A Tale of Two Cities

I'm home now! I got in late Saturday night, but when the plane landed in Charlotte airport I cried like a little girl. Why!?!?! I guess I just realized I did not want to be here. Maybe it was a combination of too much flying and drugs and jet lag, but right then the last thing I wanted to hear was American accents. I didn't want to go back to a small town - or go back to not living on my own for that matter. I was really, really depressed and cranky and sad. It went away of course, because the second I drove through Old Greenwich and saw the Bagel Shop and Arcuri's Pizza and the Christmas lights they put up every year I felt very relaxed and happy to be here. Plus, I got such a great reaction from my little brothers it made me feel kind of loved ;-)
My best friend Thana (from Croatia trip) stayed over that night and we squeezed into my little twin bed for a sleepover like we were 12 years old. The next morning padded around in our slippers and made enough french toast to feed an army. Funnily enough, with all my brothers and parents and Thana's and my appetite - it disappeared within the hour. Then we stayed in our pj's and watched Harry Potter.
I loved being home and with my family and one of my closest friends. And to make it even more like home, it snowed! The weird thing was though, I felt like London had never happened. Home was so comfortable and so familiar it was like I had never been gone. I know that's a cliche, but that's because it's true. I miss the girls in my program desperately but for the first few days we were all back home we didn't really contact each other. And I'm almost positive the reason why was because it was like we had never met.
That sounds horrible and depressing, I know. But that's beause it is! However, I'm happy to be home, even more so because I didn't think I would be. I love everything about London and I thought it would be too much of a shock to come back here after making a life for myself across the world. Hearing so many American accents was a bit of a surprise, even though I did hang out with Americans in London. But here I'm not an outsider, which is midly comforting. Part of me though is not entirely sure that's a good thing.
I'm in New York now, helping my mom out with some work stuff, and coming into this city - well, I'm doing a lot of comparing. Plus, everyone here is now sick of me talking about London so I might as well write it down to spare them the pain of hearing me go on and on:
1. New York streets are wider. Good thing? After careful assessment I've decided yes. New York can seem big and daunting, but at least people can pass each other. I hate getting caught behind old ladies and couples making out and people with push carts. I mean, come on!
2. I love bagels. That is all.
3. I missed snow just a teeny bit because a) it's gorgeous and b) makes it feel more like winter. However, I didn't miss the cold at all. Or the ice.
4. I looked the "wrong" way when crossing the street on my first day and almost got hit by a car. Wouldn't it be funny if I got killed by a bus here, where I'm most familiar, and not in London where people drive like maniacs on the wrong side of the road? Haha. (That was meant to be read deadpan.)
5. New York smells. Not in a bad way (most of the time), but I didn't realize that London lacks the smells - hot dogs, coffee, Spanish food... urine, car exhaust, etc etc.
6. Points for London: no men (generally) who whistle obscenely on the street.
7. The subway system confuses me. I miss my Oyster card. Sometimes I take it out of its safe little cocoon in my purse and stare at it longingly; stroking its cover, wishing I could swipe it across that yellow circle... hmmmm. Well, maybe not. But still.