What I have learnt as an Expat.
I have loved being an Expat, but as our family circumstances have changed, so has my attitude to living away. When we first left Australia, it was with three children and a 2-year contract in Vietnam. Seven years later we have only our youngest child left at home and she will soon be finished school and flying the nest. It’s a significant change, and its makes me feel sad and unsettled. In order to reframe my perspective and focus on the positives, I have been thinking about what I have learnt from the Expat experience and how it has shaped me to be the person I am now;
– I have learnt that I can walk into a room and start talking to strangers.
– I have learnt to appreciate my own company.
– I have learnt that as long as my children settle and are happy, then im ok.
– I have learnt that friends are invaluable, and as an Expat your friends become your family.
– I have learnt its possible to make a best friend in a week.
– I have learnt to be non-judgmental. You come into contact with so many people of all ages, races and religions and at the end of the day; they are just the same as you…looking for a friend.
– I have learnt that embracing the country you live in makes your life richer.
– I have learnt that my family ground me. I have a whole new appreciation for them, and I miss being part of family events.
– I have learnt my husband is my support and greatest ally. We rely on each other, especially in the first few months of a move.
– I have learnt that Australia really is a long way from the rest of the world.
– I have learnt how to make Vietnamese Pho soup.
– I have learnt that there are some amazing people in this world that have overcome adversity to become successful. These people have inspired me.
– I have learnt I need to set goals for myself.
– I have learnt that children are incredibly adaptable, and so are we.
– I have learnt that it doesn’t get any easier to say goodbye to friends.
– I have learnt that, while I hate technology, it is a godsend. Without Facebook, skype, Viber I wouldn’t be able to have daily communication with my children.
– I have learnt that Gum Boots are a fashion statement in Hong Kong, not confined to the paddocks like in Australia.
– I have learnt that crossing the road in Vietnam is an art.
– I have learnt that chickens come with heads and feet, not just nice and neat, wrapped in plastic like in the supermarkets back home.
– I have learnt to be strong, independent and self-sufficient…because I’ve had to be.
– I have learnt not to trust strange men who befriend me walking down the street in Beijing.
– I have learnt that there are some beautiful countries in the world, but nothing compares to Australia. It will always be my home.
– I have learnt that while we live an amazing lifestyle, it comes with a price.
I’m still learning, every day is an adventure and a blessing. I take the many good days with the few bad days, and I appreciate all the experiences that being an Expat has given me. But as Dorothy wisely said, “There’s no place like home”.