to know and be known

So I've been in another country for about a week now and there are a number of things I can't figure out. In varying degrees of importance. I will let you decide which ones are important or not. 1. On the microwave there is a button for meat pies but not popcorn. 2. On the roads they don't have rest stops or Quick Trips. How can a whole country be without a QT?!! 3. What they call the bathroom seems totally crude to me (and I think poop jokes are funny). But the thing that is really occupying my mind is the school system. I have a ton of questions. At home I would call up some girls, who's opinions I value, and bounce some ideas off them. I'd do research. I'd ask for prayer from my bible study. A whole lot of things to figure out the best plan. But here...I'm kinda on my own. And I think other women feel the same way. We just don't know how to find each other.
The other day I got a call from a woman I met 6 days ago. She wanted to go on a walk and ask my advice. I felt flattered and honored that someone I hardly knew valued my opinion. We chatted, bounced ideas off one another and...really didn't solve any problems. But I felt more like me. I love the camaraderie between women. The kinship that forms simply, if you have kids similar ages and you don't mind how the other mommy parents on the playground.
It is funny how you get to the fundamentals of who you really are when things are taken away. For instance, it has been abundantly clear to me that I am a crazy extrovert. I feel energized when I'm with others. I love to learn about new people and hear their stories. I love to see what makes people laugh. I love to see what makes people passionate.
While I totally get that there isn't anything wrong with being an extrovert, there is some huge downfalls.... or downfalls for my poor husband who is probably so tired of me saying, "wanna chat?" Anywho... I know what I should be doing. I should be praying more. Journalling more. Reading the bible more. But I have been known to go to others before I go to God. And I have been guilty of loving the bible study group and more than loving the study. On more than one occasion I have enjoyed the conversation about the material rather than the material itself. So I feel that I have an opportunity to change. I feel God saying, "Hey there. I'm fun too. Learn about my story. See what makes me laugh. Love what makes me passionate."
So...to the desire to be around more people I say, "Ehh..." and vow to be around God more. I am reminded of His word in Psalm 73:26..."God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." God is all I need and if I truly believe that I can ask Him for the advice I would seek from others. I can chat with Him and learn about Him. And what a joy to know the being that created me to be me. The one who created me to have this desire for others. And to seek what He wants me to do with that desire.