2 Years

I can hardly believe that two years ago today, my life forever changed. I touched down in my new home, Scotland. I remember arriving at 7:30 in the morning. The sun was out and everything around the airport was green. More than being nervous about the big news, I was excited to see Ian, given that we hadn't seen each other in a few weeks. Little did I know how much I would change in two short years. Call it growing up, or acclimating to my surroundings, but I have changed. My "old" life almost seems like a dream, like another life I lived.

I have learned lessons on what matters in life, people not things. Being separated from all your worldly possessions tends to do that to you! I now realize that I probably could have sold all our stuff in storage and not look back. I certainly didn't feel that way in the beginning! It's just stuff. It doesn't give me, or really my life, value. I have also realized the value of those I love. Sometimes a phone call, email or text just doesn't cut it. When someone you love is going through something, good or bad, it is hard not being there. It is hard realizing my nephew has no clue who I am and having missed so many things in my friends and families life.

Living over here has opened my eyes to many different cultures. Obviously I am surrounded by Scottish people, but I also have Irish, Polish and Swedish friends. It makes for interesting debates on all types of things - politics, the economy, environment and more. It has opened my eyes to many different views and stretched me into figuring out exactly what I believe and where I stand on certain issues. In case you were wondering, I DO NOT think the Lockerbie bomber should have been released! It has also opened my eyes to a type of racism that I had never experienced before. A type that doesn't care about the color of your skin, but the place you are from. I have experienced people with downright hatred toward Americans, but I have also experienced people talk this way about other cultures. This is a phenomenon I had never experienced before, given that racism in America seems to be about the color of your skin and not other things.

Though I don't have an accent, and don't think I will ever get one, I do say words I never would have said before. "Quite" has become a normal part of my word dictionary. It comes out "quite" a lot! Also, I always remember to bring my reusable bags with me for grocery shopping. And there are my eating habits, which have totally adapted...can anyone say "fish and chips Fridays"?!? Then there is me never leaving the house without an umbrella...it rains pretty much every day. Also, the flat shoes (I often wonder why I moved my entire shoe collection when I never even get to use it). Heels don't work with cobblestone, then there are the rain puddles and hills. Really, flat shoes are a must!

Part of me wonders what will happen to me once I do return to America. Will I remember all the good things I learned over here? Or, will I just return to life as it once was? I hope I can find a happy medium, not being so materialistic and caring more about the environment but not going so overboard that everyone thinks I got knocked off my rocker!