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Re-Entry

Re-entry means many different things for each one of us.  It also affects each one of us differently.  There can be many times where someone comes back to the states and is not at all bothered by re-entry and then for some reason this time re-entry hit hard and ugly.  If you don't know what re-entry is let me define it as making adjustments from living life overseas back to life at home (passport country).  Adjusting your expectations that are both conscious and unconscious with family, friends, and fellow countrymen.  Going through reverse cultural shock in that when living overseas you adjust to learn how to live in another culture so when coming back home (passport country) it's readjusting to how your home-culture lives.

I was looking forward to spending time with all my family for our Christmas celebration and as I wanted to help, my sister asked to me get her some things from the grocery store.  I said no problem.  When I arrived at Giant and started looking for the items on my list I became very overwhelmed in just stepping inside as it is HUGE.  One thing on my list was whole wheat bread.  Do you know how many options I had to choose from for just whole wheat bread?  I probably stood there weighing my options for about like 5 minutes before deciding on one.  Another item on my list was a box of Nutri grain strawberry bars.  There were soft chew, crunchy, and another option that all had strawberries.  Even though Giant was only a few miles away from my sister's, I am not kidding it  took me like an hour to get only like 6 things and one I just refused because I had no clue out of all the options.  You have to realize that my grocery store is big but not like warehouse big and for wheat bread I may only have two options:  fresh whole wheat bread or Bimble's whole wheat bread.  This is an example of reverse culture shock.

I said I was looking forward to spending Christmas with my family since I haven't in 3 or 4 years and I prepared myself mentally but there came a point during our time together where I felt out of place and lonely.  It wasn't anything that my family did or didn't do but just realizing that I have to intentionally re-connect with them and what they have been doing since I was gone and that takes time and energy and effort.  At my breaking point God gave me two verses,  Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."  As I kept reciting those verses in my head I realized that even in this I do not have to understand why I am breaking down, or why I feel out of place and lonely in my own family but TRUST in God with all my heart and know that He is God and he will make everything turn out just right.

Part of re-entry is also sharing with the people what God is doing in the lives of people both in Honduras and the North Americans.  I would love to share with you over a cup of coffee/tea or a meal.  If you are interested please post a comment on this blog.

Comments

  1. Purposed for LifeFebruary 26, 2016 at 9:15 PM

    Shannon, I would love to meet you someday in Grove City for coffee. I think you already have my email address.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shannon's CornerFebruary 27, 2016 at 8:15 PM

      Not sure who you are if you could let me know I'd then love to meet you for coffee.

      Delete
  2. Purposed for LifeFebruary 26, 2016 at 9:16 PM

    Shannon, I would love to meet you someday in Grove City for coffee. I think you already have my email address.

    ReplyDelete

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