Little successes

Part of being in a new country is (surprise!) finding that things are done differently here than what you're accustomed to.  Sometimes this is lovely, such as my easy-peasy experience getting my new drivers license (in direct opposition to my day-long ordeal at the MLK Ave DMV in LA).   Other times, though, it seems like a thousand little frustrations crop up.  For instance, finding that the majority of stores close between 4 and 6 pm, just when we get excited planning after-dinner projects.  Or how cell-phone plans come with unlimited texts, but only 60 minutes of talk time, such that a customer service rep's "Can you please hold?" becomes exponentially more infuriating.  Or how the butcher can't get you a turkey right now, only during Christmastime.

Anyway, I'm starting to feel like we've got a handle on things, at least the small things.  (And it's the small things that can mean so much.)  We have a nice halal chicken ready in the fridge for Thanksgiving.  We found a great bakery.  I found a tea shop with very satisfying boba milk tea.  We found sources for kitchen stuff and kid's stuff and now have good pans, a food processor, and inexpensive diapers.  Tomorrow, we will very likely have childcare sorted.  I'm starting to feel less like a tourist and more like a resident.

And then proving I was Home:  when I arrived back from today's errands, Amiri yelled, "Mama!" and Arram scampered toward me as fast as he could, squealing and smiling.