Initial Thoughts from the USA

I hadn’t planned on writing any posts on vacation (yes I pre-wrote 20 posts prior to vacation), but since I’m sitting in bed sick with bronchitis and sinusitis, I thought it might be entertaining to write a post about our initial thoughts of the US. We’ve been out of the country for two years and this is the first time we’ve been back to visit.

-Everyone is so nice. Seriously. I’ve never had a single person in Asia tell me good morning as I’m walking past them in the parking lot. The US customs agent actually carried on a conversation with us instead of scowling as he stamped our passport.

-People must think Derik and I are freaks. We’re walking around a grocery store pointing, oohing and ahhing, and getting excited about everything. It takes us about 20 minutes to order something at a restaurant because we really just want to order everything.

-We forgot how to communicate. I’m embarrassed to say this, but we’ve gone so long without visiting an English speaking country, when someone asks us a question here, it takes us a minute to process the person isn’t speaking Korean.

-Getting insurance through World Nomads was one of the best decisions of our trip, even though we’re only two days in. I had to go to Urgent Care today due to being super sick with 103 degree fevers, intense sinus pressure, and coughing. The medical bill was gross (thankfully WN will reimburse this). I did not miss the price of medical care here! What cost me a few hundred dollars here would only cost me about $20 back in Korea. However the medicine I got here is legit and I’m already starting to feel better.

-I’m not sure we’re going to leave Hawaii. Paradise on Earth? I think so.

-America is so comfortable. Even on this small island I can find anything I could ever want or need. Enough said.

-I’ve been here for a day and a half and I’ve only taken one picture, on my smart phone. WHAT?! I must be sick. Don’t worry, I plan on making up for that tomorrow as we travel the Road to Hana.