Week 1: A New Beginning

Hello everyone! This week was a bit different from anything else I've sent so far, but here's the rundown. (If you're only here to get updated contact info for me, that'll be at the end.)

On Monday after we got to the office in Zagreb, we got to see some other missionaries that were passing through for transfers, and we also had our luggage all weighed and logistical things like that. Then we got some Good Food for lunch, looked around at some random Zagreb stores for part of our last P-day, and then we departing missionaries all headed over to the mission home. Once there we all had dinner together, had a closing devotional of sorts, and then played some sports. At that point, some people went to bed, but a few of us (including myself) decided it'd be a better idea to stay up straight through the night to help with both getting up early for the flight, and then the "jetlag" that'd come at a later time. So, we stayed up and played some card games.

President and Sister Melonakos with all the missionaries returning home.

Early in the morning on Tuesday, we "got up" and got ready for the day, and had a nice breakfast all together. Well, except for the sisters, whose alarm had apparently not gone off properly. But they came down soon enough. We all loaded up into some vehicles and drove out to the Zagreb airport with the APs, where we happened upon the parents of Sister Orchard. Anyway, after checking our luggage, we were going through security and my carry-on bag got flagged. Turns out I had accidentally put my pen-in-the-form-of-a-bullet in that bag. Oops. So, they confiscated that after letting me take a picture, haha. 

My bullet pen that got confiscated at the Zagreb, Croatia airport.

That big group of us flew from there to Frankfurt, Germany, at which point we had to go through security again. Then Elder Froc and Sister Blake both split off from the group for their own flights going different directions, as did I. 

On the plane for the first leg of my travel home.

My long flight over the Atlantic came into Chicago. It just so happened that there was also a Serbian family on that flight that I talked to a bit. When we landed and got out, I have to say that it was really weird hearing English everywhere. Right after getting through customs, I was informed that I had already missed my connecting flight. I didn't even have a chance since it was even in a different terminal. Thankfully they got me reassigned to a different flight just 2 hours later. After a little bus ride to the new terminal, I ran into a member of the church that asked where I was going and started talking with him. He let me borrow his phone to call my parents to inform them that I'd be later than planned. Great guy. Then I got some American pizza, and the flight's gate got changed, so I had to go to a different terminal again. Anyway, I eventually ended up on a flight to Cincinnati, and was greeted by a wonderful group, including (but not limited to) my parents, sister, and grandfather. They had brought a big banner, and a Serbian flag. The other friends there had brought me some Chick-fil-A and were helping with photography (another big thanks to them!). From the airport, we headed straight for my stake president's house where I was released from being a full-time missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and then we headed home.

Wednesday started off with a dentist's appointment, and then later on in the day, I spent some time with a good friend! We went to an escape room and had a blast! That evening I had dinner with the family at O'Charley's, and then we went to a place here in Ohio called Jungle Jim's. It's a HUGE grocery store that has almost anything you could be looking for from any country. I was pleased to find Milka chocolate, ćevapi seasoning, and Vegeta, which are all things commonly found in the Adriatic North Mission. We bought some.

At O'Charley's with family

Thursday started off with an eye appointment, which involved getting a new set of glasses for me. They're not very different from my old ones at all. That evening we ordered Papa John's pizza and watched a movie at home. Which movie was my first move back, you might ask? The Greatest Showman. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The dance and music are astounding.

Back at home and enjoying breakfast with my Grandpa Larson

As for Friday, I went early in the morning with my bishop to visit one of the local early morning seminary classes, and I talked to them a bit. They asked plenty of questions, and I told some short stories and shared some things I learned, then we all had breakfast together. Apparently, something I said helped one of the students that was slightly struggling with something, so that was cool. In any case, what a great class. When I got home, I went with my Dad to get some extra breakfast at Chick-fil-A, and then came back home to get ready to go to the temple! We all piled into the car and then drove up to Columbus to go to the temple there. 

At the Columbus, Ohio temple

While there, we happened to find the temple president and his wife, who is the sister of the Sister Monson of the senior couple that I knew from my time in Celje, Slovenia. Connections everywhere. After the temple, we headed over to the part of Columbus known as "the German village" to have dinner at Schmidt's Sausage Haus. Their food there is sooooooo good. Also, we discovered that the bathroom has famous movie quotes playing, each one first in English and then in German. We also took the obvious chance to pop in the neighboring Schmidt's Fudge store where they had imported German chocolate and locally made stuff. When we all got home back near Cincinnati, we did one of our family past-times, playing the game Rock Band 2. I'm not quite as rusty as I was expecting.

Saturday was a little bit less busy. I got to hang out with one of my other friends from high school, and we got lunch at Kyoto, a local Japanese restaurant, before coming back to my house to watch The Wind Rises, which is a Studio Ghibli production I hadn't yet seen. After the movie and playing some video games together, she headed out for home, and we as a family watched "Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them", which was excellent.

Today, Sunday, of course included going to church, but this time it was not in a Serbian-speaking branch, but rather in an English-speaking ward. It was great to see so many people that I know and that have been apparently reading this emails! Thanks to all of you for your support! In any case, I received my plaque that shows where and when I served, and I spoke to everyone about my mission experiences. It really was great to get to see and greet everyone there. Anyway, after church, we had some friends over for dinner and an open-house thing with a bunch of desserts. Tonight has been a lot of re-packing, and in the morning we fly out to Utah for me to get set up at BYU for classes to start on Tuesday. 

Here are some things that seem odd to me about the US: 1) strangers and employees all speak English, 2) the shape of doorknobs and light switches, 3) everyone has a smartphone, 4) household appliances such as laundry machines or refrigerators are all huge, 5) other drivers are typically not blatantly reckless.

Anyway, I regret to inform you all that this will be my last big group email. If you'd like to email me, feel free to contact my parents. If you message me and I see it, I'll reply. However, I can't guarantee that I'll get around to being proactive in sending off emails to too many of you all. Thanks so much for all of your support! Stay in touch. I love you all!