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More than a full year has now passed in the US. We have gone from being completed confused by the area (getting lost on Route 7 while looking deparately for a toyshop to buy Kalle a present on the evening before his birthday) to being reasonably comfortable with where everything is (although Tim still gets lost everytime he goes to Crystal City or the PX store from Washington). We have managed to convert enough to be able to converse with the average American (Kajsa more so, she now says diaper for nappy and asks the kids if they want to go to the bathroom) but we have to remain very quiet most of the time when it comes to politics. Even Tim, who regards himself as middle of the road in Australia, is regarded as a Socialist over here. Kajsa, middle of the road in Sweden, is a full blown Trotskyite. We have adapted to the driving, both the insanity of other drivers and the fact that they drive on the wrong side of the road. We have not succumbed to road rage, but it has been close at times. We have been disappointed by the poor winter (no snow here) but expect that the Washington summer will be as bad as it is normally painted. Hopefully it will be followed by a snowy winter. We remain amazed by the wildlife.
Tim has gone from being largely at a loss at work, trying to work his way through the amazing bureaucracy that is US Defense, to being quite comfortable and even having the occasional success. If it weren't for the fact that he is doing two jobs simultaneously, he could be quite relaxed about his work.
Kajsa has gone from being really frustrated at home (being a housewife is not her style) to being reasonably happy with her work and has, as always, surrounded herself with a big network of good friends.
Kalle has advanced a lot in the last year, he did really well at school and is near to reading. He has a good mind and turns it to most of what he does (occasionally his boyness takes over and he just does stuff). He remains smaller than most of his age but he is far more coordinated than he used to be - perhaps partly because of his attendance at Fit Kids. He is a very confident lad and hopefully his accent will fade quickly when we get home!
Taltarni has changed the most of course, going from almost one to almost two. She is now walking, talking (mostly babble but there is the occasional word) and causing general mayhem (actually that last bit hasn't changed much). She is a very pretty little girl and likes to use her budding feminine wiles on people. Despite everyone's assumptions, she is not going to wrap her father around her finger, but she still will try.
Tasha remains about the same, perhaps she has matured a bit. She seems a little less destructive at least.
Overall, we are definitely enjoying the experience of being here. Many of the things that were frustrating in the first few months is just water off the duck's back now. We do continue to be amazed by some of the attitudes though and we hope that that remains the same - if we are not amazed then perhaps we will begin to understand them and, horror, perhaps adopt those attitudes.
Bottom line, we enjoy it here but we remain faithfully Australian and Swedish and are looking forward to coming home when our time is up.