When I talk about going to the US when I'm in Denmark/Sweden, I always tell people I'm "going home." When I am in the US and talk about returning to Denmark/Sweden I tell people I have to "go home." The same was true when I lived in Ithaca and Canandaigua. "Home" has always been both the place I live and the place I grew up. I'm not sure that will ever change.
So on Sunday I'm "going home" for three weeks to visit my family in Massachusetts and my friends in Ithaca and Kjartan will stay in Denmark/Sweden to work and spend time with his family and friends before baby grabs onto our world.
Baby has to some extent taken over part of our world already. In addition to the three months morning sickness and all the other pleasures of pregnancy, we have learned that Baby needs a lot of stuff. Part of this trip will involve amassing as much of the stuff we need for as little money as possible. I have grown up with the "buy used save the difference" theory and plan to continue to use that motto with my own children. Already, Darwina has about 30 items of clothing from Swedish and American (thanks mom!) thrift stores and we have bought a beautiful like-new wooden rocking chair from the Swedish equivalent of Craigslist. Speaking of Craigslist, I already have 3 appointments set up for next week to meet up with folks (in public places, have no fear) to buy tons of nice new baby clothes, baby stuff that still has the tags on it, and a "Boppy" pillow that everyone tells me is a must-have for any mom. Darwina will also have my Christening dress, baby quilt, and stuffed clown. Everything so far is in great condition and I'm pretty sure Darwina won't notice that things are "gently used."
But don't get me wrong, the main purpose of my trip is to visit with my family and friends in America.
But back to the stuff-gathering:
Most of my expat blogging friends have pre-made "to buy" lists for their trips to the US and I am no exception. Mostly I'll be stocking up on maternity and nursing clothes, cloth diapers, a sling/baby carrier, English baby and adult books, and new shoes. Aside from gravy master to make my mother's "brown spaghetti" recipe, there really aren't any American products that aren't available in Sweden/Denmark that I absolutely must have.
To accomplish this stuff-gathering expedition, one must be very skilled in the art of packing and must think ahead. My strategy is to bring next-to-nothing with me to the US except gifts that I will leave there and take two almost-empty suitcases. So for all you Americans who I will see in the next three weeks, sorry that I am wearing the same thing every time you see me. I have to sacrifice style for stuff.
There are, of course, things I must do in the US that I miss here in Sweden. Since I've been pregnant pretty much since I left the US last time, these things often revolve around food. I've started to learn to cook Thai and Chinese food because it's pretty much impossible to find anything even close to the quality that Ithaca has to offer over here, I miss Applebees, and I can't wait to eat steak and lobster without breaking the bank too much. Speaking English, having strangers ask "how are you today?", watching English television shows that aren't 10-years-old, and giving my legs a break from biking are also things I'm looking forward to.
So it's off to the USA for me. Hej då Sweden, see you in a few weeks!
46 minutes ago