My biggest, best birthday gift this year was my brother Kurt, who arrived home as the dapper Elder Hunsaker, cuff links, pinstripes and all, from his mission to the northeastern part of England (Leeds).
We arrived at the airport right around Janie's bedtime, but Grandma and Grandpa were a nice distraction.
Since this was the flight with all the homeward bound missionaries on it, the place was crowded with families of all sizes. Kids and welcome home signs were everywhere.
Our crowd didn't have anything like that. Two redheaded brothers were all we needed. Upon our arrival at the airport they greeted us with some form of "Allo mate," and informed us that they had been working on their British accents all day to make Kurt feel at home when he arrived. Ethan admitted that his was actually closer to a New Zealand accent, but it was the one he was the best at (this is classic Ethan.)
We waited...
and waited.
And then we were still waiting.
And then he came.
Kurt was the first missionary to appear at the top of the stairs. I immediately started waving, sure that even though he couldn't see us yet, he would see me waving and the happy reunion would begin. After waving for, like, an entire minute or something I gave up and just yelled at him: "KURT!" (okay. it was probably only 10 seconds, but I was starting to feel lame.) He heard me and spotted us. The front line of siblings parted so Kurt and Mom could reunite. Mom cried and Kurt tried not to. By now other missionaries were arriving. One guy's face completely crumpled as he walked into the arms of his mom. That was the part where I lost it a little bit, too. I looked around to see my husband and brothers blinking their eyes quickly, heads down, glancing up from the floor. Bro love.
Kurt spread the love around to everyone and after we all commented on his stylin British getup and Kurt stammered over and over about how much Ethan and Adri have grown, we all demanded pictures to remember the moment.
We spent the night at my parent's house so that we could spend more time with Kurt. Every now and then as we were talking, Kurt would do a double take and then shake his head, and quickly explain the British term for the word we had used.
Check out the British I've picked up on already!
American word: underwear
British word: pants (I think someone said, "Nice pants, Kurt." Double take. Head shake.)
American word: pants
British word: trousers (he insists he can no longer call them pants, see above)
American word: punks (this is a rough translation?)
British word: Chavs or chavvy
American word: cute girl/foxy lady/hot babe
British word: fit bird or, not as common, bonnie lass
American word:[insert your term for something that is not cool here]
British word: rubbish
American word: awesome, sweet, that's tight (if you still live in, what, 2003?)
British word: brilliant
American word: someone who is gay
British word: "he's a right puff" or "poof"
That last one was brought up when we asked Janie if she wanted to play with her bath pouf (which is what we call those netted sponges, don't you? It sounds romantic and a little bit French, something that's very important when you're showering.)
American word: apartment
British word: flat (one time he lived in a bungalow. how cool is that?)
Kurt had people calling and texting him hourly demanding to see a picture on his Facebook page (which he promptly had to have Russell set up for him). He tried using Russell's fancy new touch screen phone, but felt much better with mom's good old flip phone. He went driving around the neighborhood ("wait, he went alone?") to get used to driving on the right side of the road again. He told Adriane she was pretty and cooed over Janie enough to make me forgive him for when he pretty much ignored her in the seven months before he left (he was a little MIA back then). His homecoming talk was three days later. He didn't look at his notes once. Wow.
Kurt spread the love around to everyone and after we all commented on his stylin British getup and Kurt stammered over and over about how much Ethan and Adri have grown, we all demanded pictures to remember the moment.
"You all sound so American." was one of the first things he said.
And then, after taking pictures with me,
"It's so weird to touch a girl!"
Sound familiar, anyone?
And then, after taking pictures with me,
"It's so weird to touch a girl!"
Sound familiar, anyone?
We spent the night at my parent's house so that we could spend more time with Kurt. Every now and then as we were talking, Kurt would do a double take and then shake his head, and quickly explain the British term for the word we had used.
Check out the British I've picked up on already!
American word: underwear
British word: pants (I think someone said, "Nice pants, Kurt." Double take. Head shake.)
American word: pants
British word: trousers (he insists he can no longer call them pants, see above)
American word: punks (this is a rough translation?)
British word: Chavs or chavvy
American word: cute girl/foxy lady/hot babe
British word: fit bird or, not as common, bonnie lass
American word:[insert your term for something that is not cool here]
British word: rubbish
American word: awesome, sweet, that's tight (if you still live in, what, 2003?)
British word: brilliant
American word: someone who is gay
British word: "he's a right puff" or "poof"
That last one was brought up when we asked Janie if she wanted to play with her bath pouf (which is what we call those netted sponges, don't you? It sounds romantic and a little bit French, something that's very important when you're showering.)
American word: apartment
British word: flat (one time he lived in a bungalow. how cool is that?)
Kurt had people calling and texting him hourly demanding to see a picture on his Facebook page (which he promptly had to have Russell set up for him). He tried using Russell's fancy new touch screen phone, but felt much better with mom's good old flip phone. He went driving around the neighborhood ("wait, he went alone?") to get used to driving on the right side of the road again. He told Adriane she was pretty and cooed over Janie enough to make me forgive him for when he pretty much ignored her in the seven months before he left (he was a little MIA back then). His homecoming talk was three days later. He didn't look at his notes once. Wow.
He even invited all his old mission comps & buddies to my party, you know, the one my family threw me right after church.
*what a guy*
2 comments:
wow he's home! i can't believe how time flies. And your siblings are getting so much bigger! Yeah I remember Dan using a lot of those words.. When he said trousers I would just bust up laughing for some reason! We're excited to see you! love you
I can't believe how fast everyone's family is growing. Its crazy! Glad he's home safe and sound. Sounds like he had a great experience! :)
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