#15 Farewell America – Top 15 of 2015

I thought it would be harder. I’ve lived in the good ole USA for over 30 years. I expected tears and anxiety. Of course, I missed my family. Definitely missed my friends. I even got a little misty eyed over my final meal…Chick-Fil-A. But once we boarded the plane, and America was in the rearview mirror, I didn’t look back. I knew we were headed in the right direction. I knew this was our next step. That knowledge and that confidence allowed leaving America behind possible.

Are there things I’ve missed about America in my almost 9 months here? Ab.So.Lutely. I’ve missed being understood all the time, or even half the time. Let’s just say I have a whole new respect for non-English speaking immigrants who choose to make their home in America. Well done, you! Not being able to fully communicate can be a real pain. I’ve also missed understanding. There’s a flow and rhythm to life that I just don’t always get. Why do we burn our trash? Why does the word “tomorrow” mean any time in the future? How does chalk keep ants away? Why do I pay for my electricity for my home at the corner convenience store? You get my point. I just don’t always fully understand. And I’m OK with that…now. I’ve missed favorite restaurants and spots in town. I’ve missed events and gatherings, like my church on Sunday mornings. But overall…I don’t really miss America.

I love our life here. I love the simplicity of things. I love how important family and community are here. I’ve loved learning a new language [more on that later]. And I’ve loved how this place has embraced us. Thankfully, we have technology and did this move during a time where FaceTime and Facebook are just a click away. We even have fiber internet installed in our home! This makes those faces that we love feel not so far away. That was the hardest part of saying goodbye to America. But saying hello to Asia was much sweeter.