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Wednesday
Oct072009
We are here
October 7, 2009
Leafy is overwhelmed with delight. He won't stop hugging me. All of his favorite coconut trees gathered around in our yard, to greet him.
There is a new gate and driveway and a concrete courtyard at our house. It is a vast improvement. There is also a lot of fungus and mold to deal with, which is not a vast improvement. I'm a little overwhelmed by all that I need to get done. But one step at a time is a good pace.
Cultural transition feels a bit to me like playing Memory. You turn a card over, hoping it will match the card you already have, the one with your homeland stamped on it. It never matches. Maybe you squint for a moment, through the light in a certain forest, or at a particular stone formation, but then, no, it's not the same card. The trees are shaped differently, and the light hits them in a funny way. It is not your forest, after all.
It is beautiful to see new things, again and again, but it can be a little disconcerting. It is a very long game of Memory, and you are never winning.
More than the beauty or the sense of welcome from the people here, the thing that strikes me about returning to Goa is that I am finally finding matching cards. The first card is not the homeland card, it is last year, when we had Solo, or when we researched dolphins, or when we bought the bread from the breadman with the squeaky horn.
I turn them over and they match and it is bliss. I'm almost as delighted as Leafy.
(It will be a while before we get an internet connection, which is not bliss. Until then, I apologize, especially to my family and friends who have been waiting to hear back from me. These small nuggets are the best I can do for now.)
There is a new gate and driveway and a concrete courtyard at our house. It is a vast improvement. There is also a lot of fungus and mold to deal with, which is not a vast improvement. I'm a little overwhelmed by all that I need to get done. But one step at a time is a good pace.
Cultural transition feels a bit to me like playing Memory. You turn a card over, hoping it will match the card you already have, the one with your homeland stamped on it. It never matches. Maybe you squint for a moment, through the light in a certain forest, or at a particular stone formation, but then, no, it's not the same card. The trees are shaped differently, and the light hits them in a funny way. It is not your forest, after all.
It is beautiful to see new things, again and again, but it can be a little disconcerting. It is a very long game of Memory, and you are never winning.
More than the beauty or the sense of welcome from the people here, the thing that strikes me about returning to Goa is that I am finally finding matching cards. The first card is not the homeland card, it is last year, when we had Solo, or when we researched dolphins, or when we bought the bread from the breadman with the squeaky horn.
I turn them over and they match and it is bliss. I'm almost as delighted as Leafy.
(It will be a while before we get an internet connection, which is not bliss. Until then, I apologize, especially to my family and friends who have been waiting to hear back from me. These small nuggets are the best I can do for now.)
Reader Comments (10)
Welcome back!
I like your analogy although I always felt really overwhelmed by the memory game--too much "unknown" to choose from.
So glad you're there and you're safe and you're happy!
I enjoy reading of your travels & life.
India is a dream place for me...
Next summer my husband and I are going to trek there for a bit...
~God BlEsS
Oh, honey, so glad you're arrived. You've been on my heart and in my prayers. Call as soon as you're hooked up. Miss you soooo much.
Give all my kiddos a hug from grandma & grandpa okay.
Thanks for sharing about Leafy - he's back in his element. So cute! He really loves family and being home doesn't he?
Are you planning on bleaching the mould? It's tough to get rid of! Wish I was there to help.
Rae,
Loved your story. I'm heading to my original home land later this month. I was three months old when I left and didn't visit until I was 27. Immediately I felt at home there and with many cards flipped I found answers to questions. I used to think I was such weird duck. :)
It's so wonderful to think about your sweet babies becoming world citizens, having so many treasures in their minds, being comfortable and at home around the world.
Peace!
We appreciate whatever you can give us. It's always a k ind of magic what you write.
I LOVE this. A game of Memory...yes, exactly. And the relief when there is a match.
I can so relate to this. Add pain medicine, no sleep and being in awa of how wonderful Jesus is and where He meets us and bliss can be found. Thanks for the post.