Back home

Hi viewers... I greatly apologise for the 2 weeks without a blog update. The main reason for this is that the first week I was very busy packing, organising my return home, etc and the second week was spent recovering from jet lag at home.

So... this will be a very short blog, just tying up some loose ends!

The last week spent in America was quite stressful; I tried to cram all my things into my suitcase. This shouldn't have been a difficult task (my suitcase almost as big as me!) but I have a knack of acquiring things when I go away.

The last rotary meeting was quite surreal. Nobody could quite believe I had spent 7 weeks in America; it felt like a few days! I gave a short "goodbye" speech (and when I say short, I mean my version of short i.e. a good 5-10 minutes!?) and just said some "thank you"s. I handed over the District 1090 badges (Banbury District) and received a very bright orange banner of the Auburn Rotary. I was also given a number of small gifts for me... A mug with pictures of all the places I worked, some postcards of the Finger Lakes in different seasons, a beautiful navy scarf with the Rotary symbol on it and a book of Auburn in the last century. Whilst I was very very grateful for the generosity of the gifts, as I received more and more, I was becoming more and more concerned about the space (or lack thereof) in my suitcase. I did NOT want to get stopped in customs.

But, somehow, by sitting on my suitcase until it squashed down enough, I got everything in, said goodbyes to the Ferros and got into the waiting car that would take me to Rochester Airport. That journey was so surreal; we listened to country music, I saw the last of the American scenery, heard my last American accent, I'm getting a little teary just thinking about it now!

So, 2 flights, 16 hours later, a car ride home and I sit in my room. It feels like the past 2 months have been a particularly well thought out dream. But then I remember that it was all real, Niagara Falls, the Law Courts, EVERYTHING!

I got so much out of the Rotary Exchange. Maybe a little list might help?

• Smaller communities are amazing
• There are no stereotypical addicts; addiction can affect anyone at any stage
• According to every lawyer I met over there, law is a terrible career choice!
• That roller skating is a bit dangerous, but also the most fun I've had in a long time
• Niagara Falls will no longer exist in 10,000 years
• That my complete obsession with Country music can only be explained by the hypothesis that I have some Southern blood in me
• That English people in America face two situations: Americans either love the way we speak or they tease us mercilessly
• Interrupt boys watching basketball at your own risk!
• NO TRACE OF AN AMERICAN ACCENT (for all my family members who are claiming I have a slight accent)

I have lived through a broken wrist, snow storms, temperatures lower than Antarctica, a hundred "Oh my gaaaad, you're English!?", 3 different work places, 7 intense weeks... And the best part is that I don't regret a second of it!

So... the last britabroad2013 blog! Don't start weeping into your pillows. You don't need to worry about withdrawal symptoms... I am still going to blog!

Uncork the champagne, Luce is now blogging from Italy for the next 4 months! I have a new blog address....

http://britaly2014.blogspot.com


So, add this link to your favourites and be sure to check every week because this Blogger is far from finished.

See you all soon!
Luce
xx