What Would Surprise Me?

 

Kristin, over at Going Country, posted this question to her readers.

She asked, “What about your current life would be the most surprising to a younger you?” What a perfect question. It made me think. I love questions that make me think.

As a young girl, I did not dream of becoming an American. I did think of visiting it someday. After all, in my native language it is commonly called 美国 (meiguo) or “The Beautiful Country.” Who would not wish to visit a country so named? Since I immigrated and became a citizen I am called 美国人 (měiguó rén). It was not something planned or dreamed of. It simply occurred.

I am a Doctor of Computer Science. That of itself is not so surprising. Since I was raised with an emphasis on education, it is reasonable to expect that I pursued it. Early, I had a knack for all things computer so of course, that was the direction of my education. Since I was learning my occupation, I wanted to know all I could learn of it.

I dreamed of being a mother. That dream has been fulfilled. I have three children. That is not surprising but it did lead to teaching. That would surprise a younger me. I would not have thought of how satisfying it would be for me. I was introduced during my doctoral studies. Medical doctors do residency, Computer doctors teach so I became staff at Tokyo University. As my children began attending school, I found my schedule to be conflicting with raising my children so I acquired my credentials and began teaching in the high school on base. I loved it. So much so that I believe my younger self would be far beyond surprised at how much I love it.

I think another surprise would be how much I have traveled. Young me thought of traveling little. I did go to Vietnam and Hong Kong so it is not that I had not traveled some. Now my travels include Japan, South Korea, Spain, France, and Italy. Later this summer I plan to add England and Germany to the list. I never dreamed of traveling so much.

The biggest surprise for a younger me is that I am a naval officer's wife. This is a big thing. It is common to marry a common soldier. It is prestigious to marry an officer. It is more prestigious to be married to a ship's captain. I am the latter. I do find a small bit of evil joy reminding my brother's wife of this when I visit Mother and Father since she is so pretentious and it humbles her just a bit.

There are many small surprises but the question was what would most surprise. The biggest surprise of all is the very blessed life I have lived so far. It has not been perfect, but the hilltops have been much higher than the valleys have been deep.