The Homemaker

Take heart, Paul and Timothy - we are beginning to sort through our culture shock. Salt and pepper are no longer a source of anguish. Things are looking up!

Even though things are strange and unfamiliar, there are a lot of things that we love here.

• People take time to stop and have tea. Break time is a part of the routine…I love that. It is so healthy to slow down and stop working for a moment. It is a skill that we hope to hone over the years!
• People are very generous here. I am continually humbled and challenged by the way our friends freely give of what they have. It has inspired me to have a more generous spirit myself.
• There is not as much waste here. People reuse most things and only buy what they need. There is something to be said for taking care of the space you live in.
• Chocolate - compared to the assortment in Ireland, Hershey's is a cheap imitation.
• The taste of food - things taste real here due to the lower amount of preservatives and chemicals. You can really taste the flavors of each food. 
• There is so much history to be discovered here. We live in an apartment across the street from St. Mary’s Cathedral. It was built in the 12th century and is still an active church to this day!

When you start to find things in a place you love, you start to fall in love with that place. The bible never talks about Paul having an emotional meltdown about Roman tableware, but I think that he would agree that feeling homesick is normal.

At the same time, however, when God shows you the love He has for a place, that land starts to weave its way around your heart. Before long, you're no longer homesick…you're home!

Love, Katy

The Salt Shaker

Homesickness and culture shock have officially set in!

I'd love to hear Paul and Timothy's reaction to our culture shock. I can just hear it…"Oh please, try reaching the Romans." I can't help feeling like a wimp in comparison.

Those people were the first missionaries. Even though we were missionaries to college students in the U.S. for many years, it's different for us to take on the same tasks but in a place and culture that is unfamiliar.

Here are some examples of cultural challenges:

• Let’s begin with the infamous salt and pepper shakers. Every time I'd go to salt my food when we first arrived, I'd turn over the shaker and then…bam. Pepper. Then it occurred to me…they're in opposite shakers here (salt with one hole, pepper with multiple holes). It never occurred to me that that I naturally assumed which container held the salt. I just knew. Creepy, right?
• A child in the US would proudly hold up his index and middle finger to say that he’s two years old. Little does he know, across the ocean in Ireland he would be making a pretty rude gesture! Here, counting is done starting with the thumb as "one." I keep my hands in my pockets a lot.
• Asking questions is very "American." The way learning is done here is by observation…not asking. This is why I keep getting strange looks at the grocery store. Americans are taught (subconsciously?) that to ask a question is to flatter someone’s expertise. It is encouraged! Seriously, how many jokes are there about men refusing to stop and ask for directions? Here, asking a question is a sign that you can’t figure it out for yourself. It really encourages the use of critical thinking skills...but to a crazy American who can’t locate the baking powder, it can be emotionally taxing.

These things are reminders that we have to learn how to do life all over again. It’s like realizing after 28 years that I’ve been breathing the wrong way. We know that it will take time.

Keep your eyes open for next week’s more positive conclusion to my rant!

Love, Katy

Our First Two Weeks

Everything is slow when you enter a new culture. There is no routine. There is no consistency. It's so complicated to do simple things like buying groceries. It took multiple trips to the local grocery store to find where items were located and to decide which brands to buy. We spent over 2 hours in the store, and that was just for a couple days of groceries!

Even though we have good friends here, this country is not our own…yet.

From what we've been told, we've had great favor in getting things sorted for living here. Here's a run down of our first two weeks in Ireland

• • We arrived in Dublin on Saturday, March 17th at 8:40am.
  • Within the first 24 hours we had a pay-as-you-go (or "top up") phone, thanks to our friendsDes & Judith.
  • We traveled from Dublin to Limerick by train on Monday the 19th. (See what the train ride looks like in the video below)
  • We immediately began searching for an apartment. (Tough stuff when you only need a two month lease.)
  • On Wednesday morning, March 21st we called to confirm our lease agreement for our new apartment. (pictures here)

We will be living in Limerick until May 21st with the purpose of learning culture, observing ministry, and resting.

Please pray for the next few steps:

• • Setting up a bank account.
  • Getting our cell phones.
  • Continued favor and wisdom while getting things set up.
  • Patience and insight as we learn the culture.

Here's a video of our train ride from Dublin to Limerick.