Settling In

I know I haven’t been writing much lately, and sincerely apologize, as I realize this makes for a pretty uninteresting blog.  It’s not that life hasn’t been interesting lately; it’s more that life has been incredibly overwhelming lately.  One would think that, with all of the bouncing around I do, moving to a new city would be a piece of cake.  I should be a pro at this by now.  Wrong.  The reality is, moving back to the states and to SoCal has been a little bit of a culture shock and is requiring some readjustment on my part.  I’ve been able to take most things in stride and appreciate this move for the adventure it is, but it’s taking time for me to feel settled and comfortable.

Some of the details of being back home are wonderful.  Food is less expensive.  Alcohol is much less expensive.  I can order a bottomless cup of coffee at breakfast.  My friends are thousands of miles closer.  But then, there are other details that remind me I’ve been out of the loop for a while and make me feel like a stranger in my own home.

I still have fleeting moments of panic when I drive, wondering for a split second if I’m actually on the correct side of the road.  More than once, I’ve felt compelled to take a wide right-hand turn.  Just as often, I forget which side of the car I’m supposed to get in.  A friend caught me in this conundrum the other day, which was a little embarrassing, but I couldn’t help it.  My poor brain just doesn’t know what to do.

The sheer massiveness of everything gets to me sometimes, too.  The freeways are expansive and traffic is a nightmare.  Even the local roads are big and bustling.  Everything is built-up and commercialized.  The world out here seems to be constantly running at an amped-up pace.  Brisbane may be a big city, but it is nothing compared to this.

I know it’s just going to take some time for me to settle in and hit my stride.  And, right now, I’m actually enjoying observing all of the cultural differences that I had become oblivious to.  And, I’m sure, after a few months I will remember exactly what side of the road I’m supposed to be on.