Home Away from Home

It's been a minute, but I'm back.

This week I am switching things up a bit. I want to talk about something I experienced again about a month ago- something that many fellow TCKs might relate to, and others might find curious:

That feeling of being completely at home in a place you've never been.

At the end of May, I went on a mission trip to Tanzania, in East Africa, and it was easily one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I had never been to Tanzania before, but from the moment I arrived, I felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity. It's hard to explain unless you have experienced it yourself, but here is my best attempt.

Driving from the airport to where we were staying reminded me so much of Niger - minus the greenery (if you know, you know). The roadside fruit stands, the chaotic traffic, the little boutiques (stores), and even the bumpy roads brought back vivid memories of home. And the kindness and hospitality of the Maasai instantly reminded me of so many people my family knew in Niger.

Tanzania felt like another puzzle piece added to my ever-growing picture of "home."

It reminded me that home is more than just one place. It's the food and smells of Niger, the warmth of the Maasai in Tanzania, my community in Greensboro, and my family's traditions that stretch across continents.

On another level, this trip was refreshing in a unique way. It was the first mission trip I've been on where more than half the team were MKs (missionary kids), long-term missionaries, or had significant missions experience. That dynamic was clear from the very beginning - everyone was flexible, willing to help, and completely unbothered by the little inconveniences. We each experienced small moments that reminded us of home, in our own ways.

So here's a gentle reminder:

Home doesn't have to have a singular definition.

It can be a mix of places, people, smells, languages, and feelings. It's normal to feel at home in a country you've never been to. It's normal to feel at home in conversations with fellow TCKs.

I've experience that time and time again - and if you have too, you're not alone.