The expat life

Well, one of the things that being an expat does to you is make you get really homesick at certain times throughout the year. At least this is my perspective. Yesterday was my first Fourth of July outside the USA (ok, not my first, I think we spent one in Mexico but I was with my family, so it didn't really count).

I am thankful every day to be living abroad. And I am thankful (most) days to be an American. But being an American living abroad is often difficult. I feel many times I loose my individual American-identity. The great thing about living in the States is that they are all so different. California is NOTHING like Ohio. Vermont is NOTHING like Arizona. Florida is NOTHING like Idaho and Washington is NOTHING like any other state because, let's face it... it's the best one! :D But when I'm abroad I'm simply "American" (or sometimes Canadian depending on the situation) ;-) If I meet a Swiss or other central European person who has visited the States, often times it's been Florida, New York or California. There are occasionally those I meet with a little more adventure or whatnot that has taken them to places like Salt Lake City or Chicago but very few have been to Seattle. Which is fine, it gives me more room to convince them that Seattle IS the best. However the problem is that people then think they know the USA. With the megalopolis they've visited and the blurbs of news from the USA that impacts their local news this is the impression we tend to get it seems. I don't know if that's just me, and certainly doesn't apply to ALL the Swiss and locals I know, many of whom are very well versed in matters of international policy, etc. But when it comes to BEING an American, it's tough. What is it that MAKES me an American? It's certainly not my clothes. Not my diet. Not my taste in music or movies. I feel like it can't be as simple as my passport or driver's license. It can't be my language. So what is it?

A friend of mine here, Jande, is a fellow American. But she wasn't always American. She was born in Liberia and after the civil war broke out there her family claimed asylum in the USA. After something like nearly 10 years she became an American citizen (through all the proper methods and red-tape). Despite Jande not being born American, I sometimes feel she's more American than me. She worked for her citizenship. Took a test that most "native" born Americans couldn't pass. Jande is a true American. She fights for her country because of the rights & freedoms she has been given. She loves that America is truly the land of opportunity: if you want to get a higher education, you can. If you want to be successful (and have the will/drive to do so) you can. She loves that we have true FREEDOM of religion in which the government doesn't take part. She loves that we have such a culture and diversity. And you know what? I do too. Sometimes you need an outsider's perspective.

I know that I am blessed to be an American. And I am even MORE blessed to be living away from America, and still be protected by my beloved country. Of course some times I'm not the most grateful. And certainly 3 years ago I would tell everyone in Europe I am Canadian, but at the same time I would never truly deny my citizenship. It has given me so much. (And yes, there are times I wish I was European, for the simplicity of being here, among other things, but when push comes to shove, I want to go HOME to the US of A and know that my beliefs are accepted, my voice is (usually) heard and my dreams literally CAN come TRUE.

I've been d0ing quite a lot of thinking lately, trying to determine what I'll do when I go home, and when exactly it is I'll be going home. Chances are I will be staying in Switzerland past the 12-month mark of February 2011. But in missing the 4th yesterday (and more importantly my family's annual 3rd of July party) I really got homesick. Honestly, I was never super patriotic, or proud, but being away from it really makes me miss it. I guess I forget how our world just adapts to where we are but we never forget where we came from.

In a little less than 1 month my parents are coming to visit me. I am SO excited, more than you can know. I'm just looking forward to hugs, and fun, showing them where I've been spending the last 6 months of my life and talking. There is just so much to talk about. And yes, Skype is my hero, but honestly it doesn't always work the same as in person. And then after they leave I'll be spending 4 days in Amsterdam (at least that's the plan as of now - I've got to get all my traveling in when I can, you know!) In September I must decide the final departure from my dear Swiss, (which at this moment I'm really thinking I'd like to be the end of June, getting me BACK to the States by our Independence day) Then, 4-5 months later I'll be going home for Christmas. 2.5 lovely weeks in the great USA. And then back here. Until the end. It will be weird to go home, I'm sure but I think a year or a little over that is a good time to discover the world a bit. And let's be honest, it's time I get back home and start my life of "adulthood" (bleh!) Speaking of which, if anyone has any great ideas on where I can go to look for/apply for scholarships (and keep in mind I do no sports, have average grades and a homeschool diploma that'd be SUPER). I'm gonna try anyway to apply to PLU (as a transfer if I have enough credits) and work towards my BA in Communication Arts. Wish me luck! (only a year to go before THAT adventure starts and I'm already having to plan it!)

In OTHER news: last weekend was AMAZING despite the fact I missed out on a lot of home-grown fun. Missing the 3rd of July party was replaced with a 23km white water rafting trip with a couple good friends in France. And then a fabulous Chinese dinner with a couple other friends in Nyon. Then Sunday, I actually saw some other Americans! My host mother's sister (who now lives in Boston) is in Swiss visiting with her husband and 11 month old daughter, Josephine (JoJo) and we had a great lunch outside and then I went to church. Rounded out the weekend by talking to my mom on Skype and discussing our plans for their visit and trying to convince my father that the Swiss DO MAKE good wine (the only reason they don't export it is that the Swiss only make about 30% of the demand they require for consumption so they're still importing like crazy! They just drink too much to EXPORT! And with American Au Pairs like me, can you blame them?) and then I watched Sleeping Beauty. So, it works.

Today is the first day of Summer Vacation for the kiddos. Which doesn't mean too much. They're at an all day Summer camp from 9-5 M-Th and then with me all day Fridays. Meanwhile, I'm registered for an Intensive French course (but the day-time one was cancelled so now it's evenings M-Th from 6-7:40pm). The month of July will be an odd one, with a lot of sitting at home, but it will also be good, hopefully I'll have more time/inspiration to write more and of course reply to emails and letters (hint hint, nudge nudge)

Missing everyone, but so glad to have this opportunity abroad. Can't wait to see everyone when I return and learn about your lives, which seem to be passing quicker than it is here.

xoxoxox

PS - you can check out some of my photos from June by going here. Unfortunately with our full body wetsuits and several dunks in ice-cold water while rafting I have no photos of that adventure to show. And alas, my camera batteries have died (my cheap point & shoot that is) and let's face it, there is no way in Hell I was going to take my DSLR Nikon. LOVE you all!