My quick "stopover" home

in the U.S. for one week, between my flights from Asia to Europe, was, well, gone in 60 seconds. There was much to do on my agenda--aside from the routine chore of laundry: spending time with my family, visiting a few friends, dealing with the pile of mail, unpacking, repacking, and shopping for a few last minute essentials...it was all on my *to do" list. Though it felt a bit busy, I`m glad I got to touch base and enjoy the comforts of home for a short time.

The highlights: Having a family dinner, going to the Taste of Colorado with my brother, and shopping with Mom (and Dad too); Catching up with some friends from Vail; Being reminded of the specatular scenery in Colorado, something I often take for granted, on a drive through the mountains; knowing exactly where to get what I`m looking for, sleeping in my own soft pillow-top bed; having all-access to my cell phone and internet; driving in my car with the music blaring and the windows down; tasting fast food favorites like Chick-fil-a and Taco Bell...yup, home is sure great.

It`s surprising how long ago and far away Korea feels already. I had to think long and hard about how to count to ten in Hangul when my mom asked me how. On the other hand, I can`t help but think "eol may eh yo" when I want to ask the price of something, or bowing my head when saying goodbye. Dude, living in a foreign country messes with your head! I`m so confused. Okay, so, no longer do I feel normal wearing ruffles and lace embellished tops, or half-cardigans to cover my shoulders...hell bring out the bare shoulders and miniskirts! WELCOME TO AMERICA!

Though I`ve been reasonsably successful refusing to feel jetlaged, my body didn`t expect the total change in diet. My friend asked me what was different about Korea, and the first thing I though of was the food. I haven`t seen a food I used to eat in Korea...besides a few servings of rice and the lettuce in my salad (though the lettuce I used to eat was wrapped around a hunk of grilled meat and not chopped up in a bowl). I haven`t eaten anything pickled or fermented, no red hot pepper paste or kimichi or cloves of raw garlic. Now, all of my food is served on my own plate, no sharing with anyone, and no side dishes. Even though my stomache still craves the sin of all junk food, ramyun (Korean ramen), I have to say, there`s nothing like good home cookin! All I have left from Korea is a few Green tea cookies and a bottle of soju, and that is okay for now.

A few things I have noticed about being back in America:
*Americans are really friendly. I`ve made quite a few friends with strangers lately...between simple business phone calls, retail clerks and fellow travelers in the airport, I`ve found myself talking to several strangers and receiving a number of random warm smiles from my fellow Americans. It`s nice being able to talk to whomever I feel like again, or evesdrop on a random conversation.
*America is huge. Everything, from the size of our steaks, to our "personal space", to the physical size and shape of people, to the distance between buildings and towns; WOW, America feels really big and spacious.
*America is a marketers paradise. The way marketing is integrated into the fabric of our lives is really getting on my nerves. When I`m suck on an airplane, watching a movie with cheap headphones on a screen in the middle row, the last thing I want is to be sold a US Airways credit card. No, thank you! Hell, it`s bad enough we Americans can`t trust our waitresses "favorites", as they`re usually reccommending the most expensive thing on the menu. Nor, can we take advice from the sales reps at retail stores, exactly how much commission do you get paid if I walk home with this? I`d almost rather be back in Korea, where sales people blatantly shout a pitch the moment you barely glance at an item, at least they don`t mask their true intentions.
*America is diverse. With the number of skin and hair color combinations, and the great range of shapes and sizes, WOW, it`s great. The mix of people, restaurants, and products is never dull. Then again, whomever thought it`d be a great idea to invent eight different kinds of Herbal Essences shampoo and customize them into eight different hair types is certainly ill.

On another note, I arrived in Switzerland this morning, and have spent the day sleeping and catching up with my good friend from Vail (2005) Chiara. More on this next time. :P