American back in America...

A little over a year ago, I was sitting at this exact coffeehouse attempting to tackle this same topic: readjustment to life back in America. The not-so-slight difference being that this adjustment is permanent, rather than a temporary visit. Comparing Iowa to Brussels has become a common occurence, and I constantly find myself irritating my friends with endless phrases that start with "Well, in Brussels..." and "Oh, it's not like that in Europe because..." There are hundreds of differences that I have picked up on since arriving back (tundra-like conditions brought on by air conditioning, the inability to walk to most places, partaking in small talk conversation previously hindered by a language barrier, etc...) but what I think about most often is how what I learned or trained myself to think in Belgium has affected me here. The two biggest lessons I learned thanks to living in Brussels are the following:

1. Not to get worked up over the little things; it will usually work out
2. Take every opportunity to explore; who knows when you'll get this opportunity again

Being a traveler, I had to become accostomed to unexpected delays, encounters, or turns of events. If I had gotten grumpy over every missed bus or every delayed flight, I would have found myself in a state of grumpiness probably 87 percent of the time. I learned that patience and open-mindedness were absolutely ESSENTIAL to surviving my years abroad if I were to try to enjoy myself. How this translates in America is that I learn to check my watch a little less while waiting in line, and smile a little more, even if my vegetables at the restaurant are a little cold. Some things just aren't worth complaining about.

While the first life-altering lesson helps with how to deal with the unexpectedness of life, the second lesson is what helps me enjoy that unexpectedness. I have lived in Des Moines, on and off, for the last 24 years, and it wasn't until I lived abroad that I actually started seeking out new ways to enjoy it. With more freedom to my days, rather than frequent the same cafes and restaurants, I try to utilize every opportunity to try a new place or spend time with new people. And I must say, at times, it's as if I'm living in Des Moines for the first time. While previously, during my high school and early college years, I would complain about the lack of things to do in Des Moines, I know delight myself in driving aimlessly and coming across new coffeshops or parks or hearing about small concerts and obscure events (which is actually how I ended up being able to see my favorite singer Newton Faulkner in a small private concert just a couple weeks ago). My favorite feeling in Europe was that feeling of "how did I end up here again??" a feeling that, with an open mind and lots of free time, I have been able to feel again in Des Moines.

It's certainly a funny transitional period in my life right now without a stable job to bring routine to my day and the failing health of my mother. My limited obligations and practically unlimited freedom have brought an openness to my schedule I am not used to, but I value the opportunities I've been given to spend time with family and fall in love with the city that I had thought I had known so well.

I still hope to add to this blog periodically, thought it will have a different take, probably more reminiscent than retelling. But as long as I can find ways to compare these two fine countries, there will always be more stories to share.