Blogabroad
by Mary Pinckney Waters

July 13, 2006 - Sweating the Return

I feel like a giant glue stick. Everything I touch clings to me for dear life. Why doesn’t Germany have air conditioning? Midday bus rides are the worst. The buses are essentially mobile saunas with armpit air fresheners coming at you from all directions.

All I see these days is sweat, men in too-short shorts and sandals still worn with socks. Makeup is useless; it drips off minutes after application. Showers only feel good when you’re in them. My fan does a good job circulating hot air around the room, and I’ve forgotten what goose bumps look like.

Three weeks remaining in Germany. I know I will be sad on takeoff day, but this heat is definitely making my homecoming look more attractive. I haven’t thought much about preparing myself for the States yet, as I’m focusing on final school papers and projects first, but I’ve accepted the fact that it’s going to suck.

When I first arrived in this country, I did everything possible to ground a life here. I opened a bank account, obtained insurance and a residence permit, bought a pillow and silverware and a TV. A few months later, I bought the winter wardrobe I’d never needed. I’ve got Internet and phone contracts, frequent customer cards from coffee shops, posters on my wall, a broom and a dustpan, keys for work, my dorm, my mailbox and my bike. All this stuff I spent so much time acquiring now has to be marked off on a to-undo checklist.

A few of the other exchange students and I might have a going-away yard sale to free us from all the crap we’ve accumulated in the past year. I’ve heard that most airlines permit each passenger only two pieces of luggage and a carry-on, and that the bags are only allowed to weigh so much. I’ve made far too many trips to H&M clothing store for two weight-restricted suitcases. A solution will have to be found and it better not involve my sacrificing any cute clothes, shoes or accessories.

I’ve also been prepping South Carolina for my return, arranging for a Cola apartment and praising the glory that is the fax machine. Tomorrow I’m making reservations at all my favorite restaurants for that first week home, and I’ve already told Mom to turn the air conditioning on high for me.

Mary Pinckney Waters welcomes your comments and feedback: marypwaters@yahoo.com