Page 49 of The Secret to Belonging

you are not homesick

but thinking of home can make you sick

with fear

with grief

with anger

Karl-Peter’s cure is to embrace

the obstacles and opportunities exchange provides

you visualize California

your family shrinking

until they disappear under the dot on the globe

you visualize Alison embracing her new Italian life

vita italiana

you visualize Maura embracing her new Norwegian life

norsk liv

yes, you think

ja da

you visualize yourself throwing your arms open wide

TO (TWO)

by the end of August

you can

make simple conversation

answer simple questions

transact simple purchases

(though money terrifies you)

you have

woven a simple mat

knitted a simple scarf

cooked a simple middag

(fish cakes and potatoes)

you may still fall exhausted into bed each night