Monday, October 13
Sunday, October 5
I love Nashville. I am so thankful that God gave me this opportunity to come down here for an extended weekend. I think I really needed it. I have really enjoyed being amongst the people I know here, especially my crazy guitar playing friend, who has gotten me to start playing again (and my fingers hurt right now). We had a great relaxing day today...banana pancakes, pig festival, old friends, balcony, fire, and guitars...a most wonderful combination!
More about this weekend later. I should go to sleep now as I have to wake up early for church.
More about this weekend later. I should go to sleep now as I have to wake up early for church.
Friday, October 3
Leaving on a jet plane....
Right now I am sitting on a plane flying over Virginia maybe, soon to land in Nahsville. As I look out the window at the land below, I am reminded that I am no longer in Europe, and this sadens me. I reflect back on my travels in Europe, the excitement of landing back in Prishtina after being away, and the joy of seeing my students and friends each day. I still have not fully come to terms with living in the US again. I know its where I should be. I know I will be happy here. I know this all will take time. I know I will soon have the same joy when I go to teach my new students I have yet to meet. (Well maybe not quite the same, as these with be elementary students, but I am sure I will also find joy in this new job.)
I am excited to be going to Nashville to see my friends there, but it saddens me to be on a plane, and not be heading overseas. ... and to not know when I will be back on a plane going east over the atlantic.
I still have moments where I forget that I am in America, especially when in places like airports. Today both times I got on the plane I had to think in order to make English come out when asking the person in the aisle seat if the window seat was free (lovely southwest choose your own seat thing) and then was surprised when the answer was returned to me in English. I saw some people in army uniforms in the airport and did a double take when i saw the American flag, and was about to talk to them, but remembered all the soldiers here are American. I have no need to talk to them in order to try to get on the American base (which I never did manage in Kosovo.)
I guess it will take me a long time to get used to the life here. I lived in Kosovo for five years, and adapted into the culture and lifestyle there as if it were my own. Now I am trying to figure out what the culture is here again.
On a random sidenote about transitioning, I find it very amusing that people I meet here for the first time think I am from the south. Even during my interview on Monday they mentioned my southern accent. I am sure no one in the south would ever say I have a southern accent, instead they make fun of how I pronounce the word “house” and “aunt” with a northern accent. Its fun to know that I pick up a little accent everywhere I go, and keep it with me. Sometimes a British accent will pop out due to living and working with some people from England, and I have added many British words into my vocabulary because they are more common in Europe. My strange accents and foreign words (for example I tend to say “flat” instead of “apartment”) are a little sign to others, showing how each place I have lived has impacted me and remains in me. Its exciting to think about what the future holds and how my crazy language output will change even more. (Its also fun that some of the words I know from Kosova are actually Turkish and maybe even Arabic. I am listening to a book that takes place in Afganistan, and they talk about eating on a “sofra” which I know is a table that is low to the ground and have eaten at many times myself.)
Right now I am sitting on a plane flying over Virginia maybe, soon to land in Nahsville. As I look out the window at the land below, I am reminded that I am no longer in Europe, and this sadens me. I reflect back on my travels in Europe, the excitement of landing back in Prishtina after being away, and the joy of seeing my students and friends each day. I still have not fully come to terms with living in the US again. I know its where I should be. I know I will be happy here. I know this all will take time. I know I will soon have the same joy when I go to teach my new students I have yet to meet. (Well maybe not quite the same, as these with be elementary students, but I am sure I will also find joy in this new job.)
I am excited to be going to Nashville to see my friends there, but it saddens me to be on a plane, and not be heading overseas. ... and to not know when I will be back on a plane going east over the atlantic.
I still have moments where I forget that I am in America, especially when in places like airports. Today both times I got on the plane I had to think in order to make English come out when asking the person in the aisle seat if the window seat was free (lovely southwest choose your own seat thing) and then was surprised when the answer was returned to me in English. I saw some people in army uniforms in the airport and did a double take when i saw the American flag, and was about to talk to them, but remembered all the soldiers here are American. I have no need to talk to them in order to try to get on the American base (which I never did manage in Kosovo.)
I guess it will take me a long time to get used to the life here. I lived in Kosovo for five years, and adapted into the culture and lifestyle there as if it were my own. Now I am trying to figure out what the culture is here again.
On a random sidenote about transitioning, I find it very amusing that people I meet here for the first time think I am from the south. Even during my interview on Monday they mentioned my southern accent. I am sure no one in the south would ever say I have a southern accent, instead they make fun of how I pronounce the word “house” and “aunt” with a northern accent. Its fun to know that I pick up a little accent everywhere I go, and keep it with me. Sometimes a British accent will pop out due to living and working with some people from England, and I have added many British words into my vocabulary because they are more common in Europe. My strange accents and foreign words (for example I tend to say “flat” instead of “apartment”) are a little sign to others, showing how each place I have lived has impacted me and remains in me. Its exciting to think about what the future holds and how my crazy language output will change even more. (Its also fun that some of the words I know from Kosova are actually Turkish and maybe even Arabic. I am listening to a book that takes place in Afganistan, and they talk about eating on a “sofra” which I know is a table that is low to the ground and have eaten at many times myself.)
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