from hammock to treadmill

Entering the U.S. after having been away for a few years is like being flipped out of a hammock onto a treadmill.  Upon re-entry, our brains are suddenly cluttered with the conversations around us that we can understand.  Everything is smooth and shiny here and it feels like everyone has been given a shot of adrenaline.  There is a real sense of "rushing" that greets you once you've passed the customs booths.

No sooner had we stepped onto the moving sidewalks in the Miami airport had we realized, "Toto, we're not in the Dominican anymore."  Our children had absolutely no concept of a slow lane and fast lane on the moving sidewalk and were oblivious to the pressure of the annoyed and hurried people who pressed in around them.  The contrast between the unhurried pace of the DR and the hyper busy pace of the U.S. was clearly defined in this moment, and Jon and I smiled at each other in acknowledgement that this time calls for a switching of gears for us.  Let's pray we can do this gracefully.