Emotional suitcase

Frustrated, comforted, distant, familiar, lonely, happy, uneasy, content. How can one person feel such a variation of contrasting emotions? Well I can second a guess that I am not the only expat who has had to navigate this rollercoaster during their summer break.  It seems extreme, when I see it there in  black in white, but I can honestly say that this is not an exaggeration, in fact I could probably add another half dozen adjectives, to describe my two weeks back home.  I question myself constantly and upon my return to the land of sand I ask, when did finding the familiar comfort of home, make me feel so lost?

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Virtual reality

In this day and age, we have (sadly?) mostly succumbed to social media. I don’t think there are many people I know, that don’t have at least one of the big 3. I did pretty well avoiding the whole thing and only joined Facebook when I left Jersey for Prague, how else would my so called “friends” know what I was up to?! Since starting this blog, I realised that social media does play an important role in promoting, sharing and building content. It has also given me a beautiful online community, most are expats, and we all support each other from all corners of the globe. However, as I posted one for the ‘gram last night, Hubby laughing at my ridiculous angle, not daring to move a muscle. I questioned whether I was creating many of the misconceptions about me and my expat life. So I ask, what is real and what is just virtual reality?

A big fat expat wedding

Firstly, yes your shock and bewilderment is justified. It is me, the one that would pop up weekly in your feeds, spilling my expat guts. So whilst the shock of my return to writing is shared between us, I hope that my first post back, after my little self imposed blogging break, won’t  disappoint.

When I read expat blogs, many delve into the ins and outs of friendships. I myself have fequently mentioned that there is a fine line between the the ones you had in your old life and throwing yourself into potential new ones. I can only speak of my experience, which thus far has been extremely positive. There haven’t been any transisant, right for right now, kind of friendships, so for me they have been a massive part of my journey.

Great expatations

When you start on this crazy expat journey, very few of us have any real idea what lies ahead. There are the few newbies that have grown up travelling the world but to the rest of us there is very little to prepare you.  Like most of life’s experiences, there is a lesson everywhere and I guess its my duty to let anyone considering a life abroad, it may not match your great expatations, but in some cases can actually surpass them.

Passing ‘ships

Back in the Land of Sand, after a month immersed in island life. The weather was spectacular, family time was comforting and the familiarity of my life that was, made the 4 weeks fly quicker than I imagined. However, amongst all the trips to St Ouens, caffeinating my way around The Rock, something surprising, profound and unexpected happened. Something that made me realise that whilst I have continued to connect with people, who were in my life pre expatting, I have obviously become very dependent on technology. Like most expats, we relish in the fact that the world is smaller because of the ability to FaceTime, WhatsApp and Skype. Gone are the days of long distance phone calls and battling with bad connections. Whilst these new processes are crucial to me, it still doesn’t make up for that human connection and I question whether we become too dependent, allowing some relationships to pass us by?

Life is pants!

After my life changing, or not so life changing as it turned out, news last week I very quickly relaxed back into the status quo. I have to say that I was extremely happy that now the choice was made, I could focus forward and not linger on the what ifs of the situation. One thing that became very apparent, during this period of uncertainty, was how people handled this scenario completely differently. Was this usual? Did I handle this the best way that I could? I pondered that latter for some time, I came to the conclusion that yes, there were a couple of inner freak outs towards the end, but on the whole I was the poster girl for facing it head on.

Same but different

There comes a time in every expat’s life, where that ultimate question will inevitably need to be asked. You get to that point, where something or in actual fact nothing, can happen to spark a debate over the dinner table. Pros and con lists are drawn, emotions run high but ultimately there is just one thing that needs to be answered…..Do we stay or do we go?

Live it, love it, grab it

Why would you do that? I don’t understand the appeal? Isn’t that just a real pain that lifestyle? When are you coming home? How long are you doing this for? Questions after question, all very typical of people that find out that you are an expat. It is so far from their comprehension, that they struggle to engage with you on any discussions about your weird, non conventional life abroad. My answer is, do I care what others think?

Fall for Galle: Sri Lanka Part 2

I have been back in the Land of Sand a little over a week and I haven’t stopped gushing about our Sri Lankan adventure, to anyone that will listen. I think I have convinced a few folk to take the plunge and go visit but just case you are yet to decide, whether this tropical, untouched country is for you, let me take you on the second part of my round up, moving away from the beach bliss  and onto a historical town. Why did Hubby and I fall head over heels for Galle? 

Location, Location, Location

Unfortunately we can’t all have Phil and Kirsty at our disposal, so when it comes to choosing a new expat location, do we always have the expertise to make the right choice? I know that in both our moving decisions, we have been led by the opportunity, rather than an emotional or situational need to move. Luckily for us it worked out, but I do look back and wonder were we just to blasé about the whole thing, what if it hadn’t worked?