11 April 2008

I have to tell you

Sometimes I miss living overseas really bad. I mean a whole lot. The past few days have been like that. I'm not sure why, but I just do. Last night we were eating at Pei Wei when several muslim families met up outside, the men warmly greeting each other and the women with their head coverings double kissing each others cheeks, and beautiful children will heads full of dark curls. My sister asked if they were Turkish. They weren't. I'm not even sure how I can tell, but I can. My guess is Iranian actually. I don't know what it is about seeing women with head coverings that - warning, I know this sounds weird - but it just gives me a warm fuzzy. I just want to walk up to them and ask them to please be my friend! I live in an incredibly international city and yet I don't have any international friends. How can that be? What is wrong with me? I miss that so much. I miss bad English. I miss warm hospitality. I miss spending hours at the table during a meal. I miss the muddy streets of Adapazari. I miss our phone friends. I miss being busy spending time with people, not busy with things. I miss the craziness that is Istanbul. I miss riding the boat across the Bosphorous. I miss Sunday afternoons at the Taylors. I miss my friends. I miss being so dependent on Jesus. I miss catching a glimpse of what outside of America looks like. And I miss people and a culture that are different than me. Exquisitely different.

Now I know I'm sounding romantic about it all. I remember the hard things too and I know my life is easy here. I enjoy fitting in. I enjoy owning the cultural cues and language. And I know I'm where I'm supposed to be and doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I know God has called me here. To Houston. To live with family. To be a youth ministry secretary. I love my life. I love my job. I love being where God wants me to be. But oh, sometimes, I really long to go back.

P.S. I almost "borrowed" - more like stole some pictures that I randomly found on another blog just now in my search for Istanbul photos. Instead, I thought I'd let you take a look for yourself...ISTANBUL DAILY PHOTO...so fun, huh?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

If it helps, most days I would like to be overseas. Not just every once in a while, most days. That is...if I could find my stupid passport!!!

Kim for the Kings said...

Oh ablam! My heart echos yours... Not a day goes by that I don't miss Istanbul...yet I know I am where God has me for now. I'm glad you're in the same place -- confident in God's purposes for you in Houston. Seni cok ozluyorum ya!

Anonymous said...

and we miss you. i love that you actually miss the muddy streets:) i do too.
love you.
jen

rindy said...

Oh yeah, we definitely miss you, too! A lot! In fact, I usually remember a fun memory of hanging out with you at least weekly. love ya!

Unknown said...

I'm glad I'm not the only still longing for muddy streets, crazy cities, and people different from me. I've been back from Nepal 7 years and still miss it! I have that warm fuzzy feeling every time I see an Indian woman! Glad to know I'm not alone.