Good luck with the therapist, Hec.

chemistry is important at times like that, Laura.

Are "mish kids" missionary kids?

Correct!

Came back to the States with a posh British accent that did not go over well....

When I would come back to Arkansas on summer vacations, I would get teased for "talking British." As best I could tell, it was for pronouncing my final "g"s and being careful of my grammar. It usually took me a week or so to relax into the surrounding Southern drawl.

My accent and dialect always seem to adapt pretty quickly to whatever is being spoken wherever I happen to be. My inner voice always reflects whatever I have been reading lately, and if I am not careful that will slip out into my spoken voice as well. That gets me some odd looks, sometimes.

Hec, in your post you refer to both "Austria" and "Australia" in terms of the size of Chongqing; those are very different figures, and Australia is actually bigger than the continental USA in terms of land area.

I am willing to believe that Chongqing is larger than Austria (which is only a quarter the size of Germany), but one city (even one that is non-continguously dispersed) larger than the Lower 48 is a bit of a stretch for me.

I thought that was just me moving slowly this morning...good catch.

I was just cutting and pasting so we'll have to take that size discrepancy up with Wikipedia.

Further research shows that Szechuan food comes from Chongqing, and, of course, I've had that.

First therapy was good - she's very kind and empathetic. However, I'm a little worried about going down into some of the darker and twistier parts of my psyche with her. But I'll have another session with her next week and try to broach that.

I’m glad the therapy started well, Hec.

My workplace added Michigan to the places from which some employees can work remotely. I’ve submitted my application. University HR grinds amazingly slowly, but I’d like to get myself up north by next spring, so I can help my sister after her knee surgery. She has so much she wants to be doing, with work, grandkids, getting their house ready for sale, etc., and mobility issues (and pain) are slowing her down.

Are you planning to move, Calli, or just visit for an extended period?

I’d like to be able to do more extended visits but the dog makes it hard.

When I would come back to Arkansas on summer vacations, I would get teased for "talking British." As best I could tell, it was for pronouncing my final "g"s and being careful of my grammar. It usually took me a week or so to relax into the surrounding Southern drawl.

I don't recall ever being teased for my Midwestern newscaster accent as a kid, but in Middle School our transplant from NYC told me I was the only classmate he had no difficulty understanding.

I’m hoping to move permanently. There’s a lot to like in NC, but the summers are getting progressively harder for me. And I would like to be more present in my family’s lives.