“Sometimes I feel the fear of uncertainty stinging clear”
It’s strange to just pick up and go, to leave town
and start over. Uncertainty abounds. I have moved past the strangeness, I
think, and am embarking on becoming acclimated to the south. There is an
adjustment period taking place in a subtle way for me. We learned in business school
about the honeymoon period that occurs after culture shock transpires. When
people relocate to new countries, for example, the elation of novelty and
newness a different culture eventually wears. What happens next is most crucial
in determining a long-term cultural adjustment and whether a successful
transition is to occur. Does moving halfway across the country constitute
culture shock?
Texas is a magnificent
state. Between the distant borders, circularly canniness highways and
sap-filled trees are glorious sunrises, distinct cultural traits and
decoratively endless drives. The part about living in Austin that enthralls me
most is all the activity going on around me. There’s a gym on nearly every
block. Every day there are bicyclers trekking the bike lanes on the main
highways. These men and women coast along as if they have nowhere else to be.
Sometimes they take up the entire lane, annoyingly disrupting traffic. A quick
stop at any supermarket on a Saturday will find one engaging with a dozen Texas
Longhorn fans. The cashiers wear burnt orange T-shirts and talk about the
football team as if they were part of the family. I suppose this isn’t so
strange. Go to any local store in New York and you are bound to find lingering
overzealous Jets and Giants fans (and where I come from, the nearest
professional sports stadium is at least an hour and a half drive). Austin is
Longhorn country, for sure. The Longhorns even have their own television
station. There is pride in cheering for the local university here, and that I
can appreciate. I have always wanted to be a part of a real college sports
town. With that, I didn’t realize I have would also become entranced by the
lively activity of this city.
So, when does the
excitement of endless activity begin to wear down? How long before Austin is…well,
just Austin. I think it will take a while for me. I don’t quite feel settled in
yet. I feel I have a lot to learn about this place, these people, the local
spots. I’m looking forward to
discovering some decent tennis courts and biking the park trails I know exist
around every other corner. The excitement of live music, ethnic food and
gloating college sports fans is going to fill my future highlights. I can be
certain about that.
“Whatever tomorrow
brings, I’ll be there with open arms and open eyes”
