Re-entry. It isn’t what you’d think…..

It has been a mix of emotions for me as we left Laos a month and a half ago. While I am incredibly happy to see friends and spend time in Northern California’s gorgeous late summer weather again, little did I expect just how challenging reentry would be. It’s been such a reverse culture shock to put it mildly.

It’s such a huge contrast going from an undeveloped country where anything goes, and people/time are incredibly friendly, easy going and as flexible as a rubber band, to a country where everything is heavily regulated and being organized and punctual is a valued trait. One other big difference I notice is how free and fulfilling life can be in Luang Prabang, even though material things are far more limited, and even the most mundane task can be full of challenges. There, it seems, people live with less stress, less stuff and less worries in general. Here, decisions occupy a lot of time and energy because there are a million choices for everything – shampoo, soap, and more! There are endless things and places to spend your money on whether or not you need it. This means more work, energy and time to chase and maintain this all American lifestyle of consumerism. I’ve noticed people are so much more stressed and this has created even more stress and unsurprisingly distance between families and friends. “Living in the moment” is a familiar mantra but is most likely an abstract and unattainable practice simply because there’s no moment available in the day to “truly live in the moment”. Everything is constantly running at a fast rate of speed, leaving you feeling like you can never catch up. I admit I love going to the supermarket and being able to find everything I want in one spot and going home to a functional kitchen to cook that isn’t 90 million degrees. I love being able to get what I want or need when I need it. That I don’t have to fly or ask someone to get it from another country. However, there’s also something to be said about the markets in Laos where real maple syrup is rare but nearly everything is made by hand from a local weaver/seamstress and you have to wait for specific produce/fruits/honey at the morning market to be in season before you can purchase it. And the surprises we had with the local fruits that we never ate before. The pineapple season might have been my favorite as it was best tasting pineapple I’ve ever had.

I’ve asked Ari which he enjoys being here in California or Laos. His response has been here but also that he does miss Laos a lot.

I have stopped having panic attacks when I go into a large store, or am in a large crowd. I am LOVING being able to go to Soul Cycle. It is in that dark room, on a bicycle that doesn’t go anywhere, to be able to reconnect with myself. I was able to do that in Laos just by sitting outside my house listening to the sounds of my Village, or when I was working in one of the many remote villages. Those simple sounds. Dogs barking, chickens with their lame attempt at a cock-a-doodle-doo, bad karaoke, and that damn cow bell. If I never hear another cow bell it won’t be soon enough. I miss the mountains, the temples, the monks every morning with their chant when they begin their Alms giving rituals….It is taking time to get reacquainted with the sounds here. The traffic, the sirens, the noise in general. I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself, to let things come as they will and do. But I’m slowly getting there.

Clearly there’s a positive and negative side to every place but to live a life of enrichment, it should be noted that there has to be a sense of community, empathy and space/time to create and reconnect with people and nature and I think I have experienced the best of both worlds.