Well, here we are. We are back! It is always a strange process, coming back. When you’ve spent 2 or more years of your lives in other countries, dealing with the idiosyncrasies of life there, and made a life complete with habits and patterns and rhythms, and then leave it all: It is always an adjustment.
Fishing in Texas
For one thing, you return to a place wherein you already had a life and it is easy to get back into the rhythm of that past life. But many aspects of that life have changed. The stores have closed or changed. There are new traffic laws. The prices seem higher than you remember. And the lives of the people you know have changed too. You can’t ask the same questions as 2 years ago, but you aren’t sure yet about what the new questions ought to be.
And when you are the kid, the process is even stranger! You have memories, but nothing clear, so this return home is sort of the start of a new journey, but not really. Your parents have their memories that include you, but you don’t have them. You want to go to this or that place but since your parents have done it already maybe you won’t be able to do it. You miss the snacks you used to buy at the local shop that you could walk to, just you and your brother. But you can’t do that here since you have to drive to the corner store, and once there you need to be careful because a couple of street people are having an emotional breakdown or fight over stolen drug paraphenalia!
At the same time, it is so wonderfully blessed to be back in the land of the free (that is both Canada and the USA). You don’t have to wonder if you are being followed. There are no listening devices in your home. Cops won’t stop you on the street every 400 meters/yards demanding to see your smartphone. The food you buy is (generally) safe. The people are… friendly! They don’t stare at you! They say hello! You don’t need to go to a central police station and register your arrival! Wow!
There are churches! With crosses! You can pray in public! You can sing a praise song out loud. You can read a bible… anywhere! We are so thankful for all the good here in North America.
Family in Canada
We got back to Ontario in February, and stayed for one month. We are now in Texas visiting Michelle’s family for one month. In April we will return to Ontario for 2.5 months of visitation and prepping for the next move. Do you remember, or know, what that next move is?
France
A Light in the Darkness