Re-entry Reflections - Month 1

Now 4 weeks into our re-entry into life in suburbia, I realise that I have luggage left in London - my mind and my heart are still in London. From a practical and cognitive/objective point of view, life is good. We have more than a roof over our heads, we are well-cared for and provided for by my parents who are super generous with their time, their energies, and their wallets.

A useful distraction which has successfully kept me from my natural inclination to hide into my cave of despair has been to focus on ticking off as many of the items off of the "Suriving in Suburbia" To Do List:

• Renew our driver licenses
• Get the family's vaccinations up to date
• Find and Register for schools for the kids in time for the new January term
• Find a cheap, reliable car
• Re-train the children with the rules and etiquettes of riding in a car
• Find a consistent routine for burning calories and resisting over-eating given the sedentary lifestyle of suburban life
• Navigate parenting in an extended-family context
• Re-connect with relatives and old friends
• Configure our computers so we can watch BBC UK content so we can stay updated on our favourite shows
• Re-assimilate into our church community
• Establish tools and routines for staying in touch with UK friends given the 8 hour time difference
• Find jobs so we can make enough money to pay off our debt and find a way home.

Initial expectations versus Reality

With regards to what I expected and what actually happened, I was absolutely right about my expectation that I would dread all the driving around. I so miss walking - and not just walking for walking's sake, but walking to an actual destination and walking which involves seeing other living creatures around. I was wrong about the tension I'd feel when I would reunite with friends - rather than feeling awkward because I'm conflicted about being back, I found myself genuinely happy to reunite with friends we hadn't seen in such a long time. And I was touched by the warm reception of many of them. Neighbours from our old 'patch' immediately arranged for a supper to welcome us back. Friends arranged a social with a few other families for a wonderful reunion. We feel loved. And it goes without saying that my parents have been incredibly generous and tolerant considering that an entire family has 'invaded' their peaceful home and well-oiled routine and social life.

But certain things make the tears well up:

• the words 'home' and 'dreams'
• long stretches of uninhabited pavements/sidewalks
• empty shops and shopping centres
• praise songs I sang and learned in London
• conversations about the amazing things God has been doing in and through the SGH church
• hours spent on the road trapped in a car

On the other hand, things that have really helped make things easier:

• conversations with good friends who are sympathetic and empathetic to the difficulty of the transition
• my prayerful morning jogs with worship music blasting in my ear
• walks with the family or a friend
• tennis
• bbc iplayer shows from the UK
• ideas about how God wants me and us to be a blessing to people here
• promises from God's Word
• Skype calls, tweets, and Facebook updates from our UK community
• seeing the kids re-discover parks, cheap/good food, re-uniting with friends

The journey continues...

Comments

[Alleyn Cole]

Your back in the States! Welcome back :o)

[shanti dickson]

Now I won't feel so lonely when I drive by your old place! Do you plan to move back in there? We'd love to "call in" sometime to wherever you are.

Wise words that have carried me through some root-ripping transitions: "The tears on departure measure how well you have lived somewhere."

Loves, Shanti