Perspective. I has it.
Just ramblings below - it's a weird day and my thoughts have been all over the place.
I realized today that one of the reasons I feel so uprooted here is because I'm on the other side. Let me clarify. Back in the states I was...for lack of a better word- a "helper". I helped young mothers give birth. I drove my car less neighbors around. I took meals to the elderly. I went to friend's house and let them cry on my shoulders. I loved being able to help others. I've always said that since I was not blessed with great intelligence or amazing talents or physical strength....that I was given a much larger than normal heart to make up for it.
But all of a sudden I found myself here.....where I am not in a position to carry on those services. In fact now I am the one that is in need. And it's taken some getting used to. I always feel so bad that I'm the one that need rides now, that I'm the one that needs a shoulder to cry on, I'm the one that people cook meals for now....it's a whole new perspective for me. And one that is taking a while to adjust to. Thankfully I've met some really amazing "helpers" over here who I owe so much to!
My next door neighbor back home was a foreigner. I miss her. I want to go home and give her a big hug and say "I understand you so much more now." One time she came over and handed me a box and in broken English she asked me if I could mail it for her. I remember thinking that was odd because it's so easy to mail something right? But of course I didn't say that and mailed it for her gladly. Only after moving here did I understand why she asked this. It was so complicated the first time I tried to mail an item here and I ended up in tears trying to deal with the UK postal system! I also remember wondering why she didn't drive because I knew she had in her home country. Yeah....there is no way I would ever drive here!
I've said it before but I'll say it again....
When it comes time for us to move home....it's the people of Belfast that I will miss the most!