she came to some big water.  And she saw a basket floating in the water, and it came to her, and it had a pillow and a blanket, and on top of that was a baby.

ME: What was the baby’s name?

CHICK: Lucy.  She was a girl.  So then the princess takes the basket with the baby inside, and she brings it to her mom and dad.  And she says to them, “Look what I found!  It’s baby Lucy.”  And they were so happy.  And then her parents and the princess decided they should ALL have the baby together, because that’s sharing, and sharing is a good idea.  So the princess said, “Can we all play together?”  And her mom and dad said, “Sure!  Let’s all go to the playroom and play.”  And then the princess had some ice cream before going to bed.  The end.

Tonight, as we were cleaning up from dinner…

CHICK: [singing]  Praise God from whom all blessings flow, He is good, and He made the rainbows, and He’s in heaven.  Thank you for Jesus.  And please help me obey my parents.  And praise God, He made me a dessert.  And please God, don’t make monsters in my room.  And praise God for America.  And for ballerinas.

• ME: Hey guess what, Chick?  When we get to America, you, me, Nana, Aunt Joan, and Nellie [Chick's cousin] are going to see The Nutcracker together!
• CHICK: [look of amazement on her face] Will I get to be a ballerina?
• ME: Well, you can always pretend to be a ballerina at home.  But when we go, we’re going to sit in the audience and watch ballerinas dance on stage.
• CHICK: Can I wear a tu-tu?
• ME: Well, when we go, we’ll get all dressed up in pretty dresses.
• CHICK: [nodding, as if she completely understands]  And I’ll be a mouse, and you’ll be the princess, and Holden [her other cousin] can be the nutcracker!  It will be so fun.
• ME: Chick, we’re just going to watch it.  We’re not going to be in it.

A few hours later…

• CHICK: I can’t wait to be in the nutcracker with Holden!