Still traveling

I am doing more traveling now than I was when I was an expat.  We use our suitcases to travel to Billings, Bozeman, and the ranch every week!  In a way, I love it.  I don't have to live in a city any more to enjoy the benefits of one.  Of course, traveling so much can be wearing, but, eh, keeps you young right?  We rush, rush, rush to pack food, clothes, diapers, milk, meds, snow clothes, and other things we might need for the day or over night, than we get to relax when we get there.  That is except for all the errands that must be taken care of in the city or the work that needs done on the ranch.  I love my busy life.  That's not to say I don't get exhausted, but it's nice to have so much to do.

It's not that I didn't have a lot to do in Doha, but going to the store seemed more exhausting than here, even with the store being over an hour away here.  Funny.  I guess part of it is, you never knew if the shopping trip would be successful, or more precisely, more often than not you got home empty handed in Doha.  Looking for the ingredients for that recipe, either takes all day and every grocery store there is, or it takes all day and every grocery store and you still get home having to make something else.  Ya know what I mean?  A different sort of exhausting.

Well, my hubby just got home with an ingredient I forgot for tonight.  

Transitioning "home"

I love Big Timber.  We are related to basically everyone in town though.  That could get a bit sticky for my boy in the future.  Everyone is friendly.  It feels nice to be in a community that seems to really care, or at least they care because they know a reputation can be hurt much more easily (or quickly) in a small town.

We go to a Bible preaching church, which happens to be the same one that my Pop's employees go to.  We don't know if they feel awkward that we are there.  I suppose they do, but that's where we are for now, and we think it might be the right fit for us.  I talked with my husband and we talked about how we are Christians first, and Pop's so and daughter-in-law after that.  I think if we give it time, it will work itself out.

I miss my church in Qatar though.  The tight community, my friends, lunch after church every week...  It was a huge church, but never felt like one until the end when we moved to church city.  How are they doing?  I miss them, I want to cry, but I still haven't.  My dear sweet sisters-in-Christ.  How I miss you.  I am so glad we will see each other again in heaven.

I met a lady in the grocery store next town over that was a in Zimbabwe for a number of years.  She said we could get together for coffee.  I think I might have to find her when we get back from the wedding.  I feel in need of a connection to expat life.  Another woman here said we could talk if I ever felt like the one person in Big Timber who wasn't from here.  I get that, but I don't mind it at all yet.

I do feel alone though.  I miss the close friendships, and I know it will take time before I have that again.  God will provide, but I miss my dear sweet friends.  I'm glad I have my work for my Pop.  It gives me some outside purpose other than myself.  I can focus completely on someone else when I am working for him.  It feels good to do that.

I am also visiting at the assisted living here in town.  I love that!  I feel like my boys smiles are a gift to them, and again being able to focus on others is a gift to me.  It is not good for one's world to be too small.  Better to think of others.

I need to remember that in my marriage too!  I feel so selfish sometimes, trying to find time to cook or read or run errands.  I know it isn't, but when I am asking my husband to give up free time, I feel like I need to have a good reason.

So, life is good.

Are you out there?  Are you reading this?  How is your transition home?  Wherever home is?

My boy woke up from his nap.  Better wrap this up.  

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?