Learning to Embrace the Awkwardness

The Frau is still acclimating to America. It’s hard for her not to feel like a foreigner in her own country when she takes Toddler M to school and the school is closed. Remember that American holiday called Martin Luther King Day? Neither did The Frau.

In other news, Toddler M’s preschool had both spirit day (wear your favorite sport team’s jersey) and pajama day last week. Mr. Frau was pretty excited about spirit day and told Toddler M that she could finally wear that beautiful Blackhawks sweatshirt he got her last year. And The Frau was hopeful about pajama day (despite its previous rejection by Toddler M) since it would mean less work getting Toddler M dressed.

But Toddler M had neither spirit nor desire to wear pajamas to school. So once again, for the second and third time respectively, she was the strange little re-pat kid wearing size 104 H&M skinny jeans and polka dotted blouses in a world of 3T and 4T Bears jerseys and snowman foot pajamas. In that little preschool, she alone represented the awkwardness of the entire re-pat universe.

Unfortunately, The Frau has decided that her little family pretty much won’t fit in anywhere, in any country, for the rest of their lives. Expat author Robin Pascoe’s book, Homeward Bound, a great read about repatriation, pretty much confirmed The Frau’s conclusion, so there it is, yodelers. Expats will always be foreigners both at home and abroad.

And there’s nothing we can do about it except embrace our awkwardness and wear our ties and dress pants on “wear your pajamas to work day.” (Which by the way, Mr. Frau’s company had for the second time and which, by the way, Mr. Frau purposely wore a tie and dress pants for in order to defy.) See, yodelers? There is no hope at all in The Frau Family of ever being normal.

C’est la vie. Oder?

My European looking, American bought wardrobe

When I was in Chicago over the 4th, my mother-in-law took me shopping at Oakbrook Mall. Three of my favorite stores are all together there--The Limited, The GAP, and Express.

Since I moved to Europe, my shopping habits are much different. While I don't consciously look for clothes in black and white, that's what I always end up getting.

After my shopping trip with my mother-in-law, I had acquired:
1. A black, white and tan skirt
2. A white shirt
3. An off-white shirt
4. A black and off-white shirt

It all sounds a bit boring, but my European colleagues have been very complimentary of my new clothes, so my fashion tastes must be adjusting well. Today, for instance, I wore a shirt I never would have worn 5 years ago (it is very European looking--long and flared)and got 2 compliments so far--one from a German woman and one from a Swiss guy.

But the best part is, I got all my European looking clothes at American prices. And that is really the icing on the cake.