I’ve honestly been terrified to come back to USA soil. I think I would have delayed the process as long as possible if not for this circumstance of flying home for my Grandpa’s funeral. Don’t get me wrong, I miss my family, I miss my friends… I just don’t miss America, and I’ve been terrified of the inevitable culture shock we are all going to face on our return.
Well – dearest racers on the field. Fear not, you will survive coming back into the embrace of familiarity that is strangely unfamiliar.
Here are some of the things I experienced when I came home, that you will likely experience too.
Yes, people will ask you “how was your trip” and it is okay to ask them how the last 9months (or 11) of their lives have been in rebuttal.
— although, try and have grace with them. They don’t understand how much you have changed, how many things you’ve seen, and how drastically this experience has grown you. They are just curious, and in their minds – this is just a long “trip” we’ve been on.
You will miss people who DONT speak English.
— this was the biggest issue I had being back home… I got SOOO overwhelmed with sensory overload because I could actually understand all of the conversations going on around me. Granted I did throw myself right into the teeth of a huge gathering of people by attending a funeral. Yet, some advice – I’d avoid huge gatherings of people as much as possible when you are first coming home. It is extremely overwhelming. Even going to a restaurant where I could understand all the conversations going on around me was a little too much.
— on the other side of that. Yesterday I was sitting in a Starbucks and there were two woman talking in some European dialect behind me… Who knew it would be the sweetest sound i’d hear all day?
— plus, I currently plopped myself down on a chair next to a nice oriental family. Hello Asian dielect, I love you.
You will naturally still ask for clean drinking water, or wonder if the water is safe to drink. Yes, my water bottle is still on my hip, and I almost asked my grandma if her facet was safe to drink out of.
You may still carry toilet paper with you and wonder if you’ll be forced to use a squatty potty or if there will be a European style toilet in the restroom as you nonchalantly walk in to go to the bathroom.
— all the restrooms I’ve been in HAVE had toilet paper.
Choosing an outfit from your much bigger wardrobe at home won’t be as overwhelming as you are expecting it to be. It is exciting! I almost jumped out of my skin when I realized I could wear layers AND boots without overheating.
— the other side of that… I was freezing! I had to walk around with a blanket wrapped around me the entirety of my first day back (yes I was layered up, and yes I was even indoors).
It is true, your bed will feel even more glorious than you are imagining it to be in your head. Falling into the sweet embrace of my bed was simply the best thing in the world when I got home.
Travel lightly, you don’t need to bring your converter with you… You can charge your phone everywhere without it! And, I have been able to find wifi out and about!
Warning… What you thought was expensive overseas will definitely not compare to the prices back home… America has a way with making everything a little too costly. Example, expect to pay seven times more for a movie at the theatre ($15 vs $3). Plus three days of your food budget for a meal ($14).
Speaking of food, the portions here are monsterous! Grab a friend and go halfsies on the expensive dish when you get back, or save some for later (there is refrigeration!)
Sadly, one of the reasons I am excited to leave the USA so quickly and head back to Asia is because of our culture… Expect a completely individualistic, and negative aura to surround the people you run into here.
— we can run away from this (as I am now) or we can stand and fight. We are called to be light. We are called to show others that we are God’s disciples by our love… Sadly, America really needs a shift in their thinking collectively as a society. Just prepare yourselves for the shock of it.
— side note: after being in the Phillipines, I don’t think any culture will seem as inviting in comparison (but now we have a goal to aim for!)
You’ll also miss the sense of worth you get from volunteering. Being home this week has made me feel like “normal” life is pretty meaningless… I don’t say this to be depressing, or even to convince you to go into long term missions (but that would be pretty great wouldn’t it?!) – I say this to help you prepare mentally for coming back to the States.
Lastly, as crazy as it sounds… You will miss the community of the Race, and even want to go back in a weeks time. As I am sitting here waiting on my plane back to Thailand, I can barely help screaming- “I’m coming for you team!”
I love you Racers! If you are afraid of coming back to the States, just know that you can do this.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
