Sunday, August 23, 2009

The Expat Spirit

Hi Everyone,
It's been a while since I've written a post, but there's a very good reason for that! Things have been particularly busy since coming back to the States for a visit with my family. We've been on the go much of the time--running to Texas for a graduation party for my eldest daughter, Beka. She received her Bachelor's degree and is now heading off to grad school. We had a fun few days in Texas with her and our friends and family who live there. On the way back to New Mexico, my parents and I stopped to drop my youngest daughter, Samantha, off at her university. We made sure she was settled and had groceries, etc. before heading back to the Enchanted Circle. What a whirlwind these days have been! Along with this, I've been sick with allergies and asthma to the point I've had to resort to using the nebulizer, prednisone and other meds to try to recover. What a bummer (frustrating)! Even so, I've been able to have a wonderful and very good time here at home with my parents and friends.

There has been a lot going on beneath the surface of my life on this trip, too. My traveling here has been very cathartic on many levels. Being the reluctant expat that I am, it is nice to have the opportunity to "regroup" at home where people know and love me...and understand my Americaness. I am most fortunate to have parents who understand Europe from travels and times they have spent there, and who have dealt with many from all around the world in their business connections. My folks are not ignorant and are open-minded about other countries and cultures. On this trip, they have been allowing me to tell them about some of my experiences in the Czech Republic--things I would not want to write about here for they are of a too personal nature, not interesting for you readers, etc. I've had so many experiences in the past months which needed to be sorted out and put into perspective. This has been a time of insight, healing and gaining perspective for me...also learning more about myself...things I had not realized before...good and bad. These insights have brought some calm to my soul and will allow me to move forward into the next phase of my expat life. Where that will lead, no one knows...especially not me...but I'm very thankful to have had this time of renewal for my expat spirit.

Another aspect of this trip is that it has given me time to read! I am a voracious reader--devouring books of all kinds--everything from fiction to non-fiction, covering subjects from to the spiritual to astronomy and many in between. One of the most remarkable books on this trip has been one called "The Shack," by William Paul Young. Young presents the story of a father who loses his daughter only to find the Lord and a journey to healing and a better understanding of his own place in the realm of eternity. The story is not trite and pithy, but rather it is one of great spiritual depth. Young has crafted a story that deals with spirituality rather than religion. The author is a fan of some of the greatest spiritual writers: George McDonald, A. W. Tozer, C. S. Lewis, Khalil Gibran, and many others. These are also some of my favorite spiritual writers. You can find their influence all throughout the story--which reads like a wonderful narrative. I would highly recommend this book to you all...and you can find it in my Amazon store listed in the left side-bar and at the end of this post, as well as in the link here:



The next few days will be busy again with me trying to recover from this current allergy and asthma flare-up, hopefully managing some shopping for necessary items to take back to Prague, and have some more fun with my parents before heading back to the Czech Republic. I would like to apologize about the Rome pictures. This is still a work in progress due to the fact that my regular computer is waiting for me in Prague--and it has the program necessary to process the pictures! I will be working on those and will upload them to share with you all here once I'm back home.

One other note--would you still be interested in participating in World Blog Surf Day? Hospitalera and I were working on that when we both had things come up that needed our attention. I'm not sure if she would still like to be involved, but if enough of you are interested, I would love to hold WBSD again. My thinking is that it would probably have to wait until the middle of October, but it could still be put together by that time. And we could do another near the holidays--if you would like. Just let me know and we can go from there. The last two WBSD's were a lot of fun and very interesting--and I would love to do another--but only if there's enough interest. Please drop me an email or leave a comment if you would like to see WBSD be held again.

That's all for now...I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

God bless,
Sher :0)

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14 comments:

Unknown said...

of course I would like to participate again.)
enjoy the usa.)
kindest

Sher said...

Hi Hans,
OK...thanks for the vote for WBSD!

And I'm enjoying my time home to the nth degree!!! Thanks!!

Have a great day,
Sher :0)

Chaplain said...

Hi Sher,

Good to hear you're having a great time in the US of A. We're missing you here in Prague. Hope you quickly overcome the flair up of your allergies.

I'd be more than willing to take part in another WBSD in October provided it was the end of October as I am away for a good part of the month. The same would apply to Hospitalera for obvious reasons! I would suggest Saturday 31st October for WBSD - good antidote to Halloween!!!

Karen said...

I too vote for another World Blog Surf Day. If you do one devoted to the Holidays I have pics for that!

I'm glad you had fun at home in America. I too have enjoyed access to so many English language books!

Thanks Sher, for all your technical help of late as well. I appreciate it!

CancunCanuck said...

I enjoyed the last one and would like to participate again. I think other Mexican ex-pat bloggers would dig it too. :)

Sher said...

Hi Chaplain,
Thanks for your message! I'm getting homesick...and looking forward to coming home and seeing everyone again!

OK...another couple of votes for WBSD! And I like your suggestion about having it at the end of Oct...on Halloween...that's never been one of my favorite holidays! :0)

Have a great day,
Sher :0)

Sher said...

Hi Karen,
Thanks and you're welcome for what I've managed so far!

And another tally for WBSD!!! And yes...the thought is to have one in Oct and another near the holidays--if it wouldn't be too much for everyone since that's such a busy time of the year!

Hope you're having a good day today, Karen!
Sher :0)

Sher said...

Hi Cancun Canuck,
Great...another vote for WBSD! It's great to hear that you enjoyed the last one and that other expats in Mexico might like to participate, too!!

Have a great day,
Sher :0)

Roz said...

Hi Sher

I'm so pleased to hear that you are having such a wonderful time in the USA!

I would be very interested in participating in another WBSD. October would be fine for the first one - and just a suggestion for the second one - how about having it just after the holidays? I always find that things feel a bit flat after the excitement has worn off and people are a lot less busy too. Anyway, just an idea...

Hope that your allergies are improving (what a pain!) and that you enjoy the rest of your time in the USA.

Best wishes,

Roz

Sher said...

Hi Roz,
Thanks...this has been a great visit on so many levels!

About WBSD--great! And I like your suggestion of actually having the holiday one after the holidays--I completely agree. During the holiday period it's too busy...and then we'd have something to look forward to afterward! Great suggestion!

My allergies are being VERY stubborn at the moment...so I'll probably be traveling in this current state. Hopefully no one will ask me to leave the plane thinking I'm sick with swine flu! I have a doc's letter...that should be enough to prove what's going on!

Have a great day,
Sher :0)

*lynne* said...

I'd totally join in for another iteration of WBSD!

Hopefully I'll have my act together better so that I actually visit&comment every participant (for the food edition, I visited and did a quick read, but was too rushed to comment except on one or two posts).

Hope your allergies get under better control! Mine have a mine of their own - hopefully our move to Springfield will enable us to get rid of some older furniture that might be harboring more dust mites than I can handle..! :p

Sher said...

Hi *lynne*,
Thanks for the vote for WBSD--this is great--there seems to be enough interest to have another one!

And thanks for your wishes for my allergies/asthma to clear up. They are being most stubborn...this is one of the longest stretches of trouble I've had in a long time. I'm doing everything...and still things are not improving...UGH! I'm starting the "moon face" from all the prednisone and steroids I'm taking...hopefully Jiri will recognize me when I get back to Prague!

I sure wish you the best of luck with your allergies, too! I know you've had a lot of trouble recently. Getting rid of that older furniture might help...that's one thing that helped me, plus living with no carpet, too. Anyway, good luck with your allergies, too!!!

Have a great day,
Sher :0)

Emmanuelle Archer said...

An enthusiastic Yes to another WBSD!

It's so good to see that you are enjoying your time home :)

I know what you mean about being able to share things that are too personal or mundane to bring up with friends or on a blog... that's one of the great comforts of home (or of talking to understanding, nonjudgmental expats who are going through the same thing).

I wish you a prompt recovery allergy-wise. What a drag! Hope you feel better soon.

Emmanuelle

Sher said...

Hi Emmanuelle,
Thanks for the vote for WBSD and your well wishes!!

It's exciting that another edition of WBSD will be coming up...and you are all ready to participate again!!!

Have a great day,
Sher :0)