Reverse Culture Shock

I know it has taken me almost a month to finally reflect on coming back to reality, but a lot has been going on...transitioning back to the US, the South, Athens, and life as a PhD student. I will be honest my transition has not been the most graceful as I have dug my heels in a bit and resisted the adjustment. You see, there is a phenomenon called reverse culture shock. This is when you come back to your home country and feel out-of-place because of the amazing/transformational experience you had in a different culture while others at home are living the same life you left. You have a different lens and become more critical of the way life exists in the homeland. It is hard to share your experience because of a general lack of interest from others or a fear that others will see you as bragging. Now, you would think with all of my experiences living abroad that this "re-entry" would get easier. Wrong! The reverse culture shock still surfaces and makes me question life in the U.S. and how we live life. I also think that this time around was especially hard because I came back to a life that I do not absolutely LOVE. PhD life in Athens, Georgia is hard and not as exciting as living in a foreign country or in Colorado. But the good news is that I am settling in and finding my way through this transition.
Photo: Watson Mill Bridge, Georgia

Reflections on 2009

Top 12 Memorable Moments/Experiences of 2009:

1.) Rang in the New Year with my Colorado buddies in Breckenridge and reconnected with about 20 high school friends at a mini-reunion in Colorado. Go Raiders!

2.) Joined my father as he “flew South” like the retired snow bird that he is…we had quality time together as we road tripped to Arizona to visit family friends. My father bid farewell to me at the Phoenix airport as I flew back to Georgia to start the spring semester.

3.) Continued my cultural edification right here in Georgia with the Kite Festival at the BAPS temple in Atlanta, an authentic Southern step show, the amazing Whirling Dervishes, and a wicked drag show. All highlights of my spring semester.

4.) Experienced a winter wonderland in Athens on March 1, as a spring snow storm shut down the State, City, and University. We played in the snow like kids and watched students "shovel" snow with pots and pans.

5.) Taught and chaperoned the UGA at Costa Rica spring break program. Incredible campus right in the middle of the cloud forest.

6.) My sister and Dan attended my yoga teaching certification graduation at Shoshoni in Colorado. Namaste.

7.) A week in California allowed me to hang with my little kid brother in San Diego and attend the NAFSA conference.

8.) Was offered a graduate resident position with the UGA at Oxford program. To Oxford July-December. Woohoo, definitely the academic and personal highlight of 2009!

9.) Traveled and experienced many more European adventures with some of my favorite friends...Ali in Scotland, Kristi, Shane & Jason in Oslo, the Breccia's, Charlie, and Martina in Italy, and Preet in France. I love you all!

10.) Spent a week with my mom, dad, Julie & Dan in Oxford. More love...and lots of wine.

11.) Christmas time was memorable, as I reunited with Charlie, my family, friends, and one bad-ass Santa Clause. We had another Weimers holiday vacation in Winterpark, Colorado and I skied four days. Ahhhhh yeah!

PHOTOS: Taken in the Appalachian mountains in Georgia. The location where we rang in the new decade.

A Bridge to Athens, Georgia

Back to Athens! After an amazing six months in England and an entertaining holiday season in Colorado, it is time to get back to reality.

So, I packed up two fifty pound bags and headed South to the land of academia. A week before school/work resumed, we decided to explore Georgia nature at its finest. I was pleasantly surprised by our first adventure. We visited a state park known for the longest covered wooden bridge in Georgia, Watson Mill Bridge, circa 1885. While the surrounding area was brown and dull, the chill in the air put a little extra kick in our step and we went for a hike. Despite the beautiful blue skies and no snow on the ground, we were the only people on the trail, which we soon realized was a theme to Georgia trails in the winter.