Coming Home

The moment I stepped out of JFK airport, I was struck by how different it felt. The evening was soft, as if silk had been woven into the air.   The whole ride to Pennsylvania, I watched the sky change colors and the clouds dance in and out of its stage on the horizon.  It must have something to do with the angle of the sun and it’s position in the sky, but the sky in Iceland is just different.  Last summer I had really missed watching the sunset and the stars come out since there was over 22 hours of daylight.  On the drive further into the country I stared out the window thinking that the constellations were more beautiful than I remembered. 

The first morning that I woke up in America, the phone rang and it was Colby in Iceland.  “What do you think?” he asked.  As I started to answer, I stepped out onto the porch in my pajamas and felt the morning sun on my face.  “A-MER-ica! A-MER-ica!  God shed his grace on Thee!”  I sang in response.  “And crown Thy Good with—“

“Okay, okay, I get the picture, “ he cut me off , clearly embarrassed from the other side of the ocean as though the neighbors could see him too. 

I proceeded to tell him about the adventure of landing, meeting his parents at JFK, and driving through the mountains.  Throughout my first weeks home, I talked with Colby frequently and shared different observations I’d made about the land that I grew up in but have been removed from for some time:  

1.     1.  TREES.  My first day in the states I took a walk and was blown away by how many sounds were in the background.  Lots of birds, lots of buzzings, lots of life teeming in the branches.  In Iceland, no trees makes for pretty silent nature walks.

2.     2.  Grocery stores.  When I took the kids grocery shopping for the first time here, I was like a kid in a candy store.  “Haley, LOOK!  These shopping carts are HUGE!  Wow, I feel like I’m steering a boat!”  Walking down the cereal aisle was like a dream come true.  (Haley:  “Woah.  They have a cereal that is made of chocolate chip cookies?!”  Yes, Haley.  Welcome to the land of abundance.)  We got a few looks from people who I’m sure we’re trying to figure out why three English-speaking American girls were so excited about things like Honey Bunches of Oats and Oatmeal Squares.  I packed up the cart with as many gallons of milk as I wanted, an entire package of toilet paper, and 5 different types of cereal not worrying how I was going to get them home! After paying for our items, I pushed the cart out to our car and Haley looked over at me very concerned:  “Are you sure you’re allowed to do this?”  Since we’ve never had a car in Iceland, she’s not familiar with the practice of pushing the cart out to your car to load it.  I assured her that I was not stealing the cart and all was well.

3.    3.  Southern Hospitality.  I can't get over how much strangers talk to you here.  My first day in VA, I was called Darlin' by a man in the grocery store who let me steer around him in the aisle, and have had multiple conversations with people who have just started talking to me in line.  If you've ever been to Iceland, you understand why this feels so foreign.  Colby and I were checking out of a line at Old Navy and the check-out clerk asked me, "Do you want a bag for that, Hon?"  Colby nudged me as I stared right past her and asked if I was going to answer her.  "Oh, sorry...I didn't realize you were talking to me."  I responded.  "I haven't been called Hon by a check-out clerk for nearly two years."  

4.    4.   Church Culture.  Now, remember, the kids were pretty young the last time they were in America.  Our first Sunday going to church together was slightly embarrassing.  The other kids around us were so well behaved, clearly used to the drill.  My kids, on the other hand, were so....let's just say-- untrained. I was tempted to pinch them when they wouldn't stand up for the singing, but luckily was rational enough to think of the consequences before doing that.  The funniest part was when the song leader told everyone to greet the people around us.  After a few minutes of fellowship, we resumed to our pews and Haley looked up at me.  "WHAT was...THAT?"  She asked, genuinely bewildered.  "Mom, what just happened?"  Oh Haley, remind me to give you a lesson on church culture before next Sunday's service.

5.     
5.  The Lingua-Franca.  “Hello!”  the little girl said as she rode past on her bike.  My jaw dropped because it sounded so foreign to hear perfect English come from a little girl’s mouth.  “Haley…did you just HEAR THAT?!" I exclaimed, in an effort to draw attention to the comfort of her mother tongue. " That little girl spoke ENGLISH!”    Haley looked up at me, unimpressed.  "Mom…that’s what she’s SUPPOSED to speak."