spend my days in the sweet sunshine

I've wandered this world far and wide
I've been all around and to the other side, but there's nothing like coming home

We're coming home for the summer and to celebrate coming home, I'm posting the top 5 simple things that I am looking forward to:

1) TAP WATER.

go to the sink, fill up your glass, take a sip.  delicious.  can't wait.

2) DRY HANDS AFTER USING A PUBLIC RESTROOM.

there's a sink.  but there's no soap and no way to dry your hands.  looking forward to walking away from bathrooms without wet pants.

3) STARS!

I think I can count the times on my hands that I have seen stars in the last year and a half...and none of those times were in our city.  this is the city where sometimes it's a challenge to figure out if you're staring directly at the sun or if the moon came out early.

lately i've seen too many city lights,

i want to go somewhere where i can see the stars at night

4)  ICE.

in drinks.  at restaurants.  and you don't have to ask for it.  or really trust the establishment you're at to give you clean ice.  one of American friends here had to tell his visiting dad every time they went to a restaurant that he couldn't get ice water.  and every time they went, his dad still asked for ice water.  it's hard to get used to.

a local friend of mine went to america last summer, and thought it was so strange that she couldn't get hot water at restaurants, but it always came with ice.  i feel your pain.  (only the other way around).

5)  DRIVING.

we don't drive here.  although my husband did just get his chinese driver's license!!

roll down the windows, turn up the country music.

OH and what the heck, one more..... HOT DOGS.  an all beef hot dog. carolina style - coleslaw and chili.  I know. I know.  A lot of girls think hot dogs are gross.  But I like them.  And the chinese hot dogs around here are more like Vienna sausages instead of Hebrew Nationals or Ballparks.