Looking Back; Looking Forward

When we stepped off the plane in Pittsburgh around 11 PM on June 27th after traveling for around 30 hours, the first thing I realized was that I could understand everyone who was talking to me, even the airport workers.  The second sensation to hit us was being cold.  Wearing a sweater and needing to turn on the car heater had never seemed so wonderful.  I'd had some regret that we might not experience the season of Fall for a long time, so being greeted by chilly weather was actually a welcome gift.

Lydia helped Grammy water the plants.  It was so great to play outside without the humidity or mosquitos!

We got to celebrate Lydia's 3rd birthday with the extended Spanogle family as well as Lydia's Haas great-grandparents.

4th of July parade

Elias wasn't too impressed.

 

Lydia with all her treasures.

Lots of barbecue and time outside!

We had a great time with Jeff's family!

Thus began a month long season of living out of suitcases, visiting family, catching up with some friends, and experiencing all the wonderful things about America.  I never thought I'd say this, but wow, I love America.  It seemed so beautiful to me, so green (at least in Pennsylvania), it was so easy to drive around, shopping was convenient, and blonde haired blue eyed kids didn't get constant attention.  Ice cream was cheap and accessible, we could eat sandwiches for lunch, and Lydia could eat strawberries to her heart's content. We could go to parks, zoos, take the kids to the library, play outside without the fear of mosquitos.  We felt normal.  We knew how to function and everything made sense.  It was so good.

We got to ride the train at the St. Louis Zoo!

Enjoying one of the nearby parks.

Lydia now refuses to look at the camera.  The day was bound to come.

Elias wasn't too fond of the tricycle. 

And of course, the best part was getting to see family, and seeing our kids get to know and love our families, and our families love on our kids (and us, too).  It truly was bittersweet.  Sweet to spend two  concentrated weeks at a time with each of our families, bitter to realize that this was it, the only two weeks of the entire year.  Sweet to relish an entire month that we could be together as a family (how many jobs allow for that kind of vacation?), bitter to still not be able to squeeze in visits to so many friends in Chicago and elsewhere that we'd like to see.  Sweet to say hello at the beginning, bitter to say goodbye at the end.

We got to attend Ezra's baptism with the Alexander-Haas family.

So much fun time with aunts and uncles!

Look at the mischief in those eyes--now imagine containing that mischief on a 12 hour plane ride!

Being silly with Great-Grandma Alexander.

Cousins!

I have always been one to love trips, and to have letdowns when they're over.  Even as a child, I remember feeling a huge let down when we'd come back from our summer vacations to Minnesota or Pennsylvania.  So I knew that the let down I felt coming back was not only about Indonesia.  I also knew that the time in the US was extra sweet because it was vacation.  Normal life doesn't look like vacation.  Something new and different always looks better and feels better than the routine.  And, I had to recall bitter icy Chicago winters and how much I hated them and how every year I asked myself, "why do I live here?"

So, here we are, starting out on year two.  Maybe we won't always count the years, but it seems unavoidable when living as an expat or foreigner.  You are constantly asking and answering the question, "How long have you lived here?"

In the middle of my post-America trip let-down feelings this week, God has been good. He has reminded me of the blessings in my life here.  He's reminded me that ultimately, I am here, and we are here because life isn't about comfort and ease and everything making sense, but about knowing Him and learning to depend on him.  Well, if that's the goal, it's working.  I have been forced to depend on him this week 100% more than I did the entire time we were in America.  

He is faithful.  He has given hope and excitement about starting to teach my ESL class at the ITC the end of August.  He has provided me with a new cultural informant and friend in my neighbor across the street, something I've longed for the entire time we've been here.  He's given excitement and momentum to the idea of starting a basic English class for some of the helpers in our neighborhood.  As friends have stopped by for walks, played on our swingset out front with us, come in for snacks, I've been reminded of what a beautiful and unique community we have here, supporting us in our daily lives.  Jeff is happy to be back and ready to start the new year.  Lydia has been so happy to be back, I can sense the change in her just as a result of being back to a family of four and having a normal routine.  Elias is just Elias--crazier, more mobile, getting into trouble more than he was when we left for the states.  

So here we go, year two is off! I expect we will go through the cycle of cultural adjustment again in some form or other: honeymoon stage, frustration stage, humor stage, and finally adjustment.  I'm starting to feel excited about what this year will hold.  Stay tuned!