Assimilation

The tasks were become familiar.
I no longer felt like a person wearing new clothes,
for the first time …
conspicuous,
stiff,
terminally self conscious.

I learned the names of their children,
wives ,
husbands –
building a database …..
….  where they had been before
and how long they’d been here.
It seemed to be working.

People were more willing
or
perhaps I was not so infuriatingly earnest.
Less like a zealous convert,
eager to share salvation.

Co-workers began to talk of topics other than work
some remained distant
but
I seem to have passed the test,
if not popular –
considered all right.
Belonging : a wonderful feeling.