It has been an interesting few days back at home, as I have struggled to adjust to everything that I left behind when I flew away from here in July. I arrived in Vancouver last Wednesday and found the switch from summer to winter fairly easy to handle, as Vancouver is on the coast and so is very rainy (which was definitely familiar to me after 4 months in NZ). Flying to Saskatoon was exciting, and I was anxious to land at the Saskatoon airport despite the snow storm that was happening outside. It was great to see my mom, sister, and brother-in-law (my dad was on my flight from Vancouver and Calgary, as he was out west on business and happened to be travelling back on the same day as I was). We went out for supper and then my parents took me back to PA to get myself organized to move into my new place. I'm pretty sure that the "reverse culture shock" began the second our van left the lights of the bridge city.
On the way home I felt completely out of place. As we were driving in the dark along the flat, wide open road back to my hometown, I felt as if I was in a new country all over again. Home was different than I remembered... I knew it was flat and relatively isolated, but this time I REALLY understood it. I felt ridiculous as I asked my mom, "Where are we right now? How far is it to PA?" (Keep in mind that I have driven this highway myself a million times before, and I know every little small town along the way... so this was weird for me.) I said at one point that had it not been for my parents driving me, I could have sworn that I was being kidnapped and brought to some unknown and isolated location in the middle of nowhere. I noticed a severe lack of ocean and rolling hills, which I know sounds silly coming from a girl who has lived on the prairies for 22 years... but it was honestly unsettling. I kept looking around, searching for something familiar. I felt guilty that home didn't look or feel like home anymore.
I spent the next 2 nights crying myself to sleep. Overdramatic you say? Maybe. But I felt so empty inside, just missing everyone and everything that I knew in my life in New Zealand. And then to top it all off, when I needed to talk to them most, I couldn't figure out how to ring any of my friends on their mobiles (Jude, Julia, Aidyn, etc.). Forunately I could call land lines, so I had good chats with Fiona, Sam, Stephen, Katriona, and Tommy, although I'm not sure if the phone calls made me feel better or if they just reminded me of how far away I am. I really noticed everyone's accents again - I felt like I did when I first talked to Sam and Fish on the phone in May. It's funny how that happens.
I made my way back to Saskatoon yesterday and got myself somewhat moved into my new place. MacKenzie is in PA right now so I've had the place to myself, which hasn't done wonders for the loneliness I've been feeling... but things are looking up. I figure I'll be fine within a week of getting back to S'toon - so far I'm on day 3 and the sun seems to be shining brighter (figuratively, of course... it's grey and snowy here this week). I went to the university yesterday to make a surprise appearance at the Greystone Singers rehearsal - it was SO good to see my friends again. I caught up briefly with a few people who were kicking around the department, and I was met with a lot of surprised reactions and big hugs. :o) My good friend Brad took me out for breakfast this morning, and then I spent the evening at the U of S Jazz Ensemble concert. It was AWESOME to see everyone tonight - my friend Jan Michael absolutely lost it when he saw me... he assaulted me with hugs, squeezed me until I thought I would burst, and grinned until I'm sure his face hurt. Hahaha. It was SO great to be welcomed home by my amazing friends... I'm remembering now why I love Saskatoon and the people here. It will still take a little while to adjust to everything (and I'm still living out of a suitcase until I figure out how to store my clothes in my tiny bedroom), but things are looking up here in my snowy world. :o) I'm starting to feel more "at home" at home.
On the way home I felt completely out of place. As we were driving in the dark along the flat, wide open road back to my hometown, I felt as if I was in a new country all over again. Home was different than I remembered... I knew it was flat and relatively isolated, but this time I REALLY understood it. I felt ridiculous as I asked my mom, "Where are we right now? How far is it to PA?" (Keep in mind that I have driven this highway myself a million times before, and I know every little small town along the way... so this was weird for me.) I said at one point that had it not been for my parents driving me, I could have sworn that I was being kidnapped and brought to some unknown and isolated location in the middle of nowhere. I noticed a severe lack of ocean and rolling hills, which I know sounds silly coming from a girl who has lived on the prairies for 22 years... but it was honestly unsettling. I kept looking around, searching for something familiar. I felt guilty that home didn't look or feel like home anymore.
I spent the next 2 nights crying myself to sleep. Overdramatic you say? Maybe. But I felt so empty inside, just missing everyone and everything that I knew in my life in New Zealand. And then to top it all off, when I needed to talk to them most, I couldn't figure out how to ring any of my friends on their mobiles (Jude, Julia, Aidyn, etc.). Forunately I could call land lines, so I had good chats with Fiona, Sam, Stephen, Katriona, and Tommy, although I'm not sure if the phone calls made me feel better or if they just reminded me of how far away I am. I really noticed everyone's accents again - I felt like I did when I first talked to Sam and Fish on the phone in May. It's funny how that happens.
I made my way back to Saskatoon yesterday and got myself somewhat moved into my new place. MacKenzie is in PA right now so I've had the place to myself, which hasn't done wonders for the loneliness I've been feeling... but things are looking up. I figure I'll be fine within a week of getting back to S'toon - so far I'm on day 3 and the sun seems to be shining brighter (figuratively, of course... it's grey and snowy here this week). I went to the university yesterday to make a surprise appearance at the Greystone Singers rehearsal - it was SO good to see my friends again. I caught up briefly with a few people who were kicking around the department, and I was met with a lot of surprised reactions and big hugs. :o) My good friend Brad took me out for breakfast this morning, and then I spent the evening at the U of S Jazz Ensemble concert. It was AWESOME to see everyone tonight - my friend Jan Michael absolutely lost it when he saw me... he assaulted me with hugs, squeezed me until I thought I would burst, and grinned until I'm sure his face hurt. Hahaha. It was SO great to be welcomed home by my amazing friends... I'm remembering now why I love Saskatoon and the people here. It will still take a little while to adjust to everything (and I'm still living out of a suitcase until I figure out how to store my clothes in my tiny bedroom), but things are looking up here in my snowy world. :o) I'm starting to feel more "at home" at home.
And now I leave you with a few pictures that sum up my reunion with Canadian landscape....
A maple leaf in Vancouver
Flying out of Calgary
Beginning the descent into Saskatoon...
The lights of Saskatoon! 
Standing in the snow outside my house in Prince Albert.
Cheers from a winter wonderland!
2 comments:
From southern to northern hemisphere, from a sunny hot winter to a cold icy one, from hills and ocean to flat and open, from the people you shared your NZ adventure with to the people who followed it on your blog, from the completion of your internship at Hutt Valley High School to your good friends missing from Saskatoon because they are out of town completing theirs.
When you live as intensely as you do, the anticipation, planning and living of any adventure is most certainly going to require an adjustment when it draws to a close, but you are richer for having done it. You will have many more adventures in your life…this is just the bottom of the roller coaster, but the ride isn’t over!
The blizzard you arrived into was just Canada’s way of saying “Welcome home”. : )
The lights of Saskatoon pic is choice! Very cool. :)
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