I wore pants to church today. I wore pants to church all the time in Sharjah, but today I'm in SE Idaho where such a thing is generally Not Done. I wasn't even trying to be subversive about it - of all the outfits swimming around in my suitcase right now, a pants outfit was what I deemed most suitable for today.
Even though I wasn't being subversive, I was still nervous when I walked into church. But the most reaction I got (to my face) were a few longer-than-normal stares, an overly friendly greeting from a sister missionary, and a hearty "we're glad you're here!" + shoulder-hug from one of my MIL's friends. (Though the latter may have happened even if I'd been wearing a dress.)
Pants aside, it's been interesting to be back in American (well, SE Idaho) Mormondom. I'm in awe of the vast chapel and purpose-built spaces, though the quirks of our villa in Sharjah did mean we had a huge Nursery room with a majlis couch and an attached bathroom. It's weird to not respond to a speaker's "Good morning!" with an out-loud "Good morning!" of our own, as is tradition in Sharjah. It's also weird to have politics at church again. The church in the UAE is probably one of the most apolitical congregations you will ever see - we're all from different countries so there's no use griping to anyone else, and within the UAE itself there is no visible political squabbling to discuss.
It was a glorious thing to be Mormon in America last week, though, because we sang "America, the Beautiful" for the closing hymn. I haven't sung that song in probably a decade. To sit there and sing it out loud with my girls and do that thing where you choke up at the "who more than self, their country loved; and mercy more than life!" part - wow! It's good to be here after so long away.
