Exit of Expats in Egypt

This is the last posting here. I will keep the blog alive because I have heard many times over, that some of my posting is helpful, most of it is originally enlightening in a light-hearted way and so I hope it will help other expats as well as enrich those who cannot go but want/need to know more about Egypt's rich culture, outstanding history and loving peoples!

We are settled in here. I will be creating a new blog of our life here. It will be private. If you are interested, send me your email address, I'll invite you!

Thanks for looking and

HAPPY EASTER!

mourning for His pain...
celebrating His resurrection...

I loved hearing Joshua recount the whole story to Jasmine this year...and explaining that eggs give hope of new life...and that's what we have in Jesus - hope of new life! Thanks for sharing this journey as we embarked across the globe and back again!

Love

~Wendy

Settling into Michigan

I really have not adjusted to the cold weather. I am trying not to be a baby about it, but frankly I am uncomfortable when I'm outside of my electric blanket! lol!!

I wanted to show you the new colors in the bathroom (oranges) and my bedroom (cranberry with cream). Obviously there's still some work to be done settling in, but really we're just having a normal day yesterday and today :)

I am so thankful for treasured friends emailing me encouragement and reminders of prayers! So thankful for the big sacrifices my parents made! I am so thankful for the friends who came alongside me hour after hour - Melanie (even tho my pants fell down a few times and she saw more than she wanted of me). And Julie for organizing meals! For all the people who have lavished us with hugs, notes, prayers, meals, and other support...THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I was riding today, I realized how much I missed just being out like that....but then the tears came (and made me EVEN colder)....because I just miss the people in Egypt MUCH more than the "things" here!!!!!!!!

Well, here's a glimpse of us settling into Michigan! School is set to start for us on Monday. Joshua is happier with his math and recess routine for homeschooling here than he liked in Egypt, so I think we'll be off to a good start!

I'm cooking on my new stove for the first time today! STONE SOUP! the kids and I enjoy cooking together so much....I miss the giant sweet carrts and more robust zucchini, but we'll adjust - at least I have my parsnip ;)






and yes, I am still using Arabic with the kids :)

and we'll keep it in our homeschool routine!! I don't want us to lose it! I heard a Sudanese woman recently and we spoke a bit together :) She was shocked and happy! Lovely woman, new to the US via Canada, via Egypt. She has no idea how much our little conversation blessed me! or how confused all the white people were watching it happen! LOLOLOL

Caught Unaware

These are things that I did not anticipate with returning culture shock...

the birds here are SO small! I remember thinking robins, cardinals, red-winged black birds, were such big birds. But after watching 50+ duck-sized crows daily fighting the garbage with 100's of cats and dogs.....the daily birds here seem SMALL! however, they seem MUCH more colorful ;) Egyptian crows are black and grey.

However, i do miss those wood-pecker looking things! They are smaller, but still MUCH larger than jays and cardinals.

there are semis and tractors everywhere! Very rare occasion to see really big semi's in Egypt. Staring and gaping involved whenever we did see one. HA HA! We saw 2 tractors while in Egypt- perhaps it was the same one on two different occasions! HA! But I keep seeing these giant farm devices and feel like a small boy with wonder in his eyes while gaulking! HA!

are the grocery carts in America on steroids or WHAT?! I remember thinking they were small in Egypt, but I don't remember being so overwhelmed by size...returning to these Meijer American grocery carts truly is a distraction and conversation piece thru the entire experience! Tho i have yet to fill my cupboards, perhaps it won't seem so big when I do that! HA!

mental anguish from lanuage! I remember being so exhausted mentally trying to understand English from Egyptians and other Africans...then learning Arabic...but me oh my, I did not expect to return to it again! I can't just "talk freely" - i am still thinking in Arabic and sometimes correcting my English after not speaking with Americans! HA!

I didn't even drive in Egypt - NOT ONCE! And yet, after a couple weeks, I still have the mindset of the driving routine in Egypt! watch out! Tho I have only run 1 red light (everyone was stopped, so I was like...WHY NOT GO?! oops!) and I passed a guy on the shoulder..and no he wasn't turning....he was doing 10 under, so I passed....Joshua quickly squealed out in fear "WE'RE NOT IN MAADI!" oopsie! LOL I figure with my big truck, no one will stop me! LOL just kidding

attachment to Egypt - it still baffles me that God gave me such an increased heart while in Egypt! I remember I didn't realy unpack in Egypt for weeks....but unpacking the luggage today at our house was way more emotional.....I could smell Maadi and memories rushed back...I've been so blessed! I grabbed onto gifts people had given me....souvenirs I'd purchased....that 14 months really was a lifetime of memories...along with spiritual and personal growth! I was excited to go to Egypt but terrified. Now I'm terrified I'll never return.....

personal boundaries - I already knew I didn't have my full American boundaries anylonger....but I didn't realize how hard it would be for me to be surrounded constantly by everyone else's large boundaries. I apologize in advance if I make you uncomfortable...but just know I'm just as uncomfortable with yours! LOL

When we get settled, I'll take some photos so you can all get some "closure" to our story! I realy enjoyed the opportunity to share this journey, to feel your prayers and let you experience a bit of the "world" thru our eyes.

For those of you closeby...I relish the day we will pick up where we left off...or rebuild what was lost...or start something anew!

For those of you I left in Egypt - I WISH I COULD WRAP PRAYERS AND SEND IN A DUTY-FREE PACKAGE SO YOU'D KNOW THAT THO I LOVE AMERICA.....EGYPT IS MY HOME!

Home is where your heart is.