Notes on Home

I'm back.

My parents and I explored Seoul for a week, then flew back home. It was a nice transition week. We visited some investigators and members who I wanted to see again. My parents were great--it was neat to see them sitting on the floor, eating with chopsticks....

When I came back, I started dusting off my Facebook account (Facebook is different!), getting a new cell phone, resurrecting internet banking.... I finally decided all of it will just take a little time. The blog, too.

I was told that when I got home, things would be the same. But things are different! The term "reverse culture shock" comes to mind--culture shock being going to a new place and not knowing how to function, how to do everything. And now I'm back and...I don't know how to do everything! Mostly with technology (wait...how do I log out of Facebook? And where did my wall go?) Also, social networking, opinions about products--the web feels more...instutionalized. It's like this social evolution is taking place, and on the internet, it is accellerated. First Facebook was for cool kids, and they started growing up and having families and weren't really kids anymore, and now everyone is on it....

And the news. Pretty much the only recurring dream I had on my mission was of turning on the radio to NPR. I missed it. Now listening to it, Mexico is going crazy, lots on healthcare, and you can comment to Talk of the Nation with Twitter. What?

I'm seeing the economy really is rough, too. Before I left, a mall in our neighborhood got leveled, and a major construction project to turn it into an outdoor mall and housing units started. I was so excited to come back and see it. But it's still a huge plot of dirt--the same as when I left. The project was halted. Not enough money.

And, well, I maybe got more done as a missionary. Even if I tell myself I'm going to sit down and read the scriptures at 8:00, I don't motivate myself to do it the same way having a companion and strict rules did. So that's another thing I'm learning--how to use time well, and get things done. Maybe we're all learning that.

Anyway, I'm speaking in church about my mission this Sunday at 1:00, and anyone is welcome over to our house from 4:30 on. Contact me and I'll give you more info.