List of fill in the blank

1. So many happy, friendly people.
2. Unwarranted hugs.
3. Bland food.

Hugs. If it’s not my best friend, mom, grandmother, aunt or the family friend who has merited the equivalent rank after years of love and loyalty, it’s gonna be awkward. There are so many different ways to hug, it’s nearly impossible to guess correctly which one will be their form of acknowledgement to your presence. Even if I once had everyone’s styles memorized, I have forgotten after 8 months of le bisou. With the french bisou, there are two options: start at the left or start at the right. As the foreigner, my job was easy, I let the Parisian begin. Now I wonder, will she try to hug me? Is she going for the side or the front? Should my arms go under her arms? Shucks! How long does she hug? Can I pull away now? This is so awkward! Quick! be composed and happy!

Food. I knew the food wouldn’t be as good but I didn’t expect to use the word bland. Of course, my Mom is a wonderful cook and I had some delicious things but a simple thing like a side of rice, doesn't satisfy. Fortunately, Gram came over for lunch and brought a freshly baked Tollhouse pie with semisweet chocolate chip morsels. Though the ice cream was dull (Bluebell even, but that’s Italy’s fault) it was Gram’s best pie to date, and she’s made many goood pies.