Adjustments

Adjusting

Jyoti is adjusting to American food
by spreading it all over her face and hands.

Our time in the USA so far has been far busier than expected. But a great type of busy. I have been able to reconnect with old friends and our church has been such a blessing during this time. Simon has been taking classes and we both have been so blessed to receive discipleship from them. It felt good to be welcomed back so graciously by our church family. But this has been a time of adjustment for us. And adjustments have positive and negative 'side-effects' to them.

Have you ever felt like you were alone while surrounded by a crowd of people? 

This is how I feel sometimes as I adjust to life over here. I think this is a normal feeling for someone who is adjusting to be back 'home' again. I put home in quotations, as Nepal is also my home. I'm home; yet, my good friends from this side of the world have moved on with their own lives. No complaints. I get it. But it is definitely an adjustment. 

I took Jyoti to the park one day and as I looked around, I saw other American moms just like me. However, as I attempt to make conversation there was something awkward that made our conversation end quickly. What is this unknown awkward substance? Me. I forgot how to converse with other Americans apparently. I knew a lot of Americans in Nepal... but we all had something HUGE in common. We left our home country to live in Nepal. The only common ground I can find these days is... uh, I am a mommy too! Yea, I even feel awkward writing about my awkwardness. 
So what is adjustment like in one word:
Awkward.

Since I have been here, there have been a few things I have been keeping in my head. Maybe it is time to 'say' them aloud. 

Are you ready for my confessions?

1a. I still don't have any clue on what a hash tag means/ does

1b. I don't know what snap chat, twitter, or anything else really is, besides Facebook and Myspace and that makes me feel old.

2. I am slowly getting up to speed with American politics, and honestly, I am saddened with the clear division between parties 

3. I am right in the middle with vaccinations. I think the CDC schedule is too intense but I also think some vaccinations are life saving and important 

3. I miss Nepal... A LOT 

4. I miss teaching 

There. *sigh* what a relief to finally put those out there. 

I get to be my daughter's first teacher!

Ah, number four. Teaching. Who knew how much I would miss it? I started subbing recently. Definitely not the same as having my own classroom with children I get to invest in for an entire year. However; yes, I have had some fun times with the students I have subbed here. 

Some of my favorites:

-I subbed for a teacher with the last name, Mrs. NC instead of KC. The children were able to remember my name quickly in that one.

- Subbing for a fourth grade social studies/ English teacher and imprompting a game where they had to remember different things from the text they had to read. The children were laughing and so was I. 

-In a middle school one student raising his hand asking if I am pregnant only to get a quick punch in his arm by a friend. 'You never ask a lady that. What if she isn't?!' I waited a minute before telling them that I am in fact pregnant.

Some of my non-favorites:

-Catching two middle school boys looking up porn 

-Having to go to different schools each time, thus never being able to make any good teacher friends

-Connecting with a class only to say good-bye, not knowing if I will ever see the children again

So, subbing is not the same as teaching. But it has been a blessing to be able to be in the classroom. I have learned a few tricks to keep in my imaginary teacher tool box. 

And there is nothing more rewarding than being your own child's teacher.

One day we will be back in Nepal again and we will have at least two children. We know that much about our future, not much else. 

We don't know if Simon will get a green card or not. If he does, we have a few options on that road. However, if he doesn't then we have a very different road to travel on back in Nepal. 

Please pray for us as we continue in this adjustment season:


-Simon's green card: just that we could hear something from USCIS (immigration) 
-For Prasana Faith to come into the world perfectly and beautifully (currently 35 weeks right now) and be a healthy baby 
-Jyoti to adjust to the new adjustment of having a baby sister (and Simon and I to having two children instead of one!) 

                                   Philippians 4:4-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything,but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.