Reflections on Culture Shock

I don't journal often, but there have been times that I've dusted off the old notebook to help myself mentally process through things.  One of those times was December 12, 2005 after I got back from studying in Israel as an undergrad.  Here's a bit of what I wrote:

...I miss Jerusalem.  Being able to step out of our gate and walk through a great diversity of cultures in the Old City.  Going with a friend to get coffee in the New City.  Crossing the valley to go to Succot Hillel (a 24-hour prayer house).  I miss the crazy mix of people that always had me laughing and rolling my eyes at the same time.  Each with a unique way of looking at life and approaching you (God).  All of us learning together as we explored the land.  A place that I was so afraid of, people I couldn't understand, it is all so close to my heart now...  When uncomfortable becomes comfortable.  Then I'm asked to leave and be where comfortable has become uncomfortable.  Churches instead of mosques, Christmas music instead of the call to prayer, snow instead of rain, English instead of Hebrew or Arabic, set prices instead of bargaining, cars instead of walking, painted walls instead of stones, food instead of Margo's creations (the cook at the time), peace and quiet instead of the traffic and activity of the big city.  Yet Christ remains the same.  And so I cling to Him as my world changes around me...

Well, I can assure you that I most thoroughly adjusted back into life in the States.  So now I'm back to adjusting into this culture again.  It's been interesting to see what is different now that I am not a student and in lots of other ways at a different point in life as I was back then.  I think for Dan and I we've had to not only adjust to the cultures in Israel, but also back into the culture of a college.  After being out of college for 3 years, having a place of our own, and learning a new pattern in life, it really is quite different to be back in this environment.  We have an endless supply of social interaction, plenty of people to play games with at any time that we'd like, lots and lots of fun to be had.  But it also can distract me when I don't take the time away to think, read, or pray.  I've found that I've come to like quiet activities - crafting, reading, even housework.  So we're learning that balance again.  If we want to be busy here, we definitely can be!  But it is harder to spend a day "at home" when your kitchen serves 50 and you eat 3 meals a day with the community.  So the quiet times take more work to create.

I also grew to like America.  When I was in college I was out of sorts with the US.  I think I was feeling too sheltered at school and in the Midwest.  Many of the people around me looked and acted like I did.  When I came to Jerusalem I found so many different worldviews and people all around us who thought and acted different than I did.  It opened a world to explore that I hadn't touched before.  But living in Chicago (although still in the Midwest) the last three years showed me that the US has more to offer than I thought.  I met people who challenged my thinking in the way they viewed things.  There was more diversity around me - which brought with it great places to eat and lots of possibilities for seeing more of the world in the city in which I was living.  So now I miss America and continuing our little life and ministry there.  I do feel like God is using us here, but I'm glad that I also feel that we had a place in Chicago.

It feels a lot different than I expected to take a year out of our normal life to be here.  On the one hand it's kind of a care-free time with lots to see and do.  That's what I expected it to be like - just a big adventure that I loved every minute of.  On the other hand I find myself wanting to move right along with our life as it was and I think about when we get home a lot.  I miss our friends and family and just normal life in America.  Then I feel guilty for not loving every minute of my time here because I know it's a once in a lifetime kind of thing.  But there's a lot of the daily grind in our work, so it's not going to be blue skies and butterflies all the time.  There are a lot of challenges with the culture, the people, the systems of doing things (or even more the lack of systems) that make our days difficult.  I hold onto knowing that God led us here - we both agreed this is what  we should do, so it wasn't just me seeking an adventure.  I trust my husband and I know that he walks with the Lord.  That helps me to know that the hardships will be used to strengthen us and prepare us for the life ahead of us.  I also know that when I'm settled back in at home and we're working and caring for a house and someday starting a family and life is kind of mundane and normal, I'll know that we did this and be very glad that we did.  I would have always wondered what it would have been like to take this year away and serve in Jerusalem.  We'll come home with great experiences and important life lessons.  These are the things I think about when I get homesick.