Guys, I'm from Michigan. There's no way November-January are going to make me feel nostalgic for my life in the USA. When I think about the holidays in Michigan, I think about sliding off the road due to black ice on the interstate while driving cross-state to my grandparents alone because Angel worked on Christmas. Yep, that happened. Such memories do not tend to induce a whole lot of homesickness. Here, us teachers get Christmas Day off, and we could even go to the beach if we wanted. I like Christmas in the tropics. I love year-round summer. But I also love a lot about summer in Michigan. These photos are from the summers of 2013 and early summer 2014:
And that's probably why I have such fond feelings toward summer in Michigan.
Because there's so many awesome things you can do during those summers.
1) Visit community events like tractor shows, swing dancing nights, and county fairs.
2) Have picnics at parks with soft green grass.
3) Plant a garden and harvest from your own yard.
4) Set off fireworks in the driveway and chase lightning bugs.
5) Go on long bike rides down country roads.
6) Visit Michigan's lakeshore and the islands in the Great Lakes.
7) Get together with family and friends for summer barbecues.
8) Watch parades and accept gifts of candy from your little cousins because they aren't allowed to eat refined sugar.
9) Pick wild black raspberries in the woods behind the house.
As Michigan's summer draws to a close I think I'll feel less drawn to it, less homesick than I've been lately. Some people like fall, but I've never been the biggest fan. Cold mornings and evenings with warm afternoons just makes getting dressed confusing. Now that's something I'll never complain about here--no matter what hour of the day or night, I can expect it to be hot. This summer I've missed my yard and garden and bike and the chance to explore my country at its most beautiful. I'll tell you what--don't be surprised if, whenever we go back for a visit, that visit happens during summer. But for now I'll just keep enjoying Malaysia's eternal summer--and relishing the fact that I never, ever have to scrape ice off my car windows. Not even in February.
If you live away from one of your homes, during what season do you experience the most homesickness?
These are such cool memories-and I think it's really interesting and unique that you don't get homesick around Christmastime, but that makes a lot of sense. Black ice does not sound fun! Random question: do you get lightning bugs in Malaysia?
I can see how certain seasons might make you homesick more that others. I am really excited to have a garage now that I can park my car in so no scraping ice for me this winter!!
I think I would miss Australia's Spring, it's so nice here at the moment! Not too hot
or cold, just right!
What are you doing in Malasia? We live in Thailand from Tennessee. I love the Summer, so I don't really miss any of the other seasons. We miss friends and Western food, but that's about it!
Aw this makes me sad that you're homesick but I really enjoyed reading this post because as your fellow neighbor from Wisconsin, I can appreciate the little Midwestern-y things such as visit the county fair and go to tractor pulls. You're going to laugh at me when I say this, but when we went on our recent road trip and were gone for 17 days, I got really homesick. I know it was only like a two week trip, but I did! Nothing beats the Midwest.
I've never been a huge fan of fall either, especially because I know winter is coming next, and I think I'd much rather spend winter in the tropics than in Pennsylvania! :) But I can understand why you miss the summer. Looks like you have a lot of fun summer activities in Michigan!
Aw that's a beautiful testimony to the gorgeousness that is summer though! There's something about the season that I love so much, but I'm so ready to part with when the time comes, too :) I hope your love of ex-pat life is fulfilled once the season turns again!
I love the idea of year-long summer! Every now and then we flirt with the idea of moving somewhere tropical, but for now Memphis is home. :)
Michigan sounds fun in the summer!
I live in Wisconsin, so I can relate to how nice it is in the summer in Michigan. I also have family there. I'm sorry you're feeling homesick. Do you get to visit home any time soon?
Aww. Yes summers here in Ohio are pretty great too. But I'll admit, fall is my favorite. But I do totally understand what you're saying about not knowing how to dress. That's the most frustrating part about fall.
I definitely miss Seattle more in the summer. It's such a toss up whether we'll have nice weather here or not (this year was a big NOT) and when it's raining nonstop for weeks at a time and my mom is telling me all about the gardening and hiking and road tripping they're doing in 75 degrees of sunshine...yep. I feel you.
I've never been to Michigan, but it looks beautiful. I've always lived in the South and on the East Coast, so summer is probably my least favorite season. I just expect lots of hot!
I would be homesick too, it looks like you are having a wonderful experience though!
You described Midwestern life in the summer beautifully. I *love* summer here, but like you, if I lived abroad (somewhere warm), I would probably not be nostalgic for winter at all! Love your photo on the beach and your shot of the John Deere tractor. Bike rides are a lot of fun, and I love the site of lightning bugs over the soybean fields!
Summer has always been associated with long, lazy days at the beach and fun family travels, so I can definitely see why the season would make you homesick more than the holidays. When I studied abroad one summer, I felt as if I was missing out on EVERYTHING that my family was doing back home--I was only gone a few months, but they packed in the traveling, beach trips, and barbecues!
Will you live in the USA again someday or is this permanent (sorry if you answered this question already)?
I moved from WV to CA and the fall and winter always makes me extremely home sick!
Now that I'm in Georgia, I miss Ohio the most in the summer. Ohio has beautiful summers. Georgia has hot, humid summers.
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