It’s been a LONG time since I posted anything. It hasn’t been for lack of material, but more for lack of time. We recently returned to Cape Town from a month in the U.S., so that has given me some fresh reflections and observations that I thought I’d share.

This was the first time that we’ve been back to the States as a family during the Northern Hemisphere summer since we left 7 years ago. Our other trips have been over Christmas when the weather is generally bleak and outdoor activities are quite limited, so this was a very pleasant change. That being said, it was incredibly hot for some of the days we were there, but with the wide availability of air conditioning things weren’t too unbearable for very long. Air conditioning is generally pretty scarce here in the summer, making trips to the refrigerated section of the grocery store a frequent pastime.

I think I experienced a more profound case of reverse culture shock than usual on this trip. I’m not really sure why, but maybe the summer weather made things look brighter and more comfortable than winter weather does. The U.S. just hit me as being very insulated and protected from the reality of the real world. Maybe it was the bottles of hand-sanitizer that seemed to grace nearly every store and restaurant counter.

Right away the boys felt out of place. They actually thanked us for taking them out of the U.S. to live. That was a beautiful thing to hear! I think their perceptions have more to do with just sensing that they are different than American teens, but it’s a difference that they like, and I think it’s a difference that’s healthy. They also didn’t appreciate having to wear shoes in stores, but that has more to do with laziness…Our motto here is, “No shirt, no shoes, no problem!” They certainly enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities, like rock-climbing and swimming in the New River, ultimate frisbee on the Drill Field at Virginia Tech, water-skiing and fishing. James also got his Virginia Learner’s permit, which allowed him to get a bit of a feel for driving on roads where sanity generally prevails, unlike in Cape Town, where madness, road rage, and lawless minibus taxis are the rule. He can take his Learner Driver’s test here in about a month, but he’ll find driving rather more challenging in the city.

We had a few good chuckles when things failed to run smoothly in the States. Here when things “go pear-shaped” we say, “TIA” for “This is Africa,” but now TIA can also apply to “This is America.” For all the outward appearances of success and perfection, things can get royally out of whack just about anywhere. For example, it took MULTIPLE phone calls and a trip to the Verizon office to get a functional cell number on a phone that wasn’t considered black-listed. On another day Tim waltzed in to the DMV to renew his driver’s license only to be told that the computer system was down state-wide…Really? We heard the same thing when we went to a AAA office to get our International Driving Permits, but fortunately those permits could be processed without computer assistance. On a scarier note, some friends told us that their vet, in all seriousness, had asked if they had considered taking in foster children to help their dog overcome her psychotic anxiety attacks. That is wrong on so many levels…

All that being said, we really did have an enjoyable time in the U.S., especially the time spent with dear family and friends. It’s a real blessing to live in an age when travel, while not without its hassles, is remarkably efficient and fast. Our visits always remind us that this world truly is not our home, but that for now the closest thing to home is Cape Town. We are confident that God has called us here for this time for His purposes, and we pray that we will always be sensitive and obedient to His voice. We pray that others, too, will feel a restless unease when it’s time to move on from the quiet ease of what they know. The “safety” of America or any other place is a delusion. The only “safe” place is the center of God’s will, and that could well be a place that’s filled with physical or emotional danger and trauma, but it’s the place where we’ll be nearest to God, therefore, the place of ultimate security.