So I’m working on part 3 of the shipping news, as it were, but the house we’re staying in has internet issues, so it’s taking me a while. In the meantime, we are settling back, re-adjusting. I notice everytime I return to the US I deal with something different. For example, I no longer forget that dryers and dishwashers exist, like I did the first time, when my mother-in-law asked me in surprise why I was washing the dishes by hand when she had a machine to do that for me. But I keep forgetting that the flush for a toilet is on the side, not on top. We can’t get used to the quiet of the streets, without constant horns. We can’t get used to cars stopping slowly, carefully, as we put our toes on the very edge of a crosswalk.
There’s that same numbness, when you drive through forests and forests of green, ivy draped like a blanket from tree to tree. The richness, the prodigal beauty everywhere for the taking, the freeway edges overflowing with pink and white roses and glowing purple foxgloves, somehow escapes your grasp. On some level you know this is yours; this is for you. It’s your heritage, your true home, in a way that sand-coloured stones and enticing arches are not. But at the same time it seems beyond you.
The wooly grey clouds soothe you. You eat at your favorite restaurants. You drive through your old neighbourhoods. And still, at some level, you are lost. And then suddenly, without knowing why, you adjust. You have both lost and gained a world.
When we left Rabat a week ago, our flight from Paris to Boston was delayed by 3 hours, so we missed our connection to Portland. Air France put us up in the airport Hilton. It was a fine way to start reverse culture shock. We had a voucher to eat supper at the restaurant–$25 each. Imagine our shock when we found that would only buy us hamburgers and sandwiches, and a couple of desserts to share. The food was tasty, the portions too large (as always in American restaurants), and we felt that mix of judgement and enjoyment that comes with a return to a more affluent culture. The towels were about four inches thick, and the pillows nothing more than layers of softness. I didn’t sleep much, but as I woke throughout the night I would swim my legs down in the cool crisp sheets and feel utterly comfortable and content.
In the morning, we ate cold leftover apple pie and bread pudding for breakfast, since they hadn’t given us breakfast vouchers. The day was extra long–they couldn’t get us on a nonstop flight, so we had a layover in Minneapolis, where we made lists of books we wanted at a bookstore, had our first Starbucks, and munched on peanuts and pretzels I’d bought at Marjane in Rabat in case they didn’t feed us. Which they didn’t. By the time we’d arrived in Portland, it was evening by our body clocks and all we’d eaten was a few bites of dessert and some tiny bags of pretzels and peanuts. Yum.
Friends met us at the airport, which was pretty awesome. Makes you feel loved. Apparently some more people came the night before and met the flight we were supposed to be on, but we didn’t find that out till later.
Houses, cars, schools–we need them. We’re searching. But today, the sky is blue, and we’re going to take a hike down the Columbia River Gorge.
14 comments
August 12, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Alysha
Welcome back to the very green Pacific NW – I’m in Seattle and found your site about 18 months ago and have SOOO much enjoyed your blogging- but I’ve never hit the comment button until now. Although you’re no longer in what I call an exotic locale, I hope you continue to write about your ‘homecoming’ in the months ahead.
August 12, 2010 at 6:05 pm
jean
I imagine it’s going to take a few months to settle in and feel comfortable here in the States. Oregon is dramatically different in climate not to mention the culture. Take your time and enjoy the differences.
August 12, 2010 at 6:12 pm
LIB
Welcome to Oregon! It’s great to hear your unique slant on things American/Oregonian.
August 12, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Susan
Starbucks!
Welcome back – I hope everything falls into place for you and your family.
August 12, 2010 at 8:30 pm
inspiredspaces
Oh welcome home! I am reading “Eat Pray Love” and am iffy on it. I am thinking your international travels tales would be much better. Think on it.
August 12, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Antique Mommy
I don’t know why that comment above logged me in as inspiredspaces when I haven’t done anything with that site in about two years. But that comment was from moi!
August 12, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Heather
Welcome back to the homeland. 🙂
August 12, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Kelly @ Love Well
I knew I felt a disturbance in the force last week. I should have gone to MSP personally and checked it out.
Welcome back to the US. I hope it feels like home, as much as it can, even more in the coming weeks.
August 13, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Erica
Welcome back to the States! I don’t know if I’ve ever commented or not, but I’m a long time reader. I started reading your blog when I lived in Doha, Qatar. It was fun reading about your life which was similar to my own at the time. As we (unexpectedly, against my will) had to move back, I enjoyed your blog as it brought me back to one of the favorite times of my life. I hope you are adjusting well. We are living in Tri-cities Washington now. 🙂
August 13, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Mary Margaret
Welcome back to rain, clouds, and cool machines. : )
August 14, 2010 at 5:14 am
nonlineargirl
Welcome back. I hope the pleasures of an Oregon summer help smooth your re-entry.
August 14, 2010 at 10:27 am
Debbie Johnson
Minneapolis?!! Wah! We could’ve met you! So close and yet so far….
August 14, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Linda
After only two weeks in India I felt like I was underwater it was so quiet on the highway from the airport. The world was black and white after all the vibrant color I left behind. And that was just two weeks–so I imagine it must really be different for you.
August 17, 2010 at 12:52 am
Dawn
It is not too long. It is unimaginable in our efficient hurry up world that other cultures still take the time to ‘savor?!?” their job!