By Rich Rudowske
Our family returned one month ago today to begin a two year assignment from the Lutheran Bible Translators Service Center in Aurora, Illinois. In the past month, we have found a home and gotten moved in (mostly). Here are a few of the things that we’re still getting used to:
- Driving on the right side of the road in the left side of the car.
- Being able to drive at night without worrying about hitting donkeys or cattle.
- The sun staying up so late.
- The prices! Everything seems so expensive here!
- Being able to clearly understand everything that everyone in saying.
- The amount of food available in grocery stores.
- The size of portions in restaurants.
- Chicken the size of small turkeys. Every time I see chicken breast at the store, I can’t help thinking that whatever chicken that came from had some kind of augmentation surgery.
- Green peppers the size of my fist.
- Internet so fast it makes me dizzy.
- Telling the person behind the counter what I want without first talking about the weather, their family, or some other small talk.
- Cloudy days.
- Not having to plan travel based on where the next gas station is.
- Plugging in stuff without having to find the right adapter.
- Not having to carry around cash to pay for stuff.
- How green everything is.
Also, every time I look up at a flag pole and see the American flag flying with bright red and white stripes against the bright green trees instead of the pale blue of the Botswana flag against the pale blue sky I get choked up. I’m happy and proud to be in my home country for this season, but I miss the Kalahari, the slower pace of life, and the simplicity of my adopted home. That’s going to take a while to get used to.
This was re-posted with permission. You can read the original post by Rich on his blog. The ministry of Rich Rudowske for Lutheran Bible Translators is our Quarterly Mission Offering. Please consider a contribution to our goal of $3000.
