Meg's summer

​Meg’s Summer
 
I haven’t lived or spent any considerable amount of time in Ohio since I moved to China when I was 23 in 2007 but life saw to it that I got to spend 4 months at home luxuriating in time spent with family.  The plan was always for me to preform the much loathed task of nannying for a Russian family this summer, however there were no jobs to be found.  I’m not sure why, if it was the drop of the Russian rouble (it’s value has fallen to less than half of what it was this time last year), restored patriotism (we’re going to holiday in Crimera, it’s OURS), or just bad luck, nonetheless I could not get job and thus moved in with my very accommodating brother, his wife and two little boys and took a serving job.  The two experiences could not contrast more. 
 
Being away from home becomes a very natural thing when you’ve been away for so long and don’t realize what you’re missing, leaving again after spending time with family and watching my nephews grow and learn and cuddle each day was much harder.  I couldn’t have asked for a better summer, we picked tomatoes in the backyard, went to state and county fairs, explored Columbus, celebrated holidays in very American ways and generally just settled back in together.  Ohio is fantastic in the summer, it’s hot as but it’s pretty and cheerful and people are always happy to be outside.  Lots of fairs, festivals, apple picking and general good wholesome family fun was had reminding me how nice it is to have a home to go home to.  Having Jonathan be away for 3 months is not something I enjoy but I was glad to have the time with my family and was very sad to hit the road again but the road was beckoning and we had to answer.