Monday, May 19, 2014

[ life's decisions ]


HOW OFTEN have we all had to weigh the pros and cons of a major decision ~ is it the right choice? Is it a mistake? What does our gut tell us? Sometimes that's all we can go by ~ our gut. Taking a huge leap of faith that everything will work out the way we hope.

Well, we've reached that time ~ time to close the chapter on our expat adventures. It's been 7 1/2 years since we first moved overseas, first to Ireland and then to Dubai. Making that first leap was the hardest and I still remember the knots I felt in my stomach as I boarded the plane to what would be my new home for 4 1/2 years. I was excited and terrified at the same time. Adapting to a new country, trying to fit in, learning the lingo and hoping to make a friend ~ leaving behind everything familiar, friends and family, my comfort zone. I think we all imagine at one time or another what life would be like living in a foreign country and we certainly wear rose-coloured glasses thinking of how incredibly glamorous it would be. But I think only fellow expats can ever truly understand what it's really like and how incredibly difficult, stressful and lonely things can be at the same time. Living somewhere as an expat isn't like being on a holiday and while you are trying to settle into your temporary digs, life goes on back home ~ parents get older, nieces and nephews get bigger, friends make new friends.

We don't regret the leap we took ~ we have been able to experience different things and meet some interesting people. We've seen places we may not have seen otherwise {I certainly don't think we would have ever visited Dubai if we hadn't lived here!}. But we've also been on the receiving end of emails informing us of medical emergencies back home and undergone major surgeries ourselves with no support system to help us through. Those are the ups and downs of this type of life. If nothing else, being an expat has given me an entirely new appreciation for where I'm from and I'm excited to go back.



This has been our weekend ~ getting packed up and our container loaded for the slow boat shipment back to Canada. In 6-8 weeks we'll see our things again, hopefully ready to set up into a home we'll have for a while. We've got 3 weeks or so left in Dubai to tie up loose ends, do those last few things we haven't done here yet and say good-bye to some friends. But my world traveller days are over and I can't wait to be a Canadian resident again {and to shop for a home!}.

lisa

[via weheartit.com]

11 comments:

Raination Nation said...

I'm so happy for you! You guys did a lot of cool thing in Dubai, but I'm sure it will be nice to live around trees again! :)

Raination Nation said...

p.s. the last comment is actually from Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage. I'm borrowing my son's omputer.

All things nice said...

How exciting- I am such a homebird, I got this feeling when I moved back from college after 4 years and then the second time I moved away for 2 years but mind you I was home at the weekends too, so it was much easier for me. I bet you can't wait to return home. The majority of us have a great sense of place, I know the Irish have anyway, home is where the heart is and home for me is Ireland, my own little corner of rural Ireland where the grass is green and the cows can be seen from my cottage in the countryside :) I wouldn't change it for anything :) Wishing you all the best for your future and looking forward to following you on your new adventure back home...

All things nice...

Carolyn@Sweet Chaos Home said...

I have so enjoyed following your travel adventures, and I'm thrilled for you that you get to go home. Please take us along for the house hunting! I just know you're going to find some wonderful place to call home. Best of luck with the move! :) xo

Travel With Lulu said...

Our container arrives next week, so just quickly checking my inbox between sorting and purging! I will miss your blogs - my little link to the expat world on another part on the globe. Wishing you the best of luck on your next adventures at home. I, too, am so excited to have a home that I can decorate (and paint) as I please! xo

Lyn said...

I'm so excited for you. I'm betting it will feel fantastic to be back at home and feel really, truly settled!

Lynda @ Happenstance Home said...

Oops. I was the unknown comment above.

Lynne said...

Back to Muskoka where I met you. Thank you for the journey, Lisa.

Thank you for your visit, with wishes!

Safe travels home to you and your love. (and also to your belongings!)
withLove.

Unknown said...

send me an e-mail...excited to hear where you'll be planting yourself xoxo

Jen @ RamblingRenovators said...

What an incredible journey you've been on. Having lived abroad off and on myself for four years, I can relate to how you're feeling. Its good to come back home but you come back changed too - your view of the world becomes altered by all the things you've seen and done. I'm excited for you. Onto the next adventure!

flowers on my table said...

There's no place like home! So happy for you to be going home Lisa. I do hope you will keep blogging and let us know what you are up to. Thank you for letting me have a glimpse of life in another country. I hope all your travel plans go well, and good luck in finding your new home. Lots of love, Linda x

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails