Between Two Worlds

'WORLD SHOPPING' is the message on a large logo, the very first thing you  see as you emerge from customs into the Arrivals part of Heathrow airport in  London.  Somehow it seems a rather accurate description of this semi-familiar UK culture to which we must now re-orientate ourselves. 

We write this a few days after returning to England for our 4 months Home  Assignment.  It's funny the things that jump out at you. - driving on these disconcertingly smooth roads (no pot-holes?  What do you  need a driver for?);

  • robins, oak trees, hedgehogs and the lush, rolling countryside;

  • having your mail delivered and your rubbish collected;

  • the delight of being anonymous - nobody notices us or asks us for money.

We feel mixed emotions.  We all miss our friends in Ethiopia; yet it's  lovely to see family and old friends here. The familiar setting of our home  in Addis is gone; but what a relief it is to be fluent in the majority  language (Anna comments on "these friendly people talking English - it made  my heart all bubbly and joyful!")

...................... a few months later.................

"Weferesh!  Weferch!"  "You've got fatter!"  On our return to Ethiopia in  early October, a number of our friends greeted us approvingly with these  words - intended as a complement!  Being skinny is not highly prized here. 

Our time in UK was good.  We much enjoyed seeing family and old friends, and  sharing some of what we have learned in Ethiopia. But the travelling and  lack of routine was hard; Matthew & Anna especially missed their friends in  Ethiopia.  Now we are homesick for our families in UK, but really glad to be  back home here.  Your love and commitment to us gives us more confidence and  purpose; even Sara's Amharic seems to have improved!  Thank you. 

What do we notice now that we are back in Ethiopia?  Some things we'd  happily forgotten - traffic fumes in the city (no pollution controls);  cockroaches in the kitchen.  But we enjoy the sunshine; renewing former  friendships; and a lifestyle less frenetic & fragmented lifestyle.

(Bill & Sara Goodman July 2003)

The Goodmans are Crosslinks' Mission Partners working in Ethiopia