Reflection - the three "H"s

Sitting in Bob and Lorraine's 2nd floor appt waiting to go to lunch, Lorriane and I chatted about our day's events. During the course of our conversation she mentioned "the three Hs". Not knowing her reference, I asked for explaination.

The three Hs refer to an article she read about the stages of adjustment when you live in a totally different culture. First, there's the Honeymoon period where everything is new and exciting and wonderful. Then, there's the Hostility period, where the realities of life set in and the differences are so difficult to deal with. Last, there's the time when the culture starts to feel like Home.

We can both relate to the stages only too well, and although they have been and will be here longer than I will, I couldn't help but think there have been moments where I experienced the last step in my first trip during December. I can certainly relate to the first and second step in both trips...some days more than others on the 2nd step!

It's such a comfort having other Western teachers here in the apartment building to share the victories and the defeats of living here in Wuhan, China. Also, knowing that the team at the International Educational Department is only a short walk away from my apartment is very, very comforting. They have jumped in and solved problems that I never could have on my own, not knowing how processes run or speaking Chinese. I can't imagine how terrible, isolated and unequipped to face each day I would be without them.

Knowing I'd had a lot of the 2nd step in my day, later that same day Lorraine came up to my apartment with hot coco and two Chinese cookies...talk about comforting! Thank you, Lorraine, for your friendship...and introducing me to those wonderful cookies!! :)