Displaced

The first step towards entering a new culture is taking one step out of the present one.

In anticipation of having our townhouse rented for July 1st (which hasn't happened yet), we've packed up our belongings and put them in storage in Laura's parents' basement. Packing up and storing one's belongings is a major undertaking -- and one that sobers us to the reality of just how much stuff can accumulate over time. Anyone who has moved recently can empathize with us, I'm sure.

Of course, we aren't complaining. In Mozambique, as in many parts of the world, people would welcome our problem of having sore muscles because of having to haul so many belongings. Instead, their problems are much more fundamental.

Many don't worry about whether or not their stainless steel bread basket matches the decorative theme of the kitchen. Many are too busy worrying about where to get the bread to stick in the basket.

Renting our townhouse is a critical step in our journey: since we have now both left our jobs, we are not receiving any income, but strangely enough the bank is still insisting that we continue with our mortgage payments every month.

Our empty house is a good reminder that our journey is about to begin; the fact that it's not rented yet a reminder that the road ahead will not always be smooth.

We're now homeless, and will be for the next two months -- until we finally get to move into our apartment in Maputo on September 1st. In the meantime, we'll be moving around quite a lot:

• First, we're staying at Laura's parents' house until we leave Canada on July 9;

• Then we'll be staying for two and a half weeks in Greenwood, Indiana at OMS International's headquarters participating in a cross-cultural training seminar;

• From there, we'll fly to Maputo and think that we're staying with Larry and Susan Weil for a little over a month until our apartment is available.
  

All the while, we're living out of suitcases. Already we can't find some of the things we need. I know I packed that somewhere...

What a relief it will be in September when we have a home of our own, and can unpack these bags!

Further Reading:

Our friend Dave recently sent us a link to a website at which you can enter your salary and receive an estimate of your global wealth ranking.