Before coming home from the Race we were made aware that we might experience reverse culture shock after getting home. It makes sense since we had been living in countries and cultures a lot different from our own and we had become accustomed to doing things differently. As the end of our final debrief approached, I became increasingly excited to be home with my own family, sleeping in a warm, cozy bed, and showering neither in a public bathroom with shower shoes on nor in a stall with a bucket of water. I didn’t feel any sense of regret getting rid of my sleeping pad or any level of sadness knowing that I didn’t have to carry a tent around on my back anymore while wondering when I would have to use it next.
Although there were definitely difficult days during our last week “on the field,” I knew God was calling me home and for more then just a season. He had been gracious enough to give me a vision for a future ministry that together God, my future husband and I would establish and open, and He has spoken to my heart that it will be in the States. So, I am beyond excited and thrilled to be home.
I’ll admit that I got really excited when I got to make my family breakfast on Thanksgiving morning, which consisted of homemade corn tortillas, re-fried black beans, avocados, and scrambled eggs, and I almost cried when my Dad pulled the soccer ball that I had left behind out of the closet (fútbol is very popular in just about all countries outside of the U.S. and we played it A LOT these past 11 months).
But all in all I am glad to be home and I smile every time I , out of habit, do something that really isn’t necessary for me to do anymore. I like to call those habits #PostRaceProblems. I’ve never been one for using #’s but it seemed appropriate after this year because Racer’s seem to like them.
Here are a list of #PostRaceProblems that I’ve run into:
– Trying to think of preguntas and responses en Español even when who I need to talk to has been speaking in English.
-Assuming that public signs and advertisements are in Spanish so I’ll read an English word while pronouncing the letters like they are in Spanish. For instance, I read a girls shirt that said “Converse” and I read it as “Con-vare-say.”
– I keep throwing used toilet paper into the waste bin next to the toilet and then have to fish it out to put it where it’s supposed to go. In Latin America, you cannot flush toilet paper, you have to throw it in the provided waste bins.
-This one isn’t necessarily a problem, more so a constant source of momentary celebration: Having access to hand soap AND running water after using the restroom to clean mi manos. And another added bonus: hand towels!!!!
-I forget where everything is located in my home kitchen.
-I was nervous to drive for the first time, had forgotten how to adjust my driver’s seat in my car and how to use the cd player/radio.
-Daily showers seem unnecessary, even though knowing that the water can be hot makes it real tempting.
-I keep trying to stretch the same clothing for days at a time, without washing it, because it’s more comfortable then looking through the overwhelming amount of clothing and shoes in my closet.
-I keep thinking that I’m going to have to leave again soon.
-I still wake up in the exact space on the bed on which I fell asleep and with lots of other things on my bed beside me like books and notebooks. On the Race I learned to sleep in confined spaces and with very little personal space, sleeping with my things just made sense and when I was in my tent, it was unavoidable.
-It feels weird to sleep in big room by myself after 11 months of always sharing sleeping space.
-Texting is now one of the most difficult things that I do in an average day.
– I shake my hand and slap my fingers together when something is exciting or when something shocking just happened, I point to things with my lips, and I scrunch up my nose when I don’t understand something, but secretly I love that I picked those habits up.
-Lastly for now, every time I itch my head I check my hands afterwords for lice. (Don’t worry, I’m in the clear.)
With all of that said, I like noticing those things. I like being aware that the old “norm” doesn’t really have to be the “norm” because I’ve known a different “norm” for the past 11 months and mixing the two is so much fun. Plus, I enjoy carrying some of the traditions from the past 11 months around with me in my home; my family is thrilled to learn Spanish words and phrases; I like looking in the kitchen cupboard and finding a giant bag of Maseca (corn flour used to make tortillas); and I can’t help but laugh every time toilet paper finds its way into the trash can.
I am so grateful for this year and all of those quirky-to-the-States things.
I am going to keep blogging as I continue to process and learn from the past year, so feel free to keep following me if you want to learn more about the journey. Thank you all again for being a part of this with me. It would not have been as sweet without you.
Also, if you have any particular questions about my experiences, please leave them in the comments below. It is my hope to compile enough so that I can dedicate a blog to Q & A.
Finally, this video is to advertise for an event held only for racer’s a month after they have been home but it’s also a fun glimpse into the post-race life of World Racers….
Project Searchlight: PWRSD from katie rowland on Vimeo.
