Heavy Plant Crossing

HEAVY PLANT CROSSING reads a sign on the bus ride home. What? Is a heavy plant crossing the road? Might it sit on me?
Another piece of life that I am trying to understand here in the UK!

Culture shock for me is like being trapped in a children's picture book--where all the pictures have hundreds of things that are not the way they are supposed to be. A car with three tires, a tree that's upside down, a dog walking a person. There is still so much that I don't understand! Everyone else understands everything, but it is all so new to me. Of course the hilarious part is that I am the odd one as I stare at the 5 X7 sign that reads: People who allow their dogs to foul pavements are bad tempered, unhygienic and ill mannered--will be fined. Does it really say all that? Yes, and I wanted to take a picture of it to prove it.

These are the little daily issues, but some issues are bigger. As I try to adjust to this, and help my children adjust I can feel quite overwhelmed. Until I remember my savior who left a beautiful glorious home, where he enjoyed perfect togetherness to come down into our lonely world and take on a body that can get tired, hungry, sick and die. He came to a place where he would feel lonely and would one day be rejected and die for the purpose of one day bringing me back to his home. I find strength knowing that the one who called me here, will give me strength. My home country wasn't perfect, this country isn't either--but we are being strengthened for this task!

As we continue to adjust to our life in the UK, the highs and lows are beginning to calm. We continue to be perplexed at how we ended up here, but we are thankful.

This past week our family visitied Kew Gardens and explored this lovely retreat away from city life! We enjoyed being apart from city life (except for the jet engines roaring overhead as the planes fly into Heathrow airport). The morning sun, the autumn colors, the perfect weather...what a splendid day!
First off, the kids wanted to see the Xsterra walkway, which is 18 meters above. Timothy and Ethan gladly left the stroller behind and climbed up 6 flights of stairs to walk the walkway around the trees. What a spectacular view! Tim and Ethan threw Conkers off the side. We could also spot the green Richmond Parakeets, which are as "British as Curry" . They came from the Himalayas for a theater presentation and escaped! We also loved exploring the temparate house, the children's play area, the lake and walkway. Ethan played under different trees while Timothy slept in the stroller. I was amazed at all the different trees thriving there--palm trees, a California Redwood, "monkey puzzle" from Chile, London Plane trees, and Sweet Chestnuts. There was a Sweet Chestnut tree that was over 300 years old, the sign read "survived 9 monarchs and bombing raids from World War II, please don't walk on its roots!". There was also an enormous Cedar of Lebanon. We all enjoyed it and stayed all day!

We are getting used to some things about living here---we call the toilet, the loo. Our stroller is a push chair. Ethan used the term "lovely" today. Seeing the cars on the left side of the road. Not giving eye contact and smiling as much to everyone we see. Realizing that everyone knows we are American before we even open our mouths.

Things that I still am not used to: the ease with which people unabashedly use words that in America would be considered curse words, the co-ed changing area at the swimming pool, people calling strangers "luv" (even men call men luv.) Knackered means tired, not something else...Paying with a debit card that you insert instead of swipe, and don't insert it until the cashier is finished ringing up your order!

We feel we are starting to make some connections, though we still are just beginning. I try to remember what it was like saying good bye to all our loved ones in America before moving here, wondering who of the people we are now meeting will we part with and miss dearly? I wonder for what reason have our lives come into contact at this point, what is happening in their story and my story that is all part of a bigger story?

We do feel that we are starting to relax and settle into a routine. We didn't realize how living in transition and the stress of the last year had affected us. We didn't realize how much culture shock would hit us like a wall in our face! So, I know that it will continue to be hard for the next few months but we do feel better, and we are truly thankful for all the ways God has provided and led us.

A very full week! We have been busy getting to know as many people as we can, and this has been so much fun. I have had conversations with British, Irish, South African, American, Norwegian, and Polish people. Having the boys with me has been a very natural conversation starting point. We are trying to understand the cultural differences while also recognizing the similarities in humanity. A tremendous amount of activity is going on at the church, reaching out to the community and offering moms and children a chance to connect with others. We've enjoyed play dates, music class, MOPS, Little Laughs ( a free play time for children and mothers/carers). In the afternoons, we have been busy exploring Richmond and walking along the river. The weather has been unusually pleasant and we have soaked this in--letting the housework take a rest while we have explored.
Todd has been busy getting settled into his new position. This has kept him very busy, and is very exciting as we have glimpses of what the future holds for us here.
Our boys have been very happy. Ethan says, "I love England!"
We are truly thankful to be in this place at this time. It has been a difficult road, but life is settling into a pattern and routine. Its getting easier to do the shopping (a friend from church has offered to take me so I don't have to struggle with the bags and the stroller). I am finding more of the special food items that we need, (but I did send Trader Joes an email requesting they open a location here :)
I have been teaching Ethan a hymn, and this weeks lyrics really underscore how we are feeling...
"Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wonderously reigneth,
Shelters thee under his wings, yes so gently sustaineth.
Has thou not seen, how thy desires have been
Granted in what he ordaineth."