12 time zones away: Maine and China

It's great, but not necessarily easy being back in America. I find myself incredibly sensitive to the white noise of conversations happening around me, having been away I feel like I've missed out on a lot, and now Katy is back in China. Just because I'm back doesn't mean there's peace and quiet though. Since coming home I've been to Adirondacks State Park, Boston, Acadia National Park, a wedding in Maine and of course the city.

Katy and I climbed short mountains in Acadia National Park

My travel-crazy wife Katy jumped 12 time zones, twice, in 10 days. When I went back and forth from China to the US in May I at least had about a month to adjust before making the trip back. Katy did it in under two weeks and managed to do so without being TOO jet-lagged on either end. It was great to see her stateside but now we're long distance again. I am incredibly thankful that we have cell phones and international SIM cards, but if one of us doesn't wake up in time (usually me) or goes to bed too early (usually Katy) then we don't get to talk to each other for another twelve hours. That makes me feel like we are on the other side of the world from one another which, of course, we are.

My jet-lagged wife tired at a wedding

When talking to someone 12 hours away is that you're either saying good night when you're waking up, or good morning as you're falling asleep. It's not always a different day of the week, but half of the time it is. It feels like an exercise in empathy, because I'm always forced to imagine what type of day/experience Katy is currently having. Whether she's tired, hungry, excited or just waking up and drowsy, basically I have to guess/figure out where she's coming from every time we talk. This is probably good practice for married life, but is definitely challenging. Now that I'm back, I also have to re-understand intellectually the difficulties Katy might still having living abroad because I already feel removed from them. I feel like I've come back from China and left the experience behind me. If I was tired from being in China, I'm refreshed. While I know Shanghai is still there, it is very much out of sight and out of mind (except when I talk to Katy).

The New York skyline from Brooklyn Heights promenade

I do feel like my repatriation process is going well, being in familiar places (home), with familiar people (friends and family), and doing regular summer activities makes me feel as grounded and stable as I have in over a year. Buying a New York Times and a real bagel while walking the streets of the Big Apple had a profoundly de-stressing effect on my body. I could feel the calm wash over me and knew it was caused by the smell of the fresh bagel and feel of the newsprint, real sensations of home, comfort and familiarity.

I'm pretty sure that's a bat box atop the street light on Manhattan's West Side bike path

Of course I am definitely looking forward to being back in our home in the Pacific Northwest, but the East Coast is a great place to re-acclimate to this clean and democratic air in America. While the days are long and the ocean water is warm I'll be hanging out with my family by the beach before heading back to Oregon in time for Total Solar Eclipse 2017. If you have the chance to watch it do so: we won't get another one in America until 2045. Happy summertime everyone!