I am sitting at Woolworth's having lunch after shopping for home goods and a few groceries. Lunch is delish. I am fully convinced that I could live in South Africa by Woolies alone. I love everything about it, especially their marketing department. They cater directly to me, I'm just sure of it. I love the colors and lighting in their stores, the fonts - oh the fonts - on their signage, and their grab-and-go food that is fresh and tastes like I made a real effort with dinner. See? Made pour moi!
I met a mom yesterday whose kids go to the American school and are in tennis lessons with Quinn. We talked for a while and she asked me if I have met a lot of people since we moved here. Several people have asked me this and I can't lie...I can't lie because I can't fake the supporting information. The answer is no. I usually follow it up with, "We met our neighbors across the street and really like them, but I haven't met tons of people." (or anyone really) I don't know why this is as I am genetically predisposed to making friends at random times and places (thanks Dad). This mom proceeded to tell me that she thinks South Africans are very hard to make friends with. I'm not sure I'm ready to make that kind of sweeping statement. We miss our friends...the best friends we have ever had...who we met the very first day in our old neighborhood. I guess the thing is, when you make friends in a different country, there are normal courtesies that need to happen. For example, despite the fact that I absolutely LOVE my home country, I don't want to talk to much about it, feeding the common notion that Americans never leave America and think it is the center of the universe...a notion that really bugs me. Have I mentioned how much I hate broad sweeping statements? That's is just an example. Don't get me wrong, there are a million-and-ten very very cool conversations to have especially in a place like SA. It's just interesting that when you are with your own peeps, you automatically start on common ground. I'm American, you're American, we have that in common. You don't realize that platform is there until you live in a different country.
I sincerely hope this doesn't come across as a lack of interest in my current home. That is ABSOLUTELY not the case. I just want to fairly represent the moving overseas thing as it is not all lion cubs and avocado-on-everything (reason number 384 to love SA).
If I am being absolutely truthful, I think some of the glitter and polish is wearing off and I am feeling a little lonely (oh shit...don't cry in a restaurant sitting by yourself, Jessie). The reality is the daily routine goes on no matter where you are...kids go to school, Jake's job is challenging him (to put it politely), and I miss the interactions I had with people on a daily basis. I miss my friend Holly, I miss the morning, afternoon, and evening phone calls with my mom and sister, etc etc etc.
Some people have said, "it has to be hard leaving your job. That's a big change." Nope...I'm good! I can't even say I miss the people because I sill talk to all of them on Facebook! I don't miss the stress or the family/work juggling act one single bit. Although, a trip to a sweet international city and a nice hotel sounds pretty good....but anyway...
Being "foreign" is certainly a challenge at times. I feel so lucky to be here and wouldn't trade it for anything. Life is good - slightly lonely - but so good. Living here is outside of my comfort zone...a comfort zone that is not afraid of many things. If living in a different country doesn't challenge that boundary, I'm calling BS. I will continue to "give it time" to settle in, enjoy the freedom to sit and type a blog and have lunch by myself.
I met a mom yesterday whose kids go to the American school and are in tennis lessons with Quinn. We talked for a while and she asked me if I have met a lot of people since we moved here. Several people have asked me this and I can't lie...I can't lie because I can't fake the supporting information. The answer is no. I usually follow it up with, "We met our neighbors across the street and really like them, but I haven't met tons of people." (or anyone really) I don't know why this is as I am genetically predisposed to making friends at random times and places (thanks Dad). This mom proceeded to tell me that she thinks South Africans are very hard to make friends with. I'm not sure I'm ready to make that kind of sweeping statement. We miss our friends...the best friends we have ever had...who we met the very first day in our old neighborhood. I guess the thing is, when you make friends in a different country, there are normal courtesies that need to happen. For example, despite the fact that I absolutely LOVE my home country, I don't want to talk to much about it, feeding the common notion that Americans never leave America and think it is the center of the universe...a notion that really bugs me. Have I mentioned how much I hate broad sweeping statements? That's is just an example. Don't get me wrong, there are a million-and-ten very very cool conversations to have especially in a place like SA. It's just interesting that when you are with your own peeps, you automatically start on common ground. I'm American, you're American, we have that in common. You don't realize that platform is there until you live in a different country.
I sincerely hope this doesn't come across as a lack of interest in my current home. That is ABSOLUTELY not the case. I just want to fairly represent the moving overseas thing as it is not all lion cubs and avocado-on-everything (reason number 384 to love SA).
If I am being absolutely truthful, I think some of the glitter and polish is wearing off and I am feeling a little lonely (oh shit...don't cry in a restaurant sitting by yourself, Jessie). The reality is the daily routine goes on no matter where you are...kids go to school, Jake's job is challenging him (to put it politely), and I miss the interactions I had with people on a daily basis. I miss my friend Holly, I miss the morning, afternoon, and evening phone calls with my mom and sister, etc etc etc.
Some people have said, "it has to be hard leaving your job. That's a big change." Nope...I'm good! I can't even say I miss the people because I sill talk to all of them on Facebook! I don't miss the stress or the family/work juggling act one single bit. Although, a trip to a sweet international city and a nice hotel sounds pretty good....but anyway...
Being "foreign" is certainly a challenge at times. I feel so lucky to be here and wouldn't trade it for anything. Life is good - slightly lonely - but so good. Living here is outside of my comfort zone...a comfort zone that is not afraid of many things. If living in a different country doesn't challenge that boundary, I'm calling BS. I will continue to "give it time" to settle in, enjoy the freedom to sit and type a blog and have lunch by myself.
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