It's been quite a while since I've updated my blog. I have been living in Virginia (Newport News, VA to be precise) about a month and half now and just getting adjusted to everything. Chris got a fantastic job here so here we are.
Anyway, I want to write a longer post about all of our transitions but first off I wanted to give a tip of my hat, so to speak, to the kind of southern hospitality/friendliness that I've experienced. I guess growing up in Minnesota I always expected people to be more reserved and so as I've been here just a little while I have seen the way it can be different. I am blessed by little encounters with people who I barely know. For example:
1. When Chris and I went to a restaurant and were very hungry (hangry!) the waitress gave us a free garlic bread appetizer before our pizza came. She also chatted us up and tried to find out the radio station for us and encouraged us and told us we were going to be good parents as she noted my pregnancy.
2. Just yesterday I was walking in the horrid heat and a man pulled over asking if I wanted a ride. I declined since I was getting close to my destination but I although that could have been creepy I thought it was cool.
3. Again, yesterday when I was at the grocery store and picking up about half a dozen items the lady in front of me who maybe had 10 things asked if I wanted to go ahead of her (and she had two children to boot!). I graciously accepted the offer and was a little stunned about it.
4. Today, at the farmer's market, a lady who sells jam and salsa asked me if my water bottle was full and then gave me a bunch of ice from her cooler in my water bottle as well as a wet washcloth. So sweet.
These are just a few examples and I can easily think of more but I just wanted to say that I really like the "hospitality" culture here and hope that I can learn from it. I do think Chris and I are rather friendly folks overall but I have a tendency to be more reserved and reluctant to show small acts of kindness, friendliness or appreciation like some of these folks have shown me here. I hope to learn to get over my "inwardness" and be more like Jesus to all people and not just my friends.
