Reverse Culture Shock

I thought I'd share a few thoughts about things that have caused a bit of reverse culture shock upon returning to the U.S.  After living all but the last two years of my life in the U.S. it would seem a bit crazy to experience culture shock here.  However it has happened.  

Here are just a couple of things I've noticed:

 

1 - The Quantity of "Things"

Every where you go you find "bigger and better."  Shelves are lined with so many choices that even in a small town you can find almost anything you need to cook like a gourmet chef.   Restaurants have menus that are like books, and plates come to the table overflowing with food.

 

2 - Homes

In the U.S. cabinets, dishwashers, washers, dryers, stoves, and refrigerators are considered standard equipment and are found even in modest homes.  In Central America you will find few homes that have these appliances.  A small range might be found, but built-in cabinets are rare.  Dishwashers. . . I've only seen one dishwasher in two years. Washers and dryers are luxury items and not standard household appliances.  Below is a photo of our kitchen.  We are blessed with both a refrigerator and a stove that is standard sized.  In the back left corner you can see our "cabinets" which are plastic garage shelving.  In Central America this is considered a very nice.  It is a bit more rustic than the small kitchen pictured above, but we are so thankful for it!

These are just a few surface things I've noticed this time and to which I've had to adjust.  

We'll see what else pops up before going back to CR.

Melanie

Let's Try to Get This Blog Restarted

So here's to a new year and a new start to our blog. My intentions are to be more consistent this year, so we will just have to see if I can accomplish this goal.


The newest member of our family was born January 24.  Mark and Candace welcomed baby Anna to their family.

I have had the privilege of being in Texas with Mark and Candace, and it has been wonderful to spend time with our two grandchildren.  It is amazing how one tiny 5 lb. 14 oz.  baby can be the boss of so many grown-ups.  However, every minute is precious to me!

Wilson is adjusting well to his new baby sister.  He loves to pat her head, and he shares stickers, toys, and books with her.

We are so thankful for our girls, their husbands, and our grandchildren.  We are truly blessed.

Melanie

Spanish vs English

False cognates (words that look alike in both languages, but mean something completely different) are always creating difficulties for us when we try to use them.  Here are a few examples:

invertir -  we think it means to invert while it really means "to invest"
compromiso - we think it means compromise while it really means "to commit"

So here's one that still gives us a start:

Molestar is an everyday word that simply means "to bother" in Spanish, however the English meaning is quite different. You have to be careful when you're a Spanish speaker & use this false cognate!!