Learning, or better said, re-learning the ropes

Before I left Switzerland I had a funny conversation at the American Women's Club regarding the so-called Wal-Mart people. The conversation revolved around whether or not they really exist and if the Swiss aren't just as bad. Well I can now report that they do exist and can also be sighted at Target. During our first shopping excursion we spotted a woman wearing flannel pajama pants featuring the Disney Chipmunks design (way to stay classy), slippers and an over-sized hoodie. This woman was as old as I am - that is 50 plus. US society has become overwhelming casual and my style has become more formal after living for 19 plus years in Switzerland. Say what you want about the Swiss but most people look put together when they are out and about.  I guess I'll need to adjust my style to fit in. The next challenge has been the dog. People are always coming up and asking to pet our dog and recognize her as a Bernese Mountain Dog. However she is welcome almost nowhere and walking her near "pet friendly" hotels is a challenge as most of these hotels are either just off the interstate or easily recognizable as the type "no tell motel". I have also had to increase my investigative skills when looking for a trash can after walking her as there are almost none to be found on the street. Where do pedestrians throw their trash away? It's not that there is trash all over. I can only guess that most people aren't on foot, this is the auto nation.

Touching down in the US

We finally made it to the US with our dog and cat - no easy task. The amount of mis-information or better said amount of missing information one receives about this process is frightening. Let's just say that after having the cat put through the scanner twice in her carrier, having to stow her in the overhead compartment during take off and landing and receiving the dog in the luggage pick-up area with the crate mattress on her head, I'm not sure I'll try this again. Plus after having a dog in dog friendly Switzerland where she is welcome almost anywhere, we were more than happy to find a dog friendly hotel but shocked to find she wasn't welcome anywhere else with the exception of Pets Mart. A learning experience for all of us.

Saturday we will be taking off to drive from Chicago to Missoula, Montana where we will take possession of our Earth Roamer RV and will start our 9 month tour of the US. This is the beginning of a new challenge as we each only have one duffle bag of clothing with us. For a shop-a-holic being unable to buy anything due to storage space along the way will be a chalenge to say the least. Plus as someone who takes pride in her appearance, I don't revel in the fact that I will soon be looking like Erma Bombeck attempting to create new outfits out of a finite number of pieces. I will try to be equal to the challenge......