The reason tourists don't get homesick is because they're not trying to act as if this new place is their home. Homesickness happens when we're trying to live our "normal" life and we're reminded about how different it is here from there.
I've always felt at home in libraries, as if I could spend all day there. So I was thrilled today when I found a local library in the center of a beautiful park. It seemed familiar - the kid's corner, the "silencio" signs, the dewey decimal system, the clean bathrooms, etc. But for some reason I couldn't warm up to the place. And I think it wasn't just the lack of comfortable chairs. Despite the rows and rows of books, I couldn't read a single one. Not even the kids' books. And I didn't understand what the librarians told me.
Homesickness is when you're trying to feel at home and it just doesn't work.
And then, when we least expect it, something familiar makes it all ok. After a few minutes of wandering confused through the library, I had a long spanish class, where i got to start reading a book of short stories - in Spanish! Maybe in a few months, the kids' corner of the library will be less frightening.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Good News!
After yesterday's depressing post, I thought I'd share some more optimistic news from today:
1. I drove into D.F. (MX city) and back home, without getting lost, without being late, and without tears. Also, I used the GPS and IPOD and cell phone w/ bluetooth during this excursion. YAY!
2. Joined Newcomers' Club of Mexico City - got books of info re: living here and can join yahoo group and attend social gatherings. New Friends - very yay!
2. Found American bookstore w/ slightly used (cheap! English!) books
3. Found list of Eng. language churches in DF
4. Got recommendation for mega-church here in Toluca
5. Have scheduled excursion tomorrow to interview at an English school, visit the local University, and drive past a chiropractor.
6. Dave actually recommended we shop at Wal-Mart tonight!
7. Lost 6 pounds.
Whoo-hoo!
1. I drove into D.F. (MX city) and back home, without getting lost, without being late, and without tears. Also, I used the GPS and IPOD and cell phone w/ bluetooth during this excursion. YAY!
2. Joined Newcomers' Club of Mexico City - got books of info re: living here and can join yahoo group and attend social gatherings. New Friends - very yay!
2. Found American bookstore w/ slightly used (cheap! English!) books
3. Found list of Eng. language churches in DF
4. Got recommendation for mega-church here in Toluca
5. Have scheduled excursion tomorrow to interview at an English school, visit the local University, and drive past a chiropractor.
6. Dave actually recommended we shop at Wal-Mart tonight!
7. Lost 6 pounds.
Whoo-hoo!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
On Mexico Time
Our moving truck is still not here. In fact, we have no idea when it will come. Our items were packed up 8+ weeks ago. David has been given excuses by the US moving company, the MX moving company, the MX immigration officials, Nissan, and our relocation company. Everyone claims it's someone else's fault, and by avoiding responsibility, they can all avoid actually doing anything. In the meantime, we are living out of suitcases. Thankfully, we're living out of 12 suitcases, bc Dave & I have traveled back and forth so many times. By the time our truck gets here, I'm starting to wonder if we should have just FedEx'd everything!
Our truck must be on Mexico Time.
Mexico Time means that 10:30 church starts at 10:40.
Mexico Time means that the food for our 7pm party arrives at 8:15.
Mexico Time means that our housekeeper comes a day late with no explanation.
Mexico Time means that the cultural assimilation excursion around town never happened.
Mexico Time means that I still haven't started Spanish Language classes.
Even our stove is on Mexican Time! It took over 45 minutes to boil water last Sunday...
So I'm starting to wonder... why? Why do I need my things to feel at home? Why do I need anything besides a bed and a toothbrush (and a laptop & a cell phone & satellite TV & an ATM card...)? Why do I choose to complain when my wonderful husband has done everything possible to make our new home as comfortable as possible?
Maybe my attitude adjustment is on Mexico Time, too.
Our truck must be on Mexico Time.
Mexico Time means that 10:30 church starts at 10:40.
Mexico Time means that the food for our 7pm party arrives at 8:15.
Mexico Time means that our housekeeper comes a day late with no explanation.
Mexico Time means that the cultural assimilation excursion around town never happened.
Mexico Time means that I still haven't started Spanish Language classes.
Even our stove is on Mexican Time! It took over 45 minutes to boil water last Sunday...
So I'm starting to wonder... why? Why do I need my things to feel at home? Why do I need anything besides a bed and a toothbrush (and a laptop & a cell phone & satellite TV & an ATM card...)? Why do I choose to complain when my wonderful husband has done everything possible to make our new home as comfortable as possible?
Maybe my attitude adjustment is on Mexico Time, too.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Fiesta de banco
7pm - Party started
8pm - guests arrived
8:30 - food & chairs arrived
10:30 - guitar performance started
11 - ran out of beer
12 - Dave took a nap :)
1am - dancing started
2am - tequila is running low, thanks to the creative serving of our good friend Gilberto
3am - we collapse in bed, thankful that they left early on our account (these parties usually go until breakfast at 7am!)
8pm - guests arrived
8:30 - food & chairs arrived
10:30 - guitar performance started
11 - ran out of beer
12 - Dave took a nap :)
1am - dancing started
2am - tequila is running low, thanks to the creative serving of our good friend Gilberto
3am - we collapse in bed, thankful that they left early on our account (these parties usually go until breakfast at 7am!)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Home Sweet Home
We flew home for the 4th of July (actually, we flew home for two weeks to spend time with our families, collect items we'd forgotten, and get some work done). So, we got to spend America's most patriotic holiday weekend riding the train through the midwest, eating internationally at the "Taste of Chicago", and watching fireworks from the shores of Lake Michigan. Aahhh... it's nice to be home.
But where is home?
We've lived in Chicago, in Ann Arbor, and now in Toluca. But we didn't grow up in any of those towns. And I'm sure the list will keep growing. So where do we belong?
It's hard to say. "home is where the heart is" "home is where they have to take you in" "when I was at home, I was in a better place" Authors have lots of coined phrases to describe what our home is or what it should be. But I traveled "home" for two weeks after being at my new "home" for only two weeks. And if I'm completely honest, I felt "at home" in many places. I felt welcomed home by loving family throughout our trip, even upon arrival in Mexico.
No matter where we hang our hats (or purse!), we're always going to be Americans. We felt that as soon as we stepped off the plane. We liked being surrounded by such diversity, such freedom, such opportunity as can only be found in the U.S.
But I think we'll also always identify with the Mexico we know. A country filled with such optimism, such passion, such comraderie that everyone feels like family.
So who knows when we'll be home. But it might be ok that we're wanderers, enjoying many places before God calls us home.
But where is home?
We've lived in Chicago, in Ann Arbor, and now in Toluca. But we didn't grow up in any of those towns. And I'm sure the list will keep growing. So where do we belong?
It's hard to say. "home is where the heart is" "home is where they have to take you in" "when I was at home, I was in a better place" Authors have lots of coined phrases to describe what our home is or what it should be. But I traveled "home" for two weeks after being at my new "home" for only two weeks. And if I'm completely honest, I felt "at home" in many places. I felt welcomed home by loving family throughout our trip, even upon arrival in Mexico.
No matter where we hang our hats (or purse!), we're always going to be Americans. We felt that as soon as we stepped off the plane. We liked being surrounded by such diversity, such freedom, such opportunity as can only be found in the U.S.
But I think we'll also always identify with the Mexico we know. A country filled with such optimism, such passion, such comraderie that everyone feels like family.
So who knows when we'll be home. But it might be ok that we're wanderers, enjoying many places before God calls us home.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Vacation!
Aaahhh. Time for vacation. Yes, I need a break. My life has been so stressful these past two weeks here in Mexico, watching Satellite TV and breaking only to travel to Starbucks for internet access...
And the question I'm most dreading, "so what have YOU been up to, Kelly?" Because the people who ask are only being nice, trying to start a conversation. And because I want to tell those people the truth, but the truth is still so depressing I'm not ready to admit it to myself. The truth is that I haven't adjusted yet. My daily routine is boring, and my personal triumphs seem insignificant: found US news on the TV, drove to Wal-Mart & back w/out getting lost, bought a sofa in Spanish, started language lessons, signed a Spanish cell phone contract, began mastering facebook, located organic cleaners, hired a cleaning lady, tried sushi, carried on a conversation with David in public mainly in Spanish so we don't look like tourists, etc.
The truth is that while we may have "moved" we're living out of suitcases in a huge dirty house. It took days to navigate the roads and the stores to buy all of the food, cleaners, appliances, clothes, toiletries, linens, and other things that didn't fit in our suitcase or that we can no longer live without. After that, without the items on our moving truck or friends in this town or the right clothes for the weather or the guts to explore alone, I felt stuck in an empty house with nothing to do. So I spent a week watching too much TV and feeling sorry for myself.
But who wants to hear that?
So instead, I exagerate. "I've been settling in, getting to know the area, running some errands, and practicing my Spanish." It's not a lie, but I am still looking forward to the time where I can unpack ALL of our stuff, and hang up curtains that match, and strike up a conversation with a stranger, and make a Mexican dinner, and listen to NPR streaming radio at home, and get into a routine that works.
It will happen soon.
And the question I'm most dreading, "so what have YOU been up to, Kelly?" Because the people who ask are only being nice, trying to start a conversation. And because I want to tell those people the truth, but the truth is still so depressing I'm not ready to admit it to myself. The truth is that I haven't adjusted yet. My daily routine is boring, and my personal triumphs seem insignificant: found US news on the TV, drove to Wal-Mart & back w/out getting lost, bought a sofa in Spanish, started language lessons, signed a Spanish cell phone contract, began mastering facebook, located organic cleaners, hired a cleaning lady, tried sushi, carried on a conversation with David in public mainly in Spanish so we don't look like tourists, etc.
The truth is that while we may have "moved" we're living out of suitcases in a huge dirty house. It took days to navigate the roads and the stores to buy all of the food, cleaners, appliances, clothes, toiletries, linens, and other things that didn't fit in our suitcase or that we can no longer live without. After that, without the items on our moving truck or friends in this town or the right clothes for the weather or the guts to explore alone, I felt stuck in an empty house with nothing to do. So I spent a week watching too much TV and feeling sorry for myself.
But who wants to hear that?
So instead, I exagerate. "I've been settling in, getting to know the area, running some errands, and practicing my Spanish." It's not a lie, but I am still looking forward to the time where I can unpack ALL of our stuff, and hang up curtains that match, and strike up a conversation with a stranger, and make a Mexican dinner, and listen to NPR streaming radio at home, and get into a routine that works.
It will happen soon.
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