Comments on: A lesson in patience

By: tom and betty b

tom and betty b — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:48:34 +0000

Thanks for sharing — we’re thinkin’ of you and your adjustments and your love of life and people! We know you’re being changed, and we’re pretty sure the people you interact with will be changed, too. See you in a year or two! tb

By: Shanie Rhodes

Shanie Rhodes — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:06:33 +0000

I think you are lucky to experience another culture so different from your own. And if you come back to the U.S. feeling that you have learned something from the experience, you and your children will be all the more luckier for it. Many people in this country live very sheltered lives, as the U.S. is somewhat of an island and you can choose to never venture out of your own massive country. As I see it, there is no “better” or “worse” – just thousands of different ways people live their lives across this wonderful world.

By: ruth ann

ruth ann — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:12:07 +0000

I can completely relate! We lived in Thailand for 4 years – and our family of 2 increased by 3 during that time. We used to joke that it was best to only plan on accomplishing ONE outing on any given day. That is to say – out to purchase groceries – and that’s it for the day. No ‘let’s just swing by and pick up some fabric.’ Or we take an outing to the park. That’s it! We’re not stopping to buy milk, too.

We’re back in the States now. But I have to tell you that I do find myself missing those days with all their cultural differences. I miss the way we were forced to slow down. Forced to lead a simpler life!

By: Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com

Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:43:15 +0000

When I lived in France, I often felt the same way. It took months for me to acclimate to the slower way of life, to vendors at the market wanting to discuss what I had for dinner last night and to spending twenty minutes walking somewhere to find out the bus was running fifteen minutes late, etc. There wasn’t as much space to house items, so I went out to buy the necessities more frequently, etc.

Then I fell in love with it. It took me years to re-acclimate to the faster-paced American way of life.

But then again, I didn’t have kids to worry about. I can’t even imagine undergoing such significant cultural changes with children on the brain too. Women like you are strong!