(John's gun range experience this summer) I giggle at a conversation I remember hearing a few years back that went something like this, So and So asked me to pray that the devil (trials and temptations) will leave them alone.Then I said, “You want me to pray for you to die?” And the response was “NO!” Then I said, “Well, that’s the only way you will never be bothered with the devil (trials and temptations) again.” Trials, temptations, pressures, stressors, tension (and on and on the list can go) are part of life at varying levels. The more realistic request would be to have wisdom and understanding... To have help to develop strategies to face and overcome the stressors of life. In expat living, stressors come. Some people view expat living as one big vacation! Ha! It may be a life that we have chosen, and at the same time, stressors come knocking at the door in various forms. And the great news with this is…there is nothing new under the sun regarding stress and stressors. Whether living life as an expatriate in another nation or living life in your own nation, we are all on equal ground with stressors and stress. As we traveled almost 6,000 miles in our home country this summer some stress knocked at my door. Oh, this is not the first time to experience this…just another opportunity. Since I know you experience this same visitor at your door, I would like to share some tidbits that have helped me in life. (Click on Read More)
0 Comments
The last piece of history that left the house was The Table. It was the kitchen round table that we sat around to enjoy meals and fellowship with one another on many visits to Mom’s. So, what prompted this occasion of the table leaving? The Table was the end of a journey and the beginning of a new journey in my life and my family. Starting in February of this year, I became the owner of the family home. The home our family (and especially my mother) occupied for 53 years. I began the process and journey of cleaning out and cleaning up the house to prepare it for its next use as a rental. "Oh if these walls could talk” depicts the house on Meadow Oaks. So, what would these walls say? They would speak of the love of a family; the dreams of a family; the struggles of a family; the triumphs and victories of a family; the grief of a family in loss; the faith of a family; the imperfections of a family; the forgiveness of a family; and the commitment of a family to one another. And as I entered this house in February as the new owner, my journey began. The sifting, the sorting, the tossing, the keeping, the selling, and most of all, the remembering. Remembering the woman who worked late into the night to sew a new dress for me only to rise early the next day to put on her hat as the professional nurse. Remembering her sitting at her desk to pay the bills and to write out cards that blessed others. Remembering her words of instruction to teach me how to clean a house well and be proud of the work done. And most remembering the times at The Table. Times of good meals shared with many and few. Times of fellowship to talk of life events, adventures, opinions on current events, and the faith that anchored our lives. Times of seeing her sit there as we said our goodbyes and gave our hugs to head back to our home until next time. So, today, as I gave The Table to another home--another family. I remembered and I said “goodbye.” At the same time, I said “hello.” Hello to another time of life. Hello to another journey. Hello to the walls of Meadow Oaks speaking again of family and life. And may the love, the joy, the hope, and the faith that guided this home for the last 53 years guide the course as the next journey begins. I recently became fascinated with this word, “eclectic”. It means “made up of or combining elements from a variety of sources”. Then the light bulb went on. I am part of an eclectic group of people…Internationals or Expatriates. When I make visits back to my home land, it’s a little odd being surrounded by people who look like me, think like me, & talk like me. Of course, there are differences because we are all individuals. But overall, I am in a sea of Americans when I return to the USA. And when I am in my international community, I am a little tadpole in a big pond of other fish! AND, I have grown to like that most of the time! So how did this change happen?? When I first immersed myself in another nation, culture and international community, I was far from comfortable! It was all so odd feeling! First, there is the part of being THE foreigner. Some people accept you into their culture and way of life. Then others reject you, make fun of your differences, or push you away due to their shyness. “Oh, you’re the farang (or) the tay” …depending on the country and the language. (There’s always a term for the foreigner.) Second, there is the side of being part of the International community in the country you live in. In one way, it unifies you with people from all over the world. You each speak some level of English and are living in a nation that is not your own home nation. But then, you come to realize, there are still differences and you can still feel like the “odd” one. It can be uncomfortable when:
|
AuthorCindy writes about her adventures, observations, and other nuggets from living in another nation. She and John live in SE Asia. She will also share nuggets from her 58 plus years of life. Categories
All
|