I am no longer living out of a suitcase
or sleeping on an air mattress
In fact, I haven't woken up with new bug bites since I've gotten back.
Now that I am home it is so interesting to see the world through my new understanding. Some things are just not important anymore. We went about three hours without any water one day this week it is was interesting to see my families reaction to it. Now my family is not a family of complainers it is just interesting.
My brother needed to use the bathroom but stopped himself when he realized that he wouldn't be able to flush the toilet. I remember working on a family's home this summer where the entire house smelt of feces. The reason for this is because this family hadn't had water for over three months and they couldn't afford to buy water to throw down their toilet. So they would let it sit..... and sit.
And eventually when it got really full they would go buy two gallons of water and pour it down the toilet which effectively flushed the toilet.
How people live differently in different parts of the world amazes me.
What shocks me is that most people in the US would think my story just described someone who lives in a third world or "developing county." However this place I am talking about is less that ten hours driving time away from where I live now.
Furthermore, the houses in the area I live are so huge. Right now I am sitting in my living room where there is enough space on the floor for me to lay down and spread out. Also, there is an office, and a guest bedroom in my house.
In Appalachia most people sleep in a room with at least one other person if not more. Houses here are so big. I am also cool, well fed, clean (ish), and well rested. These things I came to miss about home while in Appalachia are the very things that I am shocked to see.
I believe the word is culture shock....
I never expected to come home and think about the things people are buying as a homes figure. I also never thought I would think that my single story house would or could even be considered huge.
I almost laugh now when my parents think something is dirty because where I was for the summer it wasn't uncommon to see dog poop laying inside the house, or ants waltzing through a room.
I am not totally convinced that culture shock is a bad thing either. I believe that organizations, churches, and people try to convince us that culture shock needs to be alleviated by a "decompression time" or a, "debriefing exercise." I disagree.
I am having to wrestle with this new found judgement towards other people. I am having to realize that God has given me a great place to live and be grateful for that. And I need to learn not to forget the people I came to love in Appalachia. Those people who were incredibly happy despite their poverty.
Do I miss ASP?
Yes. But I am so happy to be home. I missed my family, friends, and comforts of living in a suburb. I am so happy to not have every minute of every day planned out. However, not working and not going to school is kind of weird to me. I just don't know what to do with myself.
I blogged earlier about the path my life has taken the last year and I am so excited now because I live in anticipation for what is to come. Where is God going to take me next. What does He have in mind for me now.
In a nut shell, what God did over this summer makes everything else seem so trivial. God can use me in so many ways but too many times I get in the way. So I am practicing taking myself out of the way of God and letting him do the action.
This makes me anticipate the next year.
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