I hate to do this to you, but...

I apparently don't hate it enough to not do it to you. Our rate of spam comments has been increasing, so I've turned on the word verification step for comments. I'm sorry. Blame those who don't know how to behave in polite society. Are you listening, Japanese pornographers?

My Personal War Against Chinese Products

Alternate title: reducing the trade deficit one item at a time.

Last night I went to Target to pick up a few items and found myself consciously choosing NOT to buy two items made in China. I've long been put off by reports of Chinese products that contain stuff that's bad for you, or even lethal. I've rejected kitchenware made in China for fear of potential lead poisoning. But up until last night I hadn't really decided to make a real effort to choose non-Chinese products as a matter of course. So I spent considerably more on a cosmetic item by selecting the American product (hey, it was Neutrogena - that's a no brainer) and got what are most likely superior, name-brand Irish-made toothbrush heads rather than the Target-brand item made in China.

We have disposable income, so it's easy for me to choose to spend more to not buy Chinese. Still, if everyone made just a little bit of an effort to consider alternatives, maybe together we could make a dent in that massive trade deficit.

One Year Ago

One year ago today we returned to the US from our almost three and a half years in Belgium.

With the passing of this year, we have adjusted to full-time life in the suburbs, although not always easily and not always happily. After the initial feeling of being no longer fully American but not really Belgian either - because although we'd assimilated really well, we are in fact not Belgian - we have settled into our former American-ness but with an appreciation for what we were privileged to experience in Europe.

We miss European cafes and Belgian coffee and Belgian chocolate, but despite Belgium's claim to some of the best beer in the world, we do have good microbrews in the US that satisfy us as well as Belgian beer.

Life was slower in Belgium, but also more frustrating at times as we had to learn to adjust our expectations to meet the reality of life there.

We miss the peacefulness and safety of walking along the canal, but we do not miss those big horseflies that inflicted such nasty bites.

We miss the cool summer weather but revel in being able to wear summer clothes and summer shoes during the summer months.

We miss the long, long summer days but do not miss the long, long winter nights that encroach upon the day in Belgium.

We can no longer say "We just got back from three years in Belgium" because we're no longer just back. So now we look back and smile at the wonderful memories and realize we would not have traded our time there for anything. We are back in the US, but we retain a part of Belgium in what we have lived and who we have become.

Maybe it's time to rename the blog to something like "Life After Belgium".

Blooming in the front yard

In case anyone is curious as to what some of the landscaping looks like up close, here are two of the lily varieties.

One of the hydrangeas is bravely producing pink flowers, despite the hot, dry weather. The other isn't nearly as hearty and threatens every other day to succumb to the elements.

We also have small yellow lilies blooming. But what I can't wait for is the amazing azalea display we're going to have (if they all survive the summer heat and winter cold.)