Stateside reflections.

My days in Haiti generally flow along at a comfortable pace. Full but not too full, a relaxed pace that allows time for folks to drop in for visits or unexpected delays to be dealt with without panic.

Normally my life looks like a slow drive though the country waving at folks I know, stopping now and then for visits or to accomplish tasks. At the end of the day I generally accomplish what I wished or accomplished what needed to be done that day and the tasks pushed to the future moved without resistance.

The States feels more like traveling thought a larger town in heavy traffic. Friendly waves replaced with focused, intense gazes that limit interruptions and interactions. At times one speeds through the day trying to stay up with the rest of the other folks rushing though life and the next moment you stand waiting with your thoughts dominated with how you will recover the time in order to finish and fit in what needs to be done.

Different expectations add a layer of tension-questions asked not for answers but out of politeness, keep the response light or not, changing culture norms. The tensions and pace make me feel after a month like a stretched rubber band and thoughts turn more often to my slower Haiti life.

Hard having a life in two countries because one can only physically be present and experience one at a time. But at that time you realize that the other life continues to move forward causing you to miss out. One really cannot fully live in either life being always conscious on some level of the other life.

This tension can only be understood by folks who live in this zone. For third culture kids this zone some refer to as being green-not blue or yellow but a mix.

The first month of our USA time we accomplished many important things and enjoyed visiting many of our team members. The next 5.5 weeks the calendar contains more white open spots but some days will be filled up with post-op care for Anna [teeth out on Nov. 5th], hunting, shopping, dental visits, packing, the unexpected and the unpredictable.....

The pace of life in the USA means for me that the motivation before or after other events just is not enough to get me to do more than think about working on the book. Therefore the book translation waits for a slower phase of life.

Eli and Anna enjoyed a photo youth scavenger hunt over the weekend. Driver's education continues to go well for Eli. Looks like today he may drive in the rain. This morning both are sniffling with slight colds.