Repatriating back home

Miriam Webster online defines repatriate as "to return to his or her own country"

The expat exchange (expat exchange.com) has some helpful looking articles, but just like moving overseas and moving home it is hard to navigate. It appears they are working of beefing up the site and adding more helpful information, but I don't think they are quite there yet.

As helpful as the above is, my next goal is to read blogs by fellow women expats who have gone home again.  

Expat women home again, what was the most helpful tip you received?  What was the most helpful resource?  

A real Christmas tree

So the appointment with the doctor left us with more questions than answers.  We waiting an hour, for the senior doctor, Dr. Madoff, then when we had more questions he told us he really had to go.  At that point I would have liked to remind him that we waiting an hour for him (not to mention waited some more when he got a phone call in the middle of our visit and took it), but it seemed he might be one of those people that is smart, but doesn't have a lot of social graces.  His PA, Elizabeth, was very kind and was much more helpful than he was and actually took time to show she cared.  I am glad that doctor is not the norm.  Was it arrogance?  Was it that it was two days before thanksgiving?  Was it that something was going on at home?  Maybe his mind was on a sick child.  I don't know.  Hopefully I showed him grace in my response.

I am getting very excited for going "home."  Even though I've never lived there before.  What I am most excited for... A dryer, being settled again, being close to family, living a more outdoorsy life with my little boy.  Not necessarily in that order.

We got a Christmas tree.  A real tree!  We went to a tree farm, went on a hay ride, cut a tree and took it home.  Not a plastic one either!  Woohoo!  I am glad we had our plastic tree in Doha.  It made for a more authentic Christmas, but cold and snow and a real tree make it more real to me.  We need to listen to more carols and do our advent calendar.  We loved the advent calendar we found last year.  I'll put the link at the bottom, or I'll try to figure out the little link thing-er-ma-bob.

I think the hardest thing about repatriating right now is staying in other peoples houses.  So, so, so thankful for them.  But excited to have my own space again soon.

Best thing is staying in other peoples houses.  Love getting to spend so much time with family and friends.  Learning new recipes, seeing more of who they are, playing rook.

Still anxious about how long it may take to have friendships like my friendships in Doha.  I will miss that.

Q's for expat women:  

-how long was your honeymoon stage?  

-what made it all worth it?

Link for advent calander:

http://www.teachingmom.com/features/advent.html

Expat woman home again

I lived in Qatar for four years as a stay at home expat wife.  I loved the community.  Now, I am ending the first of several transition months into our life back home in Big Timber, Montana.  

I just need a place to talk while I make this weird transition, yet one that lots of women before me have made.  I'm sure my experience is not unique, but it is mine.

So many transitions to make.  Right now we are learning to be home with each other (my husband and I).  It is strange him not going to work every day.  We had to create a new routine (which we had to talk about tonight) so that we can connect.  Somehow we've been missing each other more because there is no (correction, was no) defined uses for all this sudden free time.  

I feel like I know how retired people feel.

The reason for months of transition to our new life (other than the obvious) is my husband needs surgery.  It's not for any life threatening reasons, but it is important.  He had tests last week and we meet with the doctor today.  We hope to get answers to lots of questions and perhaps most of all, we hope to get the surgery scheduled.  It will probably be the beginning of January, but it is possible it will be in December.  

Every step we make, I think, this is one step closer to being settled again.  One step closer to making new friends, one step closer to having our own space, one step closer to working again, one step closer.  But I think I also need to value this time for itself too.  That sounds good, but I just want to be home too.  But even when I get home it won't be any home I've ever lived in, it will be another new home.  But I'm excited about that.  

I really want to have a discussion with other expat women home again.  I looked all over and could find no place for a discussion or a place to compare experiences.  

If you are an expat woman, It doesn't mater when you read this, answer the questions if you have time.  

Where were you abroad?  Where is "home again"? What is one of the hardest things about moving home?