Friday, February 27, 2009

It's Official

Most of the people who read this already know, but I haven't made the announcement on my blog yet. It looks like American Mommy en Belgique will be coming to an end fairly soon. In short, we are being sent back to the U.S.

Our 3-5 year projected assignment has been reduced to a mere 9 months, mostly due to the global economic crisis.

We worked very hard to prepare for our move here. We sold our house. We moved most of our belongings overseas. We had to figure out how to live here, when we didn't speak the language. Then, we started to learn the language. After we were finally settling in and were able to just enjoy living here, we found out that we have to pack everything up again and ship it back. It is unknown how long we will be in our next destination. A couple years? That's what they say. But, right now, I am just hoping that Brian doesn't lose his job before this crisis is over and done with.

I know that I should be thankful for a lot of things--and I am. But, that's not what this post is about. This post is about embracing the chaos that we have been thrown into. I don't expect anyone to feel sorry for us. And...I'm sure that few do, because I'm betting the perception is that we've been on a 7-month long holiday. I have a lot of fears about what going back is going to be like, but I guess that is for a different post.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Lessons

Since I moved here, I have learned or had several lessons reinforced. Here are some of the more impressionable ones:

1) Expectation is everything. When expectations are out of line with reality, problems arise.

2) Although difficult, expectations can be amended.

3) Respect is not entitled. It is earned.

4) The customer is NOT always right, even if he is.

5) People are people, but it's amazing how different they can be from one another.

6) It's okay to take chances that might lead to even partial failure. Some societies are obsessed with the illusion of perfectionism.

7) Americans really are loud. But so are some people from other cultures.

8) A lot of Americans take their every day conveniences for granted.

9) Belongings can be binding.

10) Sunny days are gifts.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Different

I just remembered that my last couple trips within Europe have felt different. When compared to the feelings I felt when I visited while I was in college; I have experienced an overall, different feeling.

When I came here in college, everything was so novel. The blatantly different things about the continent bombarded me. I remember feeling overwhelmed when we moved here six months ago, too, but I have not really noticed it as much lately, even during our travels within the continent. The difference is that I've already had a huge cultural adjustment this second time around--now things are not as overwhelming. Now when people talk to me in a language I don't understand, it doesn't phase me as much. Things that I previously found to be "weird" or puzzling now bring me a feeling of fondness. Many of the towns and cities have even given me a sense of comfort. Living here has allowed me to see these places in a different way.

Video Game Driving

You know how in video driving games, you have all these obstacles in the road that you have to avoid? Well, when I drive in Belgium, I feel like I'm in a video game sometimes. So, I'll be driving down the Chaussee, and all of a sudden, someone parks their big truck in the middle of the road so they can make a delivery. Now, everyone in my lane must drive around this truck. Since the road, in some parts, is only wide enough for the lane you are driving in and the lane for the oncoming traffic, you must go into the oncoming's lane. Not very fun.

Today, when I was driving, I had to make several unexpected stops: for a car that was backing up to parallel park, a pedestrian crossing the road (not on the crosswalk), a person swinging her car door open into the road, and a van that signalled it wanted to merge onto the road--only to stop again in three meters to park in a different spot. In the past, I have also had to drive on the other side of the road--ON A ROUNDABOUT--in order to enter the roundabout that was blocked by a semi. When these things happen, my blood pressure usually skyrockets...and I sometimes say words I shouldn't say in front of Sam. I hope these bad driving habits don't rub off on me!