Learning to Be

Well, we’re here. (And it’s fantastic.) As expected, the cocktail of emotions didn’t hit until we were on the plane nearing our destination, when a rush of “holy crap” type feelings set in. All of a sudden everything wasn't just real, but seemingly un-doable.I was reminded of standing in the cold at a starting line of a very long race waiting for a gun to go off. . . again thinking, “holy crap, what have I done.” As I revisited these emotions, I was comforted to remember that once I took off running the nerves were left behind me, and I was free to focus on the ups and downs of the race ahead.

The goal of our past few days has been to learn how to "be” in our new place, which sure, sounds all ethereal and simple. And it might be, if we came from a culture where we were actually good at that, or if we somehow found ourselves automatically comfortable and competent in this new culture. Each day has met us with the challenges of realizing how inept we are at most things, particularly "being". Ordering food (who am I kidding - finding and identifying food is a challenge!), setting up a cell phone, getting from place to place, all of these once secondary elements of existence suddenly have become challenges.

However, all of this newness and inability has been overpowered by a deep and abiding joy. In each experience, I find myself in awe of where we are and what we're doing. Something that was spoken into us as children is happening . . . and is being birthed into something miraculous and new. And sure, I have no doubt that the months ahead are full of endless challenges, frustrations and even disappointments, but my prayer is that through it all we never lose this sense of wonder.

For today we're off to conquer public transportation and attempting to buy groceries. We have been deeply blessed in having friends living in our new city, so that has made establishing the "big" things like bank accounts and cell phones MUCH more do-able. Especially when you accidentally walk out of a cell phone store having not actually paid for the cell phone, it helps to have someone explain. ; ) We will start meeting with our language tutor tonight, so hopefully that can help us avoid any additional criminal activity!

Well, stares, buses, confusion and an overall darn good time await me - so wish us luck!