A colleague asked me today how long I’d been here and I said 9 months without thinking. Then I counted and it has been ELEVEN months. In a month from now, it will be a year. A full year since we arrived in New Zealand brand new and without a clue. Without a home, or friends, or anything really. All we had were big dreams for our new adventure.
I remember arriving here and feeling so out of my depth, where even the eggs looked different and the air smelled strange and months have gone by and suddenly you walk down the street and you recognise people, you say hello passing by and everything suddenly feels familiar like you’ve always been here but you haven’t.
It’s the strange kind of settling in where it happens without you even noticing. You go from being a complete stranger to suddenly feeling like this is home and you just kinda fit in but you can’t remember the exact moment when it happened.
Suddenly, out of the blue, the days are so mundane. You wake up, you go to work, you make dinner, you go to sleep – wash, rinse repeat. And on the weekends you see your friends and you go for dinner and you watch a movie or you go to yet another playground or a walk in the woods somewhere. It’s not like being on holiday anymore. That new and exciting feeling is starting to fade away and instead, in it’s place is routine. Routine, every day life. Here’s a photo of the view from my desk.
It’s about this time when you start to feel homesick maybe? Everyone says it will happen but if I’m honest, I don’t. I haven’t. I have missed people. I have missed the birth of little human beings, I have missed birthdays and mother’s day and Christmas… Mostly, I have missed people. I have missed my dogs more than I can bear. I have also, on occasion, missed the wine.
I have no regrets about moving. I keep waiting to wake up and feel a sense of panic. EVERYONE tells me that it happens but honestly, this life just feels normal. My son is THRIVING. He has grown like a weed. He has also chopped off ALL his hair. Completely his decision. He asked for two weeks and when I knew he was dead serious, we took him to get it chopped off. It’s his hair and I had always said it would be his decision. So here he is, BIG BOY Oden I’m told.
I am struggling to adapt. I miss his hair but he is over the moon with happiness over it. He loves it. And if I’m honest, I don’t miss the daily fight to brush his hair or the weekly washing it battle that gives Game of Thrones a run for its money. So that’s new with Oden. This kid is kicking ass at life here. His social circle is more happening than mine and we are going to yet another birthday party with him in a couple of weeks. I love it though.
Job wise, things are good. I was recently upgraded in my role to a full time Advisor position. More responsibility, more hours. Though it’s only full time until November so unfortunately it’s not a solution for our residency problem. I STILL love my job though – so there’s that at least.
Otherwise, things are really very normal around here. Not much happens and I’m thankful for that. We live a nice boring life in a small city in a tiny country and it’s exactly what I thought it would be. Peaceful.
Thought it was time for an update when my colleague (that’s you Phil) told me he had noticed that I hadn’t written anything for a while . The truth is, don’t miss the pressure of regular blogging. I like blogging when I feel like it, like now – this felt easy to write. I am loving my blog being so relaxed and without pressure.
Ohhhh, I did get a new tattoo… So that’s new π This was while it was still healing. There is a cool carousel horse on the other side but I’m too lazy to take a photo.
Anyway, off to eat dinner now, while most of you are waking up and getting started on the day. That’s still kinda weird. Chat soon! xx
This is so refreshing to read. Just heard that one of my family members might move to America for a job and it made me anxious, but this post, it doesn’t make me less anxious but it’s so good to read that you guys are doing great and that you love it.I’m so, so happy for you.
Thanks Melissa. You know what, even a bad experience is still worth it so hopefully your family member has a good one but if not, all experiences are worth having. xoxo
I’m Phil!
Hi Phil