Saturday 17 March 2012

13 years ago

It was St. Patrick's Day 13 years ago, in 1999, that I first set foot in Athens, Greece.  I remember vividly careening through the crazy traffic, noticing the orange trees squished on the sidewalks under the look-alike concrete apartment buildings with street-level shops.  I remember meeting my new colleagues, people who would become so significant to me, the bewildering swirl of modern Greek.  My first Greek Sunday dinner, with piles of little fish with their heads, an astounding amount of food.  I also remember the isolation, and the feeling that everyone besides me had somewhere to go and people to meet.  Long afternoons were spent writing postcards to far away friends in Seattle and elsewhere...

Many of the past St. Patrick's Days have been a party to commemorate being American and my anniversary of arrival in Athens.  It was fun to introduce non-American friends and family to all green food and the idea of St. Patrick's day.  And a wonderful day to stop and pause in gratitude to God sustaining my life in a foreign land.


This St. Patrick's Day, I made my way to our new office along with diehard runners, braving the slushy weather to do the Seattle St. Patrick's Day Dash.   I'm trying to cook corned beef in the slow cooker (with some help from my mom). Erik came home from preschool to tell me all about leprechauns and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and I had to find a way to make green punch for his class party.

It is a good day to stop and remember that God sustains our new life here, and with time we'll find our way into a new balance.   And maybe it's time to introduce my American friends to the traditions of Greek life, like fried salt cod fritters for Greek Independence Day or flying kites on Clean Monday.

Saturday 10 March 2012

Seven months in Seattle

Seven months ago, we traded the chaos of a disintegrating society in Athens for my beloved Seattle.  It's been such a big adjustment, there hasn't been much time for words.  Living back at home with my quiet parents instead of next door to my very Greek in-laws.  A basement suite with a big back garden for a 3rd floor urban apartment.  A job that was more a calling and a passion for my first job as a mental health professional, working 3 days a week for DESC.  A vocation where the job never ended to one where I'm sitting with nothing to do for hours at a time.  Leaving International Teams and the connections with so many conference friends and mentors to create a brand new network around the profession of counseling and my new life as a suburban mom in Normandy Park.  Watching Iannis struggle through the indignities of a minimum wage job, with a work schedule that makes a social life nearly impossible.  Leaving Ianni's lifelong friends and connections to reconnect with family and friends or make new ones here. Watching Erik forget (?) Greek and Chloe absorb language so fast... 

I think all of these transitions are so character building but...  tough! How can we discern where God is leading us through the middle of it? 

The beautiful thing is watching the growing connections, the new directions that are glimmering through the fog of transition.  We love being part of John Knox Presbyterian Church.  We are finding our way as a family to new friends and playdates. 

I'm feeling connected again to my passion to see people find restoration and healing.  Providentially, my mind-blowingly boring job  has allowed me to really explore my calling, and make new connections professionally.  How does that work that I did with trafficking victims and refugees connect with the needs that exist in the Seattle area?  What did I learn about working with people in such difficult circumstances that can be utilized to bring healing to others?

 I'm working on starting a private practice as a counselor this spring.  It's a giant step, and one that takes risk and trust, just like getting to Athens did.  I'd love to hear your feedback!