Well, this is the start of year 6 for us here in the Middle East. And, seriously, I approach this year with mixed emotions.
It is nice to be 'home' with our pets and our friends. But, every year when I come back from summer holiday, yet another friend has moved away. It's great getting to meet and be friends with so many amazing women, but it's very hard saying 'see ya later' to people each year. I recently went to a big 'women's meeting' where I sat with a group of ladies, two I knew and the rest were total strangers to me. I did my best to be polite, happy and helpful to the newcomers, but for the first time I found myself not wanting to spend too much effort reaching out. A good friend and I left the event/meeting the moment it was over and went and enjoyed a quiet coffee together. I keep handing out my email and number to ladies new to the area, but I'm just feeling down like, "Hey, am I going to just have to say good-bye to you too?"
My munchkins are happy and successful in school here which is a wonderful thing. Yet I really wonder how it would affect them to live their entire childhoods in a country that they can never fully call 'home'? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? When we came here, we thought 2 years for sure, maybe 3. Things have sure changed as we begin year SIX!
I find myself constantly in need of 're-focusing'. Meaning that I frequently have to remind myself about what is good here, what I like about being here. As I think about the home country, I have to remind myself that the grass always looks greener on the other side. But wait! That's right! There is grass on the other side! You see? I need to re-focus...constantly.
The husband and I are seriously beginning to contemplate a return to the home country. We are at a point in the munchkins' schooling that this is the 'do or die' year. We either go back this year or we are committed to staying here another 6 years until we get them both off to university. That's a daunting thought. Do we really want to live here for a total of 12 years? I'm just not sure.
Within the next few weeks we are going to spend a weekend out on a beach and snorkeling. The fish and sea turtles are one of the things I love about this place. I told the husband that if we are going to stay here than we need to spend more time enjoying being here. Last year, with Munchkin #2's rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis was a rough year for me. We didn't do much roaming around. We need to do things differently this year.
And, if pursuing fun stuff and enjoying family time doesn't help, than maybe it will be time to go home.
Peace.
It is nice to be 'home' with our pets and our friends. But, every year when I come back from summer holiday, yet another friend has moved away. It's great getting to meet and be friends with so many amazing women, but it's very hard saying 'see ya later' to people each year. I recently went to a big 'women's meeting' where I sat with a group of ladies, two I knew and the rest were total strangers to me. I did my best to be polite, happy and helpful to the newcomers, but for the first time I found myself not wanting to spend too much effort reaching out. A good friend and I left the event/meeting the moment it was over and went and enjoyed a quiet coffee together. I keep handing out my email and number to ladies new to the area, but I'm just feeling down like, "Hey, am I going to just have to say good-bye to you too?"
My munchkins are happy and successful in school here which is a wonderful thing. Yet I really wonder how it would affect them to live their entire childhoods in a country that they can never fully call 'home'? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? When we came here, we thought 2 years for sure, maybe 3. Things have sure changed as we begin year SIX!
I find myself constantly in need of 're-focusing'. Meaning that I frequently have to remind myself about what is good here, what I like about being here. As I think about the home country, I have to remind myself that the grass always looks greener on the other side. But wait! That's right! There is grass on the other side! You see? I need to re-focus...constantly.
The husband and I are seriously beginning to contemplate a return to the home country. We are at a point in the munchkins' schooling that this is the 'do or die' year. We either go back this year or we are committed to staying here another 6 years until we get them both off to university. That's a daunting thought. Do we really want to live here for a total of 12 years? I'm just not sure.
Within the next few weeks we are going to spend a weekend out on a beach and snorkeling. The fish and sea turtles are one of the things I love about this place. I told the husband that if we are going to stay here than we need to spend more time enjoying being here. Last year, with Munchkin #2's rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis was a rough year for me. We didn't do much roaming around. We need to do things differently this year.
And, if pursuing fun stuff and enjoying family time doesn't help, than maybe it will be time to go home.
Peace.
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Be peaceful and respectful.