I have to admit that while I have been happy to be back home in the US, in our house, outdoors again, wearing skirts and relaxed again in public, and among our family and friends catching up, I have been really missing the UAE alot lately. ALOT. I knew that would happen....I just didn't expect it to happen so early honestly.
Today I was cleaning up around the house and out of nowhere heard the Call to Prayer. I stopped dead in my tracks and Eleanor and I looked at each other. We turned towards the tv as it was part of a travel channel show on Turkey and not from the nearby mosque on the corner. It was ridiculously nice to hear....but I can say I choked back some tears. It's just a testament to how much we loved our year abroad in Al Ain. I just have to remind myself it wasn't perfect and not glorify it too much (which I have of course!).
I am definitely realizing that what I read was right - the transition home is not a completely happy, easy one. It's a definite adjustment. After crying in my cereal bowl one morning and talking to my Mom, I realized people don't totally understand and that's ok. It is good to be home. It is. Just going to take some time to get back into the swing of things.
Two pictures to share this post showing my mind swimming in two places. The first a favorite picture from our time in the UAE. This was at the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi in July. The second is from my brother's wedding this weekend - that's me and my Mom. We were so happy to see my brother married. Of course I would have missed all of this had I been half way around the world and I'm glad I didn't.
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