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Appropriately enough, the first time I remember hearing Jon Foreman's song Southbound Train was while Depreena and I were on the overnight train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.


Oh
I guess they'll say I've grown
I know more than I wanted to know
I've said more than I wanted to say

 I'm headed home
Yeah, but I'm not so sure
That home is a place
You can still get to by train

 So I'm looking out the window
And I'm drifting off to sleep
With my face pressed up against the pane
With the rhythm of my heart
And the ringing in my ears
It's the rhythm of the southbound train.


Coming back to China for what is, in all likelihood, my last year to live here, the lyrics feel even more true.  Beyond my favorite flippant answer of "wherever my phone charger is plugged in," I'm not sure how to answer when people ask where home is.


Western Pennsylvania.

Sichuan.

Bloomington.

My parents' house.

Geneva.

The Powells' house.

Chiang Mai.

Wheaton.



And that's just to start.  I've learned how to feel at home very quickly in new places (too quickly, some might say, when I'm comfortable letting myself into people's houses the second time I'm there!)


Home's not a place you can still get to by train.  Maybe because home's not a place, or because home's not a place, or because life is just complicated like that.  And while it's complicated, I'm also so grateful for all of the places that I get to call home. 


Comments

  1. DiwakarOctober 23, 2018 at 10:17 AM

    Hello Hannah. I am a Pastor from Mumbai, India. I am glad to stop by your profile on the blogger and the blog post. I am also blessed and feel privileged and honoured to get connected with you as well as know you and about your interest in teaching English in China.I have enjoyed going through your blog post. I love getting connected with the people of God around the globe to be encouraged, strengthened and praying for one another. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 39 yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. We also encourage young and he adults from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have you come to Mumbai with your friends to work with us during your vacation time. I am sure you will have a life changing experience. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede.

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