Throughout my travels in my life, I have usually come home and had issues the first few days adjusting back to life in America. I have felt many things upon reentry to the states; the weight of the things I have seen, missing the people I met, a longing to leave again immediately, and [if I’m honest] a general disgust for the way we live. Usually the first few days home, at least for me, are pretty hard. Trying to adjust to time zones and the constant questions of “what currency is this? what is the exchange rate here? OH! there isn’t one!?” Letting my body get adjusted back to eating American food, grocery shopping, driving, seeing people I haven’t seen in months but it somehow feels like I just saw them yesterday. And of course processing the things that have happened since the last time my feet were on American soil.
This time reentry was different. I don’t know if it is because I properly prepared myself for America, or if I finally realized how arrogant it is to think that somehow by my being out of the country for a few months, things were going to drastically change and America/Americans were going to be this perfect picture that tends to be painted in the minds of people serving outside of our home country. I realized before coming home that things hadn’t really changed and they weren’t going to. Here are some realizations I had that prepared me for what I was walking off the plane into.
That it doesn’t really matter to the immigration officer why I was out of the country for 5 months, even though he thinks it is totally sketchy.
That starbucks is still going to be almost $5 for the drink that I want.
That Kroger is amazing and having a Kroger plus card is kind of like bartering… sort of.
That my friends are amazing and God put them in my life for a reason.
That I changed and learned more about being unapologetic for being myself than I have ever known, but allowing my friends to get to know me all over again, especially in the ways I have changed instead of just telling them they no longer understand me and getting pissed at them for not knowing me.
That as much as I love to travel, I also really love my country. While sometimes we may not get the best reputation, and yes, lots of people are crazy and shallow, I still love coming home to America.
Those are just some of the things that made reentry easier this time around. Although I have been gone for five months it doesn’t feel like it. An added bonus, just happens to be that this time around I actually am enjoying reentry and am taking full advantage of all the things America has to offer.
I have been home for almost two weeks and have enjoyed reunions with family and friends, all the hot showers I can get, flushing toilet paper, CHEESE, and my favorite snacks. I have thoroughly enjoyed coming back to America at Christmas time. Everything is so festive and cheery. I love it. I loved going to my church and feeling right at home visiting the Adventures office in Georgia.
This time coming home I haven’t had unrealistic expectations of what life will be like. I was able to stay pretty grounded in what America is like and fit right back in without much trouble. Yes, the time zone thing was still an issue, and the first time I ate McDonald’s I felt terrible afterwards, but I wouldn’t give up this time for anything.
Jesus has been speaking to me boldly and in whispers. I have had to pay attention and choose things that I wouldn’t normally choose. It goes back to doing what He asks, even if that means I have to sacrifice my desire. For now, that looks like staying in Michigan for a little while until I can get back on my feet. Getting a job and pursuing some dreams from here. It looks like spending time investing in my relationship with God without community and things that are challenging. But I know that even though it may not be my biggest desire, it is where He would have me for the next chapter. I don’t know how long that will be and that kind of scares me, but it is also exciting. I am still on an adventure with Him, it doesn’t always have to look like cool instagram pictures and outrageous things. In fact, I think more often than not it will continue to look like doing ordinary things and living a fairly average life, but with an outrageous love of Jesus to overflow him into the ordinary.
Cheers to living life in the in between moments. Thank you for following this amazing journey.
Much love,
-A
