Ramblings on Culture Shock

A couple years ago, we moved our family from Michigan to Texas in order to find work.  The construction industry is all but dead in Michigan, so we had to go where the work was.  It has been difficult for me to accept the cultural differences of my new home.  It's a bit hard to put into words, but here are a few pictures that describe the change.

Meet Ray Vander Laan.  A Bible History teacher at my children's old school in Michigan. 

Passionate.  Knowledgeable.  Spiritual.


Here's our life now...

Notice any differences?

Hairstyles from my prior life in normalville.

Texas hairstyles.

Accessorizing.

Texas version of accessorizing.  

This is actually the governor's wife.

True story.

Tree.

Texas tree.

Road.

 Texas road.

Lawn.

Texas lawn.

Dog.

Texas dog.
Sorry.  I just don't get Chihuahuas.
I've tried squinting.  Tilting my head sideways.  Looking out of the corner of my eye.  Still ugly.  My theory to explain their prevalence in the pet world is that they are the fruitcake of dogs.  Nobody likes fruitcake, yet they still exist because folks buy them as gifts even though they'd never eat one themselves.

As it turns out, there are a lot of fruitcakes in Texas.

I miss home.