I have 18 days left on the race. JUST 18 DAYS! I cannot even begin to put into words the last 11 months of my life. I cannot even explain the bittersweet feeling I have just thinking about coming home. I am so excited to see my friends and family, to be back in my own bed, to cuddle with wasabi, and have some ALONE time. But, with that, I will miss my community and friends that I have been living with the last year. I have learned so much and I want to share everything with everyone, but that will all come with time.
Before the world race, I have always wanted to travel, but I just never had much opportunity. But wow, have I loved seeing the world and living in other cultures! I have been living in with at least 5 other people constantly in community and constantly building my relationship with God. For the last year, I have not been in the same house, bed, or even the same country for more than 1 month. I have gotten use to the continuous moving, saying goodbye/see you later, and honestly not having much expectation. So, as you can imagine, this transition home is going to be hard. I am going to have my own bedroom. I will be able to get in my car and not have to tell anyone where I am going (but I will still tell my parents), I won’t have to have a buddy when I walk somewhere, I will be able to speak the same language as everyone around me, and I will truly be living a different life. Continuous change has pretty much become normal, but this change back home is going to be the hardest. I need your help with it!
There are some things that YOU can do though to help with my transition home. I adapted this blog from my amazing teammate and sweet sister, Erica Everett who wrote a recent reentry blog.
So here are 11 ways you can help me as I transition home:
- Welcome me home! Meet me at the airport with a sign! When you see me, give me a big hug and tell me how much you’ve missed me. I’ve missed you and have been anticipating my reunion with those I love from the day I left! (Also, expect tears-tears of joy but also tears of anxiety about all this transition)
- Reverse culture shock is real. Have patience and grace. I’ve been gone for 11 months and have had to continually adjust to new cultures and environments. I’ve been constantly surrounded by 5+ other teammates, lived in uncomfortable living environments and mastered living on $5 a day for food. I might get home and cry in a grocery store because I will have my pick of whatever sugary cereal I want (I haven’t had many options for cereal beyond cornflakes the last year). Please let me have my moment and I ask that you don’t make me feel bad for being overwhelmed by everything America has for me. Just as I have had to adjust to all the cultures I’ve been in, I will have to readjust back to American culture as well.
- Ask specific questions. Don’t be afraid to ask about my year, but try to ask more specific questions than “How was your trip?” It’s hard and overwhelming to try and summarize a whole year’s experience in one sentence or with one vague question. Ask questions like “What was your favorite country in Asia?”, “What ways would you say you have grown the most over the last year?”, “Did you have a favorite ministry?” Specific questions will help me share my experiences with you in more depth. Don’t worry, I plan posting a blog very soon with more specific questions that you can ask, or give you an idea of some good more specific questions.
- Don’t panic if America is hard for me at first. I may struggle being back in America for awhile, but don’t take it personally or be offended. I have grown a lot over the year and want to be that person back at home, but I will be returning to an old environment. It’s going to take time… AND a lot of grace. I will need to grieve losing the World Race and the life that has become my norm. The World Race was more than a fun vacation or mission trip. It was a transformative year and one that will be a big part of my life forever. My squad has become a close family over the year and when we arrive home I will be losing that. Losing that community will be hard because it’s very different from the community back home. Allow the time and space for me to mourn. Also please don’t be hurt that I’ve made friends. There is enough room in my heart for them and you, and I still love you as much as I did when I left, if not even more for sticking around even when I wasn’t there physically this past year!
- I want to hear about your life. Lots has changed and happened for me since I left home. I’m sure there have been some changes in your life too over the past year, (two of my best friends and my brother started and finished their first year teaching)! Tell me what has gone on and how you’ve changed and grown. How has the Lord been working in you? I truly care about your life back in the States and want to know more than just the surface level of “my life is same old, same old.” Share with me fun stories about your holidays or an event your recently went to or what challenges you’ve had to overcome.
- Invite me. I am an extreme introvert, but I have been gone from everyone for so long and I want to hang out and catch up! I want to enjoy the presence of my best friends and go to the beach, regular things I did before I left. I’ve been able to keep up to an extent, but there is a lot that I haven’t been able to catch up with. Invite me to things because more than likely I want to be a part of it. Even if you don’t know if I can make it, invite me. Reach out to me and include me in your community. Community was very important on the race and I will be missing it upon return. And if I say “no” once or twice or even three times, don’t give up, I will need some major downtime for myself and process when I get home. I’ll be taking it day by day upon return.
- Take me on spontaneous adventures. If you’re planning a beach weekend, take me, or even if you want to go find a random waterfall, I want to be there. I have also learned that going to the movies, or even cookout is an adventure. I’m up for anything. It’s what my life has been for the last 11 months, 1 big spontaneous adventure.
- Encourage the change you see. The World Race gave me an environment to self reflect and dig deep into my past and change my perception to look more like Christ. You may notice that I handle situations in a different manner than I did before the Race (i.e. A holy spirit pause and think before I speak when I am frustrated, or patience). When you see a good difference or a good change in behavior, say something! Let me know how I’ve grown and that you’ve noticed. Often times it’s hard to see how one has changed, so vocalize it! It’ll mean a lot to me. On the same note, give me grace. I may be hard on myself that I’m not as patient or gracious to those around me the way I was on the Race, because of being back in the environment as before I left. Remind me not to beat myself up for it and encourage the good you do see.
- Encourage rest. It’s been 11 months of growth, challenge, and being uncomfortable. I have been pushed physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. I’ll need time to rest and process the year. Help me process by encouraging me to spend time reflecting on the year. Pray with and for me. Quality time is important. Ask about and listen to me when I share my experiences. Follow-up with me and ask how I’m doing, try to go beyond surface level conversation.
- Don’t make my future plans a focus. While many racers have plans post race, many don’t and that is okay. Luckily, I do have plans post race after a month or two of rest, but I don’t want that to be a conversation focus. I would love to tell you about what I am doing, but I would also love to tell you about how God has worked through me and revealed my future plans to me while being on the world race.
- Lastly, give me grace. I will do my best to reintegrate into American culture. But it’s going to be hard for me. Please forgive me if I say the wrong things in social situations, or talk about bodily functions a little to freely. All of these things were common in the last 11 months and maybe even norms in other countries. We have adapted, survived, and created some hard to break habits. Know that I’ll give you grace too. Unless you’ve been on the race, there are some things you may not understand about me or my experience. It’s really okay, and I’ll do my best to let you in on it and forgive you if you can’t wrap your mind around it.
I land in Charleston, South Carolina late the night of June 22. I will be living at home and pretty busy my first month and a half or so back. But, no need to fear, I want to see all of you and hang out, so please reach out and we will make a date to catch up!
To my family and friends at the airport- only 442 more more hours until I am back stateside and in your arms again!
Also, Erica, my friend and teammate that I adapted this blog from is going to be a Squad Leader. She will be going back out on the field in October for 5 months to lead other world racers like ourselves. Which also means everyones favorite thing of FUNDRAISING is back (for her)! If you feel it in your heart to give more or learn more about her, please click on her blog and help her out!
