Home Sweet Home

apologies for the lack of posts lately!  but i have a good excuse...i got to go home!  to iowa!  in the UNITED STATES!  so happy.  and with my renewed love and appreciation for my homeland and my experience growing-up, my education, and my family, i was looking forward with an even greater anticipation than usual to spend some quality time in the midwest.  at my folks' house specifically.  i arrived late on a saturday night, to see the smiling faces of my parents greeting me at the des moines international airport.  it was wonderful to see them, and to see my mom smiling, specifically.  she has been having some health challenges this summer, which made my visit home all the more important and needed.

my original plan was to stay about 10 days.  my main goal was to apply for, and receive a work visa that would allow me to go back and continue working in russia until the spring.  that process was supposed to take 5-6 business days.  however, upon receiving my application and passport, invitation letter, medical records, and proof of employment, the visa service i used phoned me saying the russian consulate might take longer than expected..."we just don't know with russia..." she said.  i told her i completely understood.  :)  so, i warned my colleagues and reserved a flight a few days later than my original departure date.  the good thing is the visa was processed in a timely manner, AND my job let me stay the extra days.  more time to buy fantastic and tastey american goods.  more time to eat blt's. more time to spend with my family.  all good things!

so here are some photos of the trip back home...it was absolutely refreshing.  and made me feel so loved and appreciative for my life back home.  also made me very appreciative for this experience that i am having, as hard as it is at times.

my first purchases in the US.  magazines at JFK.  you don't know how much you miss your native language in print until you can't have it.  

first things first.  sweet corn!!  the morning after i arrived, dad and i went to the farm in grimes where they regularly get good sweet corn.  on the honor system.  bag it, and leave your cash.

and they have homemade jams as well.

dad finding the very best ears!

good iowa site.  my fondness for iowa has grown tenfold.  or maybe it's just that i miss home.  but i LOVED being there.  

this is dad with one of his two photos that were accepted to be shown at the iowa state fair!!  so proud!

this is the photo...entitled "lines of commerce."

i forgot how, um, large, iowans can be.  and farm-like.

a tasting of local iowa wines at the fine art reception.  quite nice actually!

this pic and the one below are from one of my morning runs.  that was one of the best things about the trip home.  the freedom to just run outside.  sure, i can do that here, as long as i take my passport, my migration card, my work permit, and my registration with me.  i can't just walk out the door.  it's a whole process.  which makes it much less appealing.  

another corn-shucking night!

this is my niece, nettie.  now how CUTE is this BABY??

SERIOUSLY.  how cute?!?  warms my heart.

this is my awesome nephew casper.  i spent the weekend with them.  he totally schooled me in tag.

this is a photo shoot series that i did with casper.  he took direction very well!

dad grilling.  we grilled a few times.  one thing i really miss here.

the fair!!  i haven't been to the fair in probably 15 years.  so i thought, what better time to go than when i need to soak up as much americana, as much iowana as possible??  

this tractor is big.

my main goal:  the cowboy cone!!  from the rib shack.  it was in competition, and i think it should have won!   waffle cone with bbq beans, pulled pork (or brisket), topped with cole slaw.  they do NOT have anything like this in russia.

horses getting ready for their big show!

this is the big boar.  i think his name is willie.  i hope he can stand.

this is the "back-up" big boar.  

these are pretty cute pigs.

of course we stopped to see the butter cow!!!  again, they don't have this in russia, either.

i don't think i've ever seen the food displays before.  but i loved the competition food boxes!  beautiful.

now they DO have these in russia...  

fried pineapple on a stick.  pretty tasty.  and i hear it is the big trend in australia right now!  

a beautiful iowa sky.

i had such a moment of peace driving home from my sister's in minneapolis...i was driving between rain storms, and when it wasn't raining, the sky was amazing.  dark and stormy on one side, gorgeous sun rays streaming thru the clouds behind me, and a rainbow on the other side.  there are these kinds of skies in russia, too, of course.  and you all know how much i love the skies here.  but driving down the road, listening to my tunes, having spent time with my family, and seeing the beauty all around me...well, i just felt lucky to be alive.  

now that i am back in moscow, i am trying to conjure up that feeling again.  yes, yes, i am lucky to be working on this event.  lucky to be living in an apartment that is paid for, lucky that i am getting a salary AND per diem.  lucky to be having this amazing experience.  but i miss my home.  and i can't wait to go back.  and then i can miss russia, and all the good things about it, and how much it will have shaped me, and taught me, and how much it makes me realize how lucky i am in every way.  it is a real reality check, and i only hope i can keep this positive energy for the next 7 months.  i'll need all the help i can get.

if there is one particular thing that can encapsulate the trip home for me it is this.  we went out to dinner with some close family friends.  i was overwhelmed with the care and the interest they showed in me and my life, and that they wanted to take the time to spend with me.  and my mom told me that one of our friends said to her that "i hope sara had a good time.  and i hope she knows how much she's loved."  well, syd, i can tell you from the bottom of my heart, i do.  i do.  and it is that feeling that will carry me through these next few months hard at work and far away and the challenges that each day holds here.  so thank you to everyone who made my trip home an unforgettable time.  i really needed it.  love to you all.  especially to my family, without whom i wouldn't be so lucky.