5. Back Home Again in Indiana

Every summer, for the last (at least) 20 years, I have gone to the Indiana State Fair. It's tradition and the pork burgers and frozen bananas are to die for! It happens every August and it's always a relief to get out of the city and travel to the only other place that still feels like home. I'm especially emotional about the fair in all of it's Hoosier glory because, for the first time in 20 years, I'll miss next year's fair. So, this year, I ate all I could, drank the best chocolate milk in the world (Have I mentioned I drink chocolate milk at least once every couple days? It's delicious. - can't get enough), bought a couple souvenirs and, finally, thought about the culture of Indiana.

After catching some cow-judging, eating a pork burger, petting a calf, eating a cup o' corn, admiring the cutest teeny tiny piglets, eating a mozzarella stick, being amazed at the newest addition to the fried food booth (fried bubblegum - not kidding), and eating a frozen banana, I started to make some observations about the people at the fair. These are real-deal actual farmers and country folk Hoosiers looking for a fried Twinkie and a good time. It would be easy to judge just by looking around, but instead, everything seemed charming, in a way. For example, I saw this larger guy walking around with a double corndog - yes, I mean one hot dog on top of another hot dog all inside one ultimate, extreme corndog. He just looked so happy and at home - like a little kid. No one was looking at him like that corndog was a bad idea or even noticing him at all. He just looked really content and excited to eat it. So, instead of judging him, I felt happy that he was in a place that he fit in, you know? I even wanted him to eat the corndog.

I've been thinking about where I'm from and where I would like to live after I come back to the U.S. next year. For example, someone from Texas sees some Texas decor: steer head skull thing, a horseshoe, Texas flag, a picture of the Alamo? etc. and they have certain associations because where you're from is part of your identity. I will never identify with Texas decor because I'm not from there. I would be hesitant to move to the south because I wouldn't want to feel like an outsider, forever. I guess people just get over it or continue to live wherever they were born. - So, I guess I'll get over it.

Pork Burger Love

They had a whole Italy thing set up (I don't know why) complete with costumes and back drop. My death scene.

Where else would I ever get to pet a calf?

I wanted to sneak one in to my purse...

#1 Dad

The worst part of the trip, and the only bad part, was saying goodbye to my dad. It was sad and I'll miss him while I'm abroad. I'm trying not to overplay all my goodbyes because I'll see all the people I care about, again. When I told everyone my big plan to move to Dublin and go to grad school, people kept saying how brave I am. At the time, I didn't see how moving was so brave because I had done it before - no big deal. Now, as my impending move approaches, I'm getting a little scared. The big realization and the scariest part is that I will be getting on the plane alone and no one in the whole country where I'll be landing will be waiting for me. I am the one who made this big plan and I am the one who will be leaving everyone and everything, here. Even though I know it will be the best time ever, now I know I will have to be brave to move out of New York and into the great European unknown!