I haven’t chronicled our experience re-entering American culture like I had hoped.  I can pinpoint the exact reason for this – busyness.  Which is very American.  So, if you think about it, my not writing is chronicling our American experience because we’re emerging ourselves into the American culture.  By being busy.  That’s my excuse, anyway.

I’m writing regularly at Simple Mom because that’s my part-time job (it generates revenue), and we’re meeting with lots of people.  And hanging out at my parent’s house a lot (where we’re staying).  I sewed a dress.  We’ve gone shopping a lot.  All things we’ve needed and wanted to do for awhile.

I guess the weirdest thing about being stateside is that it’s not weird.  At least not as weird as we thought it might be.  The first week I did notice a lot of the American anomalies, like the bigness of everything, how loud and commercialized everything is, and how, in the suburbs, you never see anyone.  But it’s weird that I’m quickly forgetting that those things are now unique to my life.  After all, I lived in the States for almost 30 years.  I’ve been in our new home almost 2.

We all do miss our home a lot, especially Chickpea.  At least once a day she says she misses her “real home,” and talks about her friends over there.  We just let her miss it, because it’s legitimate she’d feel that way.  We do emphasize the great things about being in the US right now, like being with her grandparents, and seeing lots of friends.  Then she cheers up.

Also, driving a car has been like riding a bike.  If you know what I mean.  I haven’t driven a car in almost two years, but the second I hopped in the driver’s seat, it wasn’t strange at all.  This was very relieving to me, as I had no idea what to expect.

Kabob says he’s enjoying the variety of things.  A different type of food for each meal, the wide range of environments all within the same city (downtown, suburb, etc.).

I’ve been surprised by how much I’m enjoying the craft supplies.  Sounds nerdy, I know.  But for some reason, I’m just loving Michael’s, Garden Ridge, Hobby Lobby, and the like.  Fabric, ribbon, felt, scrapbook paper…  I’ve got more ideas than I can possibly keep up with.

Which is another thing we’re realizing – we’re not going to get to do everything we want to do.  It’s a bummer, really, but it’s something we have to accept.  Every day we drive by something, and we jot down a new idea, or purchase, or event we want to experience.  But I have to be hands-open about it all, and be okay with not doing it all.

There’s a thing in the back of my brain that reminds me of that CS Lewis quote, “The joy now is the pain then.”  Truly enjoying our time here in the States means going through a somewhat painful readjustment when we return in a few months.  But I’m learning to embrace that, to be okay with that as a normal experience in my life.

What a roller coaster life we lead.  But I wouldn’t trade it right now.

posted: 08 November 10
under: culture, family