There are so many phrases with the word “home” and yet I’m not sure words can do it justice.
Home Sweet Home.
Home is where your heart is.
Home again, home again, jiggity jog.
Home run.
There’s no place like home.
Oh Dorothy, you have NO idea!
And it is true. There is no place like home. Our limited human vocabulary cannot express the emotion and overwhelming excitement in returning to the ones you love, the culture you know, the simple comforts found in “home.”
The tidal wave of excitement overtakes the emotional wave when …
- I come out of the JFK airport to signs and three of my best friends welcoming me home,
- I see Mom and Dad waiting patiently and scanning the crowd for their returning daughter,
- I get squeezed nearly to death (ok not that tight, but they are strong) by five nieces and nephews and told “don’t let go.”
- I talk on the phone and hear family and friends for the first time in months. They can call me and I can call them – almost any time. The value of connection – don’t take it for granted.
Finish Line at JFK. Once a precious comodity, toilet paper became the finish line. Rachel, Theresa and Sara welcome me home!
Flying to Florida – home sweet home.
And alllllll the way home! Dad and Mom (behind the camera) meet me in Orlando.
We’ve experienced culture shock for 11 months – usually amusing and fun. Perhaps the sharpest and hardest to cope with (well, in some areas) is the reverse culture shock.
A lot has changed – friends, family, technology. A lot hasn’t changed, and I’ve just forgotten. Most will come back just like riding a bike.
Here are a few thoughts on re-entry to America:
[Upon driving into New York City]
-Where is all the traffic? Where are all the people of NYC? I thought it used to be busy. It is so quiet.
-There’s a Starbucks. OH! There’s another one. And another one.
-GOLDEN ARCHES!
-Do I have TP for the bathroom? Oh wait. I don’t need to bring it with me.
-This stuff is soft!
-Do you throw it in the toilet or the trash basket?
-I need to fill up my Nalgene (water bottle) before going to brush my teeth. Oh, no. I don’t have to do that anymore. I can put my toothbrush under the running water!!!
-The air is so clean. So fresh! Ahhhhh!
-Everyone looks different on the streets of New York. Not everyone is the same color, not all one dress. Diversity! Yes!
-Hmmm… which lane of traffic are we going to pull into. That’s funny, I was definitely going to choose the left lane not the right.
-Carrots! Fresh, clean, and crunchy!
-How do I text?
-Quiet time is really quiet time – without headphones. No one stares at you, points at you, talks to you. It’s just you and God. Space is a gift.
With a bit more stable Internet connection, I will continue to blog. I’ve learned heaps and still have lessons to learn as I reflect and unpack what we’ve seen and experienced.
THANK YOU for your prayers, your emails and blog postings of support. We made it!
