Monday, November 21, 2011

A Stranger of Strangers

All those months of dreaming about walking down the Walmart aisles FINALLY coming true, the funny thing was, it didn't feel quite like in my dreams.  There I was surrounded by more options and choices than I could have imagined, when I was struck with the realization...I actually enjoyed walking through the open air market more.  But I could have just been overwhelmed with all of the "cheerful" holiday shoppers, or trying to decide between the Harvest Cheddar Sunchips and the Sour Cream and Onion Baked Lays and all of my other favorite foods, or it could have been exasperation at not finding buckwheat, one of our favorite hot breakfast cereals.  I did find kefir, though. :)  Think I'll try Walmart AFTER the holidays when I can leisurely walk the aisles. 
Visiting with Eric's Uncle Gary and Aunt Penny

Here are some of my observations since coming back to America:

~ Some may remember my fascination with how big American ovens are.  Well, I am no longer fascinated by them...now I'm scared.  Every time I open the oven to pull something out I find myself panicing and making the kids go into a different room - those things put out a LOT of heat! 
Aunt Penny was loads of fun and even played ring around the rosie

~ When I first arrived I thought, "Ah, dryers.  Who needs them?"  I don't know what I was thinking.  I definitely don't know how I will go back to normal life after this!
Sammy enjoying his time with Uncle Gary.

~ I realized I needed to be careful about speaking in Russian.  In conversation with my pastor's wife and a friend, I found myself replying with the Russian word for yes... "Duh."  I was so embarrassed and quickly tried to explain myself.  Also, it is very normal for us to give commands to our children in Russian and Sammy, since he is more use to it, responds better.  You say, "What's wrong with that?"  Well, the problem came one Sunday morning when I told Sammy to give me the pen he was holding.... "Die, Sammy."  hmmm. Yeah.  Gotta watch that one.  Don't want to try explaining that to child protective services.
Obviously Uncle Micah knows the secret to capturing the attention of children...

~ If someone says "What did you just say?"  Then most likely I said "it" in Russian.

I know there are a ton more, but since it has taken so long to write this post (days).  This time of re-adjusting to the American culture has taught me one thing...I am a stranger of strangers because not only am I a stranger in a foreign land but now also in my "homeland" as it seems to have changed so much in the time we were gone...or maybe I was the one who changed?  Oh, well.  Either way, we are enjoying and cherishing our time with family.
Phone Games!

4 comments:

  1. Hi Jessica,
    Hope you had a really special Thanksgiving, despite your dear husband not being able to be with you.

    When you wrote about being a 'stranger', it reminded me of a book recommended to us when we first moved to Mexico, called,
    Third Culture Kids
    by David C Pollock and Ruth E Van Reken

    It is not a Christian book, but helpful in understanding somewhat how our children feel/will feel going between at least 2 countries. I found it helpful myself.

    We are indeed strangers and pilgrims as Christians, and I'm thankful to be a citizen of Heaven - even if I don't "belong" anywhere here on earth! =)

    Praying for you and your family!
    In Him,
    Steph

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  2. You made our whole family laugh! Love the fun you're having with Russian and English! I know what you mean about Walmart. I was sooo looking forward to it, but when I got there I realized, I'm okay with running to 5 stores to find cream cheese on the mission field! :o)
    Love our friendship through blogland!
    Kami

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  3. Your girls are so pretty... and their HAIR {gasp!}. I was looking at these pics and wondering how in the world you get it to grow so long and full. And then it hit me. You mentioned the buckwheat and kefir... two things here that we don't eat that you mentioned you love. That MUST be it! :-)

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  4. I don't think I will stop laughing next time one of us jokingly says: "Duh" :)
    Praying for you as you await your husband.

    ReplyDelete

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