If you ever get a chance to live in another country, I say go for it!
Its a great chance to grow, be thankful and count your blessings!!
Being outside of your comfort zone really gives you opportunities that you wouldn't think are possible! I used to live my life in a box. I would wake up, go to school/work, come home go to sleep and do it all over again the next day! It was the same routine day in and day out. I was content, to some extent but didn't think I would ever have an opportunity to explore life outside of El Paso,TX! I would joke with my mom, when I was younger, that I would get married and move in with her. Or that if that didn't happen, when I turned 25, I was going to join a convent and be a nun. I was raised Christian, but when I was a kid I would go to church with my grandpa who was Catholic, so I thought that would count for something!!
When I met my husband, I still believed I would stay in El Paso and not be blessed enough to travel. When I was dating my husband, after about 2 years we took a trip to Seattle. I fell in love with that city! Not only did it have mountains (which I love) but it was on the coast, so ocean was near (which I love more). I had made a goal in my head that I would eventually end up in Washington state in one way or another. Not only did God give me my husband but He blessed us with him being in the military. (Which at the time, I didn't think was a blessing, but I will cover that later) After we got married (2 months to be exact) I was moving to OK, and experiencing life outside of my comfort zone of EP (and my mom). Yes I was terrified, and leaving home was so hard! But God opened a door, and I walked right in and said "oh....uh...hi" world!
While Jon was in the military I was able to live in 2 different cities. I was away from my box, and man was that an eye opener!! Now that I'm blessed to live in another country, that's even more of an experience/eye opener. If God is teaching me a lesson right now by granting us this opportunity to live in Saudi, I believe it would be "Don't sweat the small stuff". I've learned to not take anything for granted.
I've also learned that things aren't always going to be consistent!! Saudi likes change and is changing things all the time.
I remember from my first post about my first impression of Saudi, and how I thought it looked run-down. I've realized now its more like, they are improving things/buildings/areas. Something is always under construction. Saudi doesn't want to live in a box, they want change, they want to grow and be something better!
While many people see the bad side to living here, I can't help but be grateful and try to remain positive about this whole opportunity! Yes some things stink, like me not having much freedom, but if that is what it takes for me to realize and experience a whole new culture/way of life, that there is something out there other than the routine day to day activities........my eyes and ears are now open God!!!
I do find myself complaining sometimes about my blessing, which is normal because I'm human. This last month the grocery store I shop at stopped selling my blue bonnett butter. That made me sad! They also change up the types of foods they sell....for example, we tried a new brand of fish sticks. We go back a week later and they don't have that brand. Change, change, change. No consistency!!! That gets on my nerves sometimes, but I'm learning, even more so now, to just go with the flow! And it could just be that I go to late and that brand is already sold, but man I don't want to have to go to 3 different grocery stores to get everything on my list like I know a bunch of families do here.
Being in Saudi has also brought out my inner chef! I've had to make things from scratch because being in my box back home in EP was too easy, lol. So far I've made: tortillas (which I make at least once a week), empanadas (pineapple and apple), red velvet cupcakes, and tomorrow it will be Brownies! Its so great to hear my friends ask me to make something for them from scratch. It makes me feel wanted and loved! I got a request from my husband's co-worker to make brownies so I'll be making some tomorrow!
Anyway, I'll be posting soon about my son's 2nd birthday. 2 years old, and the apple of my eye (when I'm not pulling my hair out, hahaha). Until next time.....................
