For the most part, for me, life feels normal. It is a different "normal" than what I experienced in Egypt, but it is normal. But I know that isn't what you want to hear about!
One of the most noticeable adjustments has been for us to attend church. In a church building. We haven't done that 1.5 years. Which is a long time for me as an adult, let alone as small children. Savannah doesn't remember it at all.
We don't know many of the songs that everyone sings with enthusiasm. When we go to a church where we don't know anyone, I worry everyone assumes we are "losties" - particularly if we bring any children into the service. They aren't used to what happens in church and its hard to learn "churchy" behavior as quickly as we might need it. If we do have friends in the service, I'm worried that our lack of singing makes them uncomfortable and I feel myself wanting to assure them, "No, really, we like your church... the songs are great. We just don't know these particular ones!"
Another adjustment has been all the early mornings. Egypt was a late night/late morning culture. There was no sense in waking up early, because no stores opened before 10 am at the earliest and no one else was getting up early. I loved this! Last week I actually found myself with an 8 am dentist appointment. Which was a double-whammy for me, because as anyone can tell you, I hate the dentist and early mornings with equal passion.
In Egypt, my grocery store and my fruit stand were in walking distance. Short walking distance. Here, in America, I have to drive everywhere. I actually heard myself saying to Brian last week, "Well, I just want to be sure I have enough on my list to rationalize driving all that way to the store." All that way being about 5 miles - practically next door in a town the size of Houston.
Brian always wonders what takes me so long when I go to the store. What takes me so long is that the grocery stores here are at least 20x the size of the one I frequented in Egypt. And don't get me started on the customer service.
You know you've been living in a foreign country when...
... your children refer to the automatic sinks and doors as "magical". "Mommy! I got to use the magical sink again!" - Savannah
... you breathe a sigh of relief when you are the only one on the toilet paper isle. Seriously, why are there so many options? And why are they are so expensive?
... you only buy a few vegetables at a time because you know you have to use them today before they go bad tomorrow... then it is a little disturbing to find that they do last several days. What are we putting on our vegetables, people?
... your daughter worries about drinking water from the sink. "Mommy, I'm really thirsty. But I don't know if it is okay to drink water from the sink here like I did in Egypt." - Emily
One of the most noticeable adjustments has been for us to attend church. In a church building. We haven't done that 1.5 years. Which is a long time for me as an adult, let alone as small children. Savannah doesn't remember it at all.
We don't know many of the songs that everyone sings with enthusiasm. When we go to a church where we don't know anyone, I worry everyone assumes we are "losties" - particularly if we bring any children into the service. They aren't used to what happens in church and its hard to learn "churchy" behavior as quickly as we might need it. If we do have friends in the service, I'm worried that our lack of singing makes them uncomfortable and I feel myself wanting to assure them, "No, really, we like your church... the songs are great. We just don't know these particular ones!"
Another adjustment has been all the early mornings. Egypt was a late night/late morning culture. There was no sense in waking up early, because no stores opened before 10 am at the earliest and no one else was getting up early. I loved this! Last week I actually found myself with an 8 am dentist appointment. Which was a double-whammy for me, because as anyone can tell you, I hate the dentist and early mornings with equal passion.
In Egypt, my grocery store and my fruit stand were in walking distance. Short walking distance. Here, in America, I have to drive everywhere. I actually heard myself saying to Brian last week, "Well, I just want to be sure I have enough on my list to rationalize driving all that way to the store." All that way being about 5 miles - practically next door in a town the size of Houston.
Brian always wonders what takes me so long when I go to the store. What takes me so long is that the grocery stores here are at least 20x the size of the one I frequented in Egypt. And don't get me started on the customer service.
You know you've been living in a foreign country when...
... your children refer to the automatic sinks and doors as "magical". "Mommy! I got to use the magical sink again!" - Savannah
... you breathe a sigh of relief when you are the only one on the toilet paper isle. Seriously, why are there so many options? And why are they are so expensive?
... you only buy a few vegetables at a time because you know you have to use them today before they go bad tomorrow... then it is a little disturbing to find that they do last several days. What are we putting on our vegetables, people?
... your daughter worries about drinking water from the sink. "Mommy, I'm really thirsty. But I don't know if it is okay to drink water from the sink here like I did in Egypt." - Emily
when we got back, the first time i encountered an automatic flush toilet, it definitely made me cuss b/c it freaked it me out so much.
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