Some people have asked that I blog about how life is now that I'm back at home.
It's good. =)
Okay that's all, bye!
It's good. =)
Okay that's all, bye!
Doreen Chepkoech & Faith Cherono
JaclynJust kidding. =] My debriefing in Charlotte really helped prepare me for re-entry back into the states. People have said that I'd probably experience reverse culture-shock, but I kept thinking..."really? I'll only be there for 5 months." I think because I've been living in a place where I tried so hard to adjust to a completely different culture, and I spent 5 months trying to be Kenyan, then it kind of makes sense that transitioning back into my usual life could be tricky.
This week has been full of rest, everything's like new again, and some things are new! Shopping wasn't hard like people said it would be. I needed clothes (thank you carbs), so I went shopping. I've had lots of fun catching up on stories that I missed with my family. I was wondering all week, "maybe because I was so prepared for 're-entry' that it's no big deal?" Just like how I wasn't shocked walking through Kibera (Nairobi's largest slum) because people prepared me for what it would be like.
Except yesterday morning, I woke up and realized that Karanja's a real kid who I don't see everyday anymore; Christabelle isn't gonna wake me up singing at 5:30 AM anymore, and Howad isn't going to come to my room asking for my "dustbin" anymore (the little girls would come and take out mine & Lindsey's trash bags...only they'd go through them looking for things that could be toys). I feel like I dreamt that I was in Kenya because it just FLEW by, and everything at home was so new that I didn't miss Kenya yet. It took about a week for it to hit me that I'm not just taking a break in Nairobi this time & will be heading back up-country on Monday, I'm on the other side of the world now.
I think my culture shock is coming slowly...things happen that I totally don't expect to affect me, but they do. Example - I got my hair cut & colored the day after I got home. bad idea. I kinda freaked out everytime I had to fix it, and I thought I was looking forward to fixing my hair! I got so used to not having to fix it, that something so small like "fixing my hair" threw me off balance. I'm happy with it now, don't worry. =)
I didn't think I'd changed much until I got home, either. I don't mind dirt or getting rained on anymore. I'm more relaxed about life because I trust that the LORD knows and will do. I got so used to greeting EVERYBODY, even people I didn't know, that when I see people I know out places, I subconciously expect them to greet me - or I wondered today if it was normal to go say hi to a girl I haven't seen in years & didn't know very well anyway, or was a wave sufficient? haha, it sounds silly, but I can't remember those kinds of things!
I miss my closeness with the LORD. It's still available to me, but I'm not relying on Him for everything everyday anymore...yikes. My pantry is full, I can shower whenever I want to because when I turn on the faucet, water always comes out. I don't have to say a prayer that there will be water anymore. My food is nutritious, I always have clean clothes, everyone understands my English. It's easy to see how people may believe they are self-sufficient. I'm thankful it's only taken 1 week to realize that even at home in America, I really need the LORD's grace DAILY, and life is lesser without His control.
Okay that's all the thinking & typing I can handle right now. haha! More later!
This week has been full of rest, everything's like new again, and some things are new! Shopping wasn't hard like people said it would be. I needed clothes (thank you carbs), so I went shopping. I've had lots of fun catching up on stories that I missed with my family. I was wondering all week, "maybe because I was so prepared for 're-entry' that it's no big deal?" Just like how I wasn't shocked walking through Kibera (Nairobi's largest slum) because people prepared me for what it would be like.
Except yesterday morning, I woke up and realized that Karanja's a real kid who I don't see everyday anymore; Christabelle isn't gonna wake me up singing at 5:30 AM anymore, and Howad isn't going to come to my room asking for my "dustbin" anymore (the little girls would come and take out mine & Lindsey's trash bags...only they'd go through them looking for things that could be toys). I feel like I dreamt that I was in Kenya because it just FLEW by, and everything at home was so new that I didn't miss Kenya yet. It took about a week for it to hit me that I'm not just taking a break in Nairobi this time & will be heading back up-country on Monday, I'm on the other side of the world now.
I think my culture shock is coming slowly...things happen that I totally don't expect to affect me, but they do. Example - I got my hair cut & colored the day after I got home. bad idea. I kinda freaked out everytime I had to fix it, and I thought I was looking forward to fixing my hair! I got so used to not having to fix it, that something so small like "fixing my hair" threw me off balance. I'm happy with it now, don't worry. =)
I didn't think I'd changed much until I got home, either. I don't mind dirt or getting rained on anymore. I'm more relaxed about life because I trust that the LORD knows and will do. I got so used to greeting EVERYBODY, even people I didn't know, that when I see people I know out places, I subconciously expect them to greet me - or I wondered today if it was normal to go say hi to a girl I haven't seen in years & didn't know very well anyway, or was a wave sufficient? haha, it sounds silly, but I can't remember those kinds of things!
I miss my closeness with the LORD. It's still available to me, but I'm not relying on Him for everything everyday anymore...yikes. My pantry is full, I can shower whenever I want to because when I turn on the faucet, water always comes out. I don't have to say a prayer that there will be water anymore. My food is nutritious, I always have clean clothes, everyone understands my English. It's easy to see how people may believe they are self-sufficient. I'm thankful it's only taken 1 week to realize that even at home in America, I really need the LORD's grace DAILY, and life is lesser without His control.
Okay that's all the thinking & typing I can handle right now. haha! More later!
ps: i've been catching up with all my reality tv shows, and i might be in love with kris allen from american idol. oh wait, he's married. ok don't tell his wife that i'm in love with him.
3 comments:
Love your thoughts about your return "home". Those kids you saw every day will never be the same since you were in their life. And you will never be the same either. Love you. Linda
Thanks, Linda! I was so happy to see you at the airport!! =) love you!
Katie-
Wow. I can't believe that your time in Kenya is up already. You so eloquently explained the "culture shock" that so many experience. Yes, the material stuff is hard. But, the hardest stuff is missing our friends that are now family that we had to leave. I can't tell you how many times that I miss my friends in Belize, and I've even been back 2x since my initial visit. There are just days that you just want to see them, be able to talk to them, play with them.
I wish I could give you some good advice on how to combat this, but I guess it is those times that we must trust the Lord & draw near to Him like we did when we were in our experience. You are so true in realizing that it is so much harder to see and hear Him back here, as we are so blessed to have so many needs taken care of.
I hope that we can meet up this summer to catch up and talk about all of this. I would absolutely love that. I'll keep you posted on my return home (should be very soon!).
Abby
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