At the end of a journey, there always seems to be some sort of emotional upheaval for me. Getting to know new places and people is thrilling, but most of the reflection and growth comes after the trip. The flashbacks to meaningful moments, the realizations and comparisons between what is new and what is old. Re-entry into "normal" with the addition of all that was learned and experienced during the travel.
Re-entry has always been the most difficult part for me. One can say I am not very good at it. I left Germany after studying in the States, and lost my heart in Spain several years later. I get used to a new place. And I want to stay. That tucks at my heart. It's a blessing to be comfortable in several worlds, but it does feel like a curse at times too.
I am very interested how my re-entry after taking this journey into more of the tech culture will go for me in the classroom. At this point, being tired from travel and work done is at the forefront of my thinking. But ideas and thoughts linger, waiting to be mulled over and adapted into my new normal.
When I get over my "jet-lag", rested and ready to gear up for the semester, I am excited to see how these new impressions and tools will work their way into my teaching.
That will be another journey worth taking :)
So glad to have had you on this learning journey with us, my friend! I always love reading your blog posts: so thoughtful and wise...and funny. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm always available to talk tech if you have questions or wonderings, okay? Blessings on the journey...