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.