What I love about my current post

Jill at the Perlman Update is hosting the Round Up this week and the topic is what we love at our present posts. We are in extended training here in NOVA so I'm going to go with that.

I usually start feeling really settled after about six months in a place. And I start getting ready to move about 4 months before I leave a place. Which means that I was sort of in TDY limbo for a bit there. We've been here about six months and have about four months left. I wasn't sure if I was coming or going. Then I met someone who just got here and who will be here after we leave and they weren't studying Chinese, Arabic or some other super long language. So, now I think I am on the going side of things now. Which means I am soaking it up and enjoying my "lasts" (well "last this time arounds").  Just off the top of my head, here are ten of my favorite things about being here in the DC area.

1. Valentine's Day
My kids got to do the standard US Valentine's Day fun. I am glad that they get it at least once.  Even our preschooler got to join in the fun.

2. Grocery stores
There are lots and they all have easy to read ingredients.  I can cook from complete scratch if needed but man is it nice to have some help, even if it is just an all purpose flour mix that I don't have to make on my own. (Most gluten free recipes require a blend of flours.)

3. Chinese school
Our kids go to Chinese school for a couple hours on the weekend. At first I thought they were going to hate me forever but now that they have been going about a month, they have decided it is pretty fun. Even more importantly, they have decided that maybe they can learn Chinese and that 5 years in Chinese posts will be okay. That's pretty nice.

5. President's Day, Groundhog Day, Veteran's Day, etc.
Our kids know what they are, observed them, and made the typical elementary school pictures and stories about them. It is kind of a weird thing but it was fun to think that they have experienced some things that we did as kids, even if it is just holidays. It kind of sums up what I am enjoying about this whole 10 months here as far as the kids are concerned. They are getting some experiences that are like our growing up experiences and they can add it to the more unique experiences they have had and will have. It's nice. It also makes it a little easier to talk to cousins, etc.

6. Playgrounds and walking down the street
No one cares who I am, what I drive, or where I go. It's nice to blend in for awhile.

7. Oakwood
We have both old and new friends here and so do the kids. It's been a great place for us to live this time around.  We like the apartment setup too even though it felt a little odd at first.

8. Costco, Target, Trader Joe's, etc.
The only loser on this one is Amazon.

9. A super mild winter
May jinx this one by writing it down but it sure has been nice to have decent weather 90% of the time while meeting the bus, etc.

10. Relatively cheap, quick flights home
We haven't seen my mom's headstone yet. And we have some other things (mostly fun stuff) to take care of as well. It's nice to be able to hop a flight home and see everyone. My husband can't come due to training but it will be good for the kids to see family for a bit. We're pretty grateful.

I didn't even mention the great sites to see, the great friends, Christmas in DC, good schools, and so many other things.  I am thrilled to go back to Taiwan and we are really looking forward to it. In the meantime though, we are enjoying life right here.