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Monday
Apr192010
We are chilly, but warming up
April 19, 2010
I suppose I will emerge from the jet-lag wrapped cocoon of sleepiness and culture shock that I've been tucked into. Today I actually feel a little more normal. My eyes aren't stinging as much and I respond when spoken to. Which is a good sign.
Don't underestimate the power of jet-lag on children, either. Goodness. We've had a rough few days, but everyone is getting better. Solo is leaving the non-stop cranks for sunny fields of cheerfulness, thankfully. And there is nothing like a little voice, shouting through the house at 4:00 am, "Can I please have some BREAD!!!"
But we are adjusting. There have been many hugs and kisses and so much love. My parents picked up all the required car seats and booster seats from their storage space, and they've done so much to welcome us. I have a new baby niece, which is amazing. We had dinner with her parents (my older brother and sister-in-law) on our second day here. And I have a baby niece or nephew on the way. A little Uncle Matty and Auntie Lara. It's pretty awesome to have a baby in the family that isn't mine! And we had some Auntie Becca squeezes and hugs. Did you know that she's in fashion design school? I'll have to do a post about some of her creations soon. I told her, "I love your hoodie," and she said, "Really?" with this mischievous glint in her eye. "What do you like about it?" I thought she was joking until she told me she'd designed and fabricated it. Wow.
The thing about reverse culture adjustment, or whatever you call it, is the understanding, always vibrating through you, that you should be more aware of the differences around you. But you just switch back to what you grew up with, except for moments of awareness. For instance, there are at least fifty six things in this room that have no part of my life in India. Soft chairs! A stove with four electric burners. A real oven. A microwave. Wood flooring. Cupboards. A fireplace. Ceramic dishes that we eat off of! Light switches that go up rather than down. Hot water coming out of the faucets. And I could go on and on. But instead of being continually in wonder, I just click back into life in North America. How strange.
I do have my moments. Mostly it's had to do with space. Space on the streets, which seem empty and uncluttered. Too empty. Is anyone alive?
And personal space. I stepped up to an ATM, to get in line behind the man who was there, standing about a foot behind him and to the left, looking over his shoulder without thought, until he shot me an alarmed glance. ATM etiquette! At my ATM in the closest village to mine, (we have to drive 20 minutes to get there) there is a security guard who lives there. If I arrive in the morning, he is singing and ringing a bell, burning incense for his puja, shirtless, wearing his nighttime dhoti. He gets dressed soon after, I assume, because the rest of the time he is wearing his uniform, and ready to help should I hesitate in my transaction. Push this button, he'll indicate, leaning over me and pushing a button on the touch screen.
I need to relearn ATM etiquette.
Yesterday we wandered around downtown a bit. We are in Victoria, a beautiful city where my parents live right on the water. I paused beside a bus stop to call back to Chinua, asking him if he had something. I didn't even realize that I had paused with my face just six inches from a man's face, a man who was waiting for the bus, until he leaped back in discomfort. Whoops. It may take a while to reset my personal space parameters.
Other than that, what are we loving?
Soft, cozy couches. I loooooovvvvee soft cozy couches.
Grass!
Grandparents. Also fast internet.
Thrift stores. Yesterday we went looking for some much needed warm clothes, and found that the Value Village in Victoria is like a clothing heaven. There were books, too, more books than I've ever seen in one place in India. I was too overwhelmed to look for myself, but I happened to catch a glimpse of one of my favorite books of all time, so I got it for Kid A.
And then there is the Leafy kiddo. He has chosen to fixate on one aspect of the scenery here that is different for him. Since he recently watched "Over the Hedge," it is, you guessed it, Hedges! We don't really have hedges, where we live, at least, in India.
Every time we are in the car, he is a non-stop narrator of Hedge Activity. "A Hedge! A HEDGE! A hedge!" he says, over and over. I've learned that there are a lot of hedges in Vancouver and in Victoria, something I may not have known if it wasn't for my Leafy boy.
Don't underestimate the power of jet-lag on children, either. Goodness. We've had a rough few days, but everyone is getting better. Solo is leaving the non-stop cranks for sunny fields of cheerfulness, thankfully. And there is nothing like a little voice, shouting through the house at 4:00 am, "Can I please have some BREAD!!!"
But we are adjusting. There have been many hugs and kisses and so much love. My parents picked up all the required car seats and booster seats from their storage space, and they've done so much to welcome us. I have a new baby niece, which is amazing. We had dinner with her parents (my older brother and sister-in-law) on our second day here. And I have a baby niece or nephew on the way. A little Uncle Matty and Auntie Lara. It's pretty awesome to have a baby in the family that isn't mine! And we had some Auntie Becca squeezes and hugs. Did you know that she's in fashion design school? I'll have to do a post about some of her creations soon. I told her, "I love your hoodie," and she said, "Really?" with this mischievous glint in her eye. "What do you like about it?" I thought she was joking until she told me she'd designed and fabricated it. Wow.
The thing about reverse culture adjustment, or whatever you call it, is the understanding, always vibrating through you, that you should be more aware of the differences around you. But you just switch back to what you grew up with, except for moments of awareness. For instance, there are at least fifty six things in this room that have no part of my life in India. Soft chairs! A stove with four electric burners. A real oven. A microwave. Wood flooring. Cupboards. A fireplace. Ceramic dishes that we eat off of! Light switches that go up rather than down. Hot water coming out of the faucets. And I could go on and on. But instead of being continually in wonder, I just click back into life in North America. How strange.
I do have my moments. Mostly it's had to do with space. Space on the streets, which seem empty and uncluttered. Too empty. Is anyone alive?
And personal space. I stepped up to an ATM, to get in line behind the man who was there, standing about a foot behind him and to the left, looking over his shoulder without thought, until he shot me an alarmed glance. ATM etiquette! At my ATM in the closest village to mine, (we have to drive 20 minutes to get there) there is a security guard who lives there. If I arrive in the morning, he is singing and ringing a bell, burning incense for his puja, shirtless, wearing his nighttime dhoti. He gets dressed soon after, I assume, because the rest of the time he is wearing his uniform, and ready to help should I hesitate in my transaction. Push this button, he'll indicate, leaning over me and pushing a button on the touch screen.
I need to relearn ATM etiquette.
Yesterday we wandered around downtown a bit. We are in Victoria, a beautiful city where my parents live right on the water. I paused beside a bus stop to call back to Chinua, asking him if he had something. I didn't even realize that I had paused with my face just six inches from a man's face, a man who was waiting for the bus, until he leaped back in discomfort. Whoops. It may take a while to reset my personal space parameters.
Other than that, what are we loving?
Soft, cozy couches. I loooooovvvvee soft cozy couches.
Grass!
Grandparents. Also fast internet.
Thrift stores. Yesterday we went looking for some much needed warm clothes, and found that the Value Village in Victoria is like a clothing heaven. There were books, too, more books than I've ever seen in one place in India. I was too overwhelmed to look for myself, but I happened to catch a glimpse of one of my favorite books of all time, so I got it for Kid A.
And then there is the Leafy kiddo. He has chosen to fixate on one aspect of the scenery here that is different for him. Since he recently watched "Over the Hedge," it is, you guessed it, Hedges! We don't really have hedges, where we live, at least, in India.
Every time we are in the car, he is a non-stop narrator of Hedge Activity. "A Hedge! A HEDGE! A hedge!" he says, over and over. I've learned that there are a lot of hedges in Vancouver and in Victoria, something I may not have known if it wasn't for my Leafy boy.
Reader Comments (19)
Welcome back to the North American continent! Will you be coming to California? I love reading about your travels.
xo
Roxanne
I always get that very strange feeling, when I come home, like I've never left, or that things have not changed while I've been away. I've changed though, and it's always sort of surreal.
Can't wait to see you all! Are you still planning on coming down for Derek's wedding?
.-= Rebeca´s last blog ..http://carriedonthewind.blogspot.com/2008/03/poppy-dresses.html" rel="nofollow">The Poppy Dresses =-.
Thanks for posting. You made my day xxxx
.-= Eleanor´s last blog ..http://eleanorfromthecommentbox.blogspot.com/2010/04/someone-in-hong-kong-bought-how-to-do.html" rel="nofollow">Someone in Hong Kong bought "How to do your homework without throwing up" =-.
shirtless ATM guards and "a hedge! a hedge! a hedge!"... love it.
.-= Christine´s last blog ..http://homemadeinchina.blogspot.com/2010/04/come-putz-around-my-house.html" rel="nofollow">come putz around my house =-.
You're in Victoria?!? Wow, that's where I live! It's so bizarre to think of you being just down the road.
I don't even know how I first found you but I've been following you for a while and love to hear about your life so far away. I like how you describe the world around you and the picture you paint of all your interactions...internal and external.
Anyway, welcome (back) to Victoria ....and good luck with the culture shock. I remember it quite clearly from my return from Japan....um too many years ago. I mostly remember my feelings of guilt over all the empty space.
I loved this post. I too have experienced this reverse culture adjustment. I was once rendered paralyzed and speechless when I entered a bank and there were not only no crowds to contend with but three! people waiting joyfully to assist me. What a concept!
I have friends who took their young children back to the States after years in Africa and on an outing to the zoo where the tour attendant proudly pointed out the new cheetah their children gleefully shouted: "Look! A squirrel!"
.-= Amy´s last blog ..http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmysAssortedAdventures/~3/FLqgNE3stzE/fab-friday-foto-volume-xviii.html" rel="nofollow">Fab Friday Foto--Volume XVIII =-.
Welcome back to Canada!
this entry was full of ideas that I never ever would have thought about if I hadn't read this entry...like, hmmm, which countries have hedges??? LOVE IT!
.-= Mountain´s last blog ..http://iamnotamountain.blogspot.com/2010/04/live-from-panera.html" rel="nofollow">Live From Panera!!!!! =-.
Teary eyed and blurry. Same continent. Wow.
The grass, those chubby gorgeous little feet, your mom!!! Your amazingly beautiful kids.
Family, joy, happiness is spreading through this post.
Ciao
Glad the you missed the whole volcanic ash flight restrictions and that you're all happy and enjoying yourselves!
Hope you have loads of fun with your friends and family.
Best wishes!
.-= Jobee´s last blog ..http://mentaliscious.blogspot.com/2010/04/one-with-gujarati-wedding.html" rel="nofollow">The one with the Gujarati wedding.... =-.
Please thank the leafy kiddo for his devotion to Over the Hedge. I hope he continues to discover all the hedges in Canada. Hammy says, "Hi!"
Love the blog.
Michael Fry
Co-creator and writer of Over the Hedge
.-= Michael Fry´s last blog ..http://overthehedgeblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/imagine-whirled-knees/" rel="nofollow">Imagine Whirled Knees =-.
Worse than experiencing your own jet lag--your kids' jet lag added on. But how fun to be surrounded by bunches of family.
.-= green girl in Wisconsin´s last blog ..http://melissawestemeier.blogspot.com/2010/04/hack-n-rant.html" rel="nofollow">hack n' rant =-.
You are in my hometown,I love Victorias Value Village myself and when I come down to visit my parents that is usually the first place we go. Enjoy your visit. Your blog is my way to enjoy travel that is not within reach for us right now.Thanks for sharing
Flushing toilets would almost make me weep in gratitude upon re-entry in years passed.
Your family must be head over feet with happiness now you're all back.
OH re-entry. Sigh. There is just nothing else like it. Good luck. Glad jet lag is receding and that you're in such a beautiful place! Enjoy.
.-= edj´s last blog ..http://planetnomad.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/girls-night-out/" rel="nofollow">Girls’ Night Out =-.
I would nibble that boy's face...
.-= blackbird´s last blog ..http://blackbird17.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-have-no-problem-not-going-up-in-plane.html" rel="nofollow">I have no problem not going up in a plane right now =-.
Love the photos! And your comments on adjusting back to the home culture. I always have a bit of struggle with that. But your snippets and descriptions are lovely and hopeful. :-)
The Mouse and the Motorcycle! Oh, what a fantastic book! (I, too, am totally overwhelmed by how ALL THE BOOKS ARE IN ENGLISH!!! AND I COULD BUY THEM!)
It totally wigs me out that I can understand what people are saying, even when I'm not trying to. I spent the first two weeks of my last trip feeling guilty for eavesdropping all the time. And standing in lines doesn't happen here in Russia, so I am very bad at queing when I come back stateside. It also freaks me out that people who work in stores are Nice and Helpful and not annoyed that I'm interrupting their phone conversation with their boyfriend. I feel stalked. Oh, America, land of strange customs and lovely memories!
Oh, I can't live without nice fluffy grass! And speaking of it, I better go and water the grass now before the sun goes down. Down here in Texas, the Sun tries to murder the grass but I can't let that happen Ms. Rae! LoL! Anyways, welcome back...um...here! You and Mr. Chinua are invited to my graduation in May, it would be an honor to meet you both. :-)
.-= Frank N. Raymond´s last blog ..http://www.sunraymond.com/?p=719" rel="nofollow">Gold! 2010 Prom =-.