Disorienting

I'm sitting in the den, drinking coffee out of my favorite mug, and the tour de France is playing in the background (Random fact: I happen to love the Tour, and i think its fantastic that its on and i'm at home). I threw a load of laundry in the washer, and my ears are ringing because it is so quiet.

Its strange, and yet very familiar to walk into my parent's house. Our family has lived here for 20 yrs...the entryway, the kitchen, the back deck...its all so familiar - and a bit strange as well. It feels closed in (i think because all the windows actually have window panes in them and the whole house is closed up - as opposed to my home in Kolkata where we have lots of broken windows and a hallway that doesn't even have windows...so even when you're inside you're connected to outside). is it weird that it feels weird to be inside? (i think so).

riding in cars in america is weird. the cars are new, the roads are smooth, there aren't horns...and you get to drive fast. its weird - and normal.

Its all a bit disorienting. You get on a plane in Kolkata...and land in Spring Arbor. could there be 2 more different places in the world? How do both of these realities exist? and how do i jump between them?

I sat next to a business man on my flight from Chicago to D-town. he'd been to India before, so we were talking a bit about life there. He asked if living there changed me. I said, of course it did. What's weird is that i don't even realize all the ways its changed me. i don't realize how my idea of normal has changed. and that is really weird to think about...

I'm thankful to be here. Thankful to pick up the phone and call my sisters without having to worry about if the internet connection will be working well enough to support the skype call, without having to convert the time difference. I'm thankful to sit on the back deck...and I am looking forward to family vacation at the beach. I'm looking forward to lots of things...chili cheese nachos from Frosty Boy, salads, friends, coffee, shopping, Meijer, Goodwill, leisurely dinners, the long summer Michigan evenings. Man, its good to be home...it may just take my brain a minute (or two) to catch up with my body.

International Air Travel is disorienting...you just move from one world to another so fast...