Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Day 4,5,6
The days blur together now as we plow through our list of things to do to become a Florida resident and get the boys registered for school. I feel off balance. Awkward socially. I can't figure out how to greet people. We pass people outside and they look us in the eyes and say, "Hi, how are you today?" I turn to Sean and ask "Do you know them?" A woman in the elevator downtown tells me half her life story. Very strange. I feel invaded. Yet, when I enter the business room at our apartment complex no one even looks up and acknowledges my presence. So rude. Someone needs to teach these people some manners!! Sean is afraid I think I'm the one to do it. I think I'll just cry instead.
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Shandra,
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain, thanks for writing your impressions, I think this will be very theraputic for you. (I wish I had thought of this 6 years ago!) As for the rude people, I had a similar experience the other day at a Dr. office and Kayley had to hold me back from "educating" the rude receptionist!
I think the hardest part of our re-entry was recognizing that I am one of these Americans I had disdain for... and I was only gone half your time. It is easy to visit here, harder to live & relate to this culture. But you will eventually get there, just as a different person than when you left 14 years ago! Give yourself grace & time to cry & learn to shop at smaller stores! :-)
Yes! I still find it odd when strangers say hello to me, especially out jogging. As if the common bond of exercise somehow makes us instant friends. I always preferred "playing chicken" with Europeans - that fight for the 3 inches of sidewalk - to strangers invading my privacy.
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