Visiting Home
Twelve months into my life abroad, my wife and I found an opportunity to visit my family on the East Coast of the United States. It was her first time in the US and my first time so motivated to show someone all of the best of my home country. With my top sights list and her goals for the trip, I think we have lived an amazing 4 weeks here.
We took a number of extended visits to beautiful locations around my hometown in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. The family beach trip began two days after we landed and we were thrilled to go along. In Ocean City, NJ we saw the sparkling rolling ocean that has helped to carry me through each year of my life. Just reaching the water line washes away my stress and reminds me of life’s beauty. Jeni and I also joined my family for a two night cabin stay at Mauch Chunk Lake in Jim Thorpe. The rippling water is the biggest draw to the park and we both enjoyed kayaking through the sun and shade. It was Jeni’s first time trying a kayak and she liked it a lot more than she expected. Most recently, we drove to Orrstown, PA for a special gathering and spent three nights surrounded by beautiful open fields and pockets of dense trees.
I had a blast showing Jeni some of my favorite foods in the area and helping her find the foods she had most wanted to enjoy. I showed her Jo Jo’s pizza in Hershey, Pa and my customized Sheetz waffle-bun burger that is the definition of delicious. She requested a Belgian waffle and we found a great one at the New Schnecksville Family Diner. I convinced her to try scrapple while we were there and told her the rule with scrapple is never asking what it is made of. I have been talking up Geno’s Cheesesteaks in South Philly and we hope to get there before we go in addition to trying a yet to be chosen dish in NYC.
My favorite times of the trip are hard to categorize. One was a post-wedding celebration in Hershey with 110 of my closest friends and family. Another was playing catch phrase with a few of my relatives after beachside pizza. Relaxed days at home with my immediate family were cherished when everyone could be in one place. And we spent a few days of this trip learning from spiritual teachers working in countries as far away as Thailand.
A few people have asked me when I am “returning home” or “going back”. It is weird to hear them acknowledge that I do not live in PA right now. I know my place is Spain and that helps me look forward to the routine based life that is approaching. For now Jeni and I have had an amazing time visiting my hometown, seeing some of the best of what nearby has to offer, and soaking in time with family and friends.
