What a life This blog is a very nice introduction to your new assignment. You've thought this through and it sounds as if you've made the right move. Plus I'm glad your fears didn't grab a hold of you. Life is uncertain but we must press on and squeeze every experience we can. Good luck and eager to read more.
Congratulations on your marriage!!! I can't wait to read that blog. And congratulations on your new job which you are eminently qualified for. I hope that both you and your husband have plenty of opportunities to get to know Vienna and the rest of Europe well...and he with China as you already know that well. And I'm glad you confronted and overcame your fears of terrorists...good choice! The terrorist attack on the Brussels Airport hit near home to me. I was there last April and will be there again in October. I also lived in Brussels from 1984 to 1995, during which our family was confronted with the bombing of our Support Activity and the threat arising from the first Gulf War...our kids' school bus had armed troops on board. I suspect that our war against terrorism will last a long time. And welcome back to TB after over a year.
goos articles! I enjoy reading your articles very much. You are such an excellent writer. The feelings in this articles are so true and I am sure many including me who for whatever reasons haven't found a like-minded person can resonate with yours. Different paths being taken. Maybe life is rarely predictable. I hail from Changsha, Hunan, China. I noticed from one of your articles that you were offered a summer job there but got canceled by the government. Changsha is a nice city!
goos articles! I enjoy reading your articles very much. You are such an excellent writer. The feelings in this articles are so true and I am sure many including me who for whatever reasons haven't found a like-minded person can resonate with yours. Different paths being taken. Maybe life is rarely predictable. I hail from Changsha, Hunan, China. I noticed from one of your articles that you were offered a summer job there but got canceled by the government. Changsha is a nice city!
Decisions A warm welcome, generosity and hospitality...a country that feels like a good fit. My husband and I quit our jobs in 2007 and traveled for 10 months. We thought we'd get it out of our system and go back to work. We did go back to work but we'll never get traveling out of our system. You describe the same thing we have experienced....most people don't understand our way of life. You've found like minded friends here on travel blog. We are your people, we understand you. You'll finish your masters sooner than you think and it will allow you to move back to China or some other location. The time will go quickly. Good luck. Keep the blogs coming.
I would agree with you that most Americans... aren't very interested in what happens outside our country. After we returned to the States after 18 years in Europe, our children had the most difficulty adapting. They were in elementary school, and could only share their overseas experiences. The other children didn't want to hear about it, and the teacher soon told them not to say anything about their earlier life. For ourselves, we only had one couple who enjoyed overseas travel...they visited us several times and toured Europe with us. Anyway, you seemed to have learned a lot from this trip; helping you to identify the issues that have left you unsatisfied with your present circumstances. We pray that the next two years will not only be fulfilling professionally and educationally, but also personally.
Great blog! Written with style. The weather stayed sunny until Nov. 18. (Nov 19: pollution of the charts again) Everyone wishes the foreign political leaders could have stayed longer in Bj.
China or U.S. Americans are, perhaps, xenophobic. We have been told for so long that America is the greatest country in the world, that we fail to recognize virtue anywhere else. I was doing work for Chrysler during the time that it was allied with Mercedes. Workers were encouraged to hop across the pond in both directions to help bond the two companies. Germans were anxious to come, but Americans were more reluctant to go. Equilibrium was never achieved and the two companies separated. Not nearly enough people have achieved the cosmopolitan outlook you have, they are out there; keep looking.
A friend named Nick I write this with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. We wrote a similar blog about two years ago about our 14 year old Corgi named Miss Lillie. At this point we still don't have another dog as it is hard to move on after losing a cherished family member. I'm ready now to open my heart to another four legged beast so I'm sure the right one will come along soon. Thank you for writing this wonder tribute and sharing it with us.
Thank You for Your Tribute to Nick Hon, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your most loving tribute to Nick. He touched so many people during his five years with us, and I never saw that coming when he adopted us. Sometimes life is not about the direction that we think we have to go, and Nick was the best teacher of that fact that I will ever have. He can never be replaced--his role was special and unique and unquestionably one of the bigger events of my life.
I'm so sorry you lost such a good friend... what a lovely tribute. It brought tears to my eyes as I thought of my dog Bonnie, a Lhasa Apso who is seven, and what it will be like when she is gone.
Love and Its Tender Expression The love he gave is special, but your wonderfully expressive writing is also very special. We would not know the half of it without your wonderful words.
The magic of Christmas gave Nick a name and a home Merritt, this is a wonderful tribute to a wonderful dog who gave so much love to his special family . I hope that this tribute will help heal the broken hearts of all who knew Nick. Saving an abandoned dog shows how special your parents are. This is said because it is true - not because they are my brother and sister-in-law.
wonderful The pictures are spectacular. Wonderfull blog
My friends pushed me into buying a flight ticket through Flysky.ro and I await for my vacation time \ ^ o ^ / I can't wait to see as much as possible of this beautiful craft
We are who we are and you are not alone At times in my life I struggled with some of the same feelings and emotions you have so wonderfully described in your blog. I've often felt I was the square peg unable to fit in the round hole. I never felt bad about that but knew from the age of ten that I was a bit different and would end up on a different path. It took me a bit longer to be true to myself than it did you and I applaud you for taking the path less taken at this point in your life. As an older woman I can tell you -- your life has been and will continue to be full of riches. Your global experiences are to be cherished and embraced. Life is meant to be shared and you will find someone who is like minded to share it with you. These things don't always happen on our time line. Just wait... I do believe when the time is right --and both of you are ready it will happen. In the meantime, enjoy that job, enjoy those Thanksgiving dinners on Mexican beaches, living in China, making it to Everest base camp, riding camels in Petra and all the other dreams that may be on your bucket list. This web site is full of like minded traveling, gypsy, nomads seeking that next amazing experience and we will be here to support you and read each and every one of your wonderful blogs. Your photos will either transport us to places we must visit or provide us that warm feeling inside and a trip down memory lane of lands we have been to and long to see again. Thanks for sharing. I truly believe you are being saved for something special. Sincerely, MJ
The Road Not Taken Sometimes Looks Greener. . . When I read about your worldly adventures I am certain that there are many other readers who say: if only I could have done this! Life is always an unexpected journey. We try to plan, but we often flex. From my advanced perspective, I am so glad that you had had these wonderful experiences. They needed to come first. You can't do these things with a family, at least not if you want to be with your family! Your connection with another like-minded individual will happen. You just don't know when and must be patient and optimistic in the mean time. Have faith! Much love, Mom
Thank you for sharing such a personal issue... which I believe is very appropriate within the TB community. I Follow many that share a similar choice to travel and live in foreign lands with similar consequences. I sensed that your move back to the U.S. was to find love and return to a "normal life."
Many (most) Americans can't relate to someone who has lived overseas. I lived most of my life overseas, and was lucky enough to marry right after college and take my new wife to Thailand for my first job. We shared almost 3 years there and then 18 years in Germany and Belgium, where our kids were born. My kids had a terrible time moving the the U.S. for the first time when they were young...no one could relate to their sharing of what they thought were everyday experiences. Mention any experience living in Europe and you get shunned quickly. Our circle of friends in the U.S. also narrowed to those who visited us in Europe and had a broader perspective. I hope you find such a group of friends. Universities would seem to be a natural place to find such friends, but even there those with an international perspective are a narrow subset. My sister, also a Third Culture Kid, and her husband work with the international students at Clemson to find that fellowship. And you have mentioned your faith...certainly an group with international interest with the further advantage of shared values. So don't give up looking for that special person as you are also a very special person!
Middle East trip Very impressive commentary, Merritt. I was moved by your words. You have a God-given gift to put into words what your eyes see and your heart feels.
Our Amazing Trip Merritt,
You did a wonderful job summarizing our trip. It felt like I was taking the journey once again as I read through your blog. Your descriptions and opinions were very appropriate, and I am so glad that we had this experience together. If only I hadn't taken over 1800 photos, I would be farther along in getting them available for people to see! However, I am now down to just over 900 pictures. Once I can cut that in half, I will be good to go!
Love,
Mom
Wonderful! Merritt, I loved this summary of your trip. I'd gladly go float with you in the Dead Sea- in a very modest swim suit! The reflections about Jordan feeling lest military gave me new perspective about what's happening in Amman. The way to worship separately during worship gave me pause for thought about what it means to commune with God. The piano in the hotel anecdote was a good one- not always sure what's happening! Finally, I'm in full support of this idea to have person to person diplomacy as a way to break down fears. Thank you for your sharing.
Long time No see~~ Merritt Wilson I read your itinerary about Israel trip with your Mom, so wonderful and meaningful trip. Everyone in this world will pray for "PEACE" and "Happy life with their family". Bravo! your life. unluckily, I can say, it is the clam before the storm in the Korean peninsula. :(
Great Writing Again and again, I find your writing informative and inspiring. It seems that I can feel what you are feeling. Thank you so much for sharing.
Family--An Anchor It's not always easy to be part of a family, but I'm glad to know that we were able to tip the scale and help you make a hard decision about where you should be. Friends are also family, and sometimes we are able to have a work family. There are many families, but the real family(ies) is(are) the one(s) that love(s) you unconditionally. Love, Mom
I hope that this blog of my experiences living and traveling abroad is able to facilitate multicultural understanding for those who don't have the time or opportunity to travel. If I may make one small difference in the world, I hope it can be one that helps us to understand that the multitude of small things we have in common bind the world so much more tightly than the seemingly bigger things that currently divide us. Our individual cultures and history should be celebrated--yes--but difference of opinion should never be the source of conflict. Rather, it's an opportunity to learn and grow. ... full info
D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
What a life
This blog is a very nice introduction to your new assignment. You've thought this through and it sounds as if you've made the right move. Plus I'm glad your fears didn't grab a hold of you. Life is uncertain but we must press on and squeeze every experience we can. Good luck and eager to read more.