We are really starting to feel at home here. More and more everyday. However, we do miss aspects of home also and sometimes wish we could go back. Recently we have been busy with language learning and just daily life. Its been fun to see our kids grow and change and experience this culture in their own way. They are starting to play together more and more and that is fun to see. People always think they are twins even though I think there is a clear size and development difference in the fact that they are almost 1.5 years apart.
The weather is starting to become warm, even hot somedays. Today was no exception. We woke up to cloudless skies and a bright, shining sun, and it progressed to get warmer all day long. I really should get a thermometer, but according to the local weather station it was 26 C today. Not the hottest day we have had but it feels like July and its only April. I can only imagine what July will actually feel like. Fortunately we live close enough to the water that it is just a 10 minute walk and we are at the green space by the water where there is a cooler breeze coming off of the sea.
For supper tonight we loaded up with Peanut Butter and Jam sandwiches, fruit, almonds, water bottles and of course the local favourite- Simit. (sesame-seed, pretzel, bagel type of thing-kids both LOVE it.) We took it all to the water where - with about 300 other families- we had our supper. I must say that our dinner was probably very lame compared to the majority of people. Most people had little BBQ's and were roasting chicken, vegetables and had salads and bread. We saw lots of people also making Cay - a staple tea here-and it all smelled and looked great. We even saw people with little round tables that sit about a foot off the ground that they were sitting around eating and some had even brought plates and glasses. Not the disposable stuff. It is a great cultural experience and like anywhere we go with our kids, we quickly become an attraction. Everyone has to stop and watch them as they are running around in the grass. Especially our youngest child who is 1. Everyone thinks she is the cutest and they all look at here and try to get her to come to them. It was especially funny to watch their reactions when she confidently goes to the top of the "big kids" slide and proceeds to throw herself down laughing and giggling all the way only to do it again over and over. Some of the 4 year olds would not go down but there is our little 1 year old with no fear. At first we got some glares like we were being irresponsible letting her go down but they soon saw how much fun she was having and that she was having the greatest time of everyone. Anyways...that is a typical day at the beach during a warm sunny sunday. Sundays are the busiest day because no one works that day.
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Emotions
Well we are back from a weekend away over easter. It was great! Our children were able to take place in the childcare program for 3 days which was an awesome blessing for us. We took an afternoon off and went swimming one day- just the two of us! I dont think we had done that since before we had kids. The kids loved the childcare workers so we didn't feel too bad ditching them for a day.
A conference like that where we were surrounded by people who understood where we were at it was hard not to feel lots of emotion. It was the first time in almost 2 years where I felt like I was really understood. Not that I wasn't understood before when we were still living in Canada but its just different when it comes from people who know what it is really like to transplant your family with two small kids halfway across the world to a very different culture, religion, city, language, foods etc. It was great to hear people share their experiences and helpful advice. It was also great for our kids to be in a setting where they had english speaking grandparent figures to love on them for 3 days.
We came home tired but happy.
Now we are getting more into routine with language learning and its hard finding a balance between studying and lessons, time to just hang out as a family, personal downtime (which is hard for any mom I think regardless of where they are located) and time as a couple. As well as just exploring the city. So I get emotional sometimes when I feel overwhelmed about it all and when I miss things from home (mostly people-but a good bag of tortilla chips and some salsa would be awesome right now!).
Im not really a fan of tears and I dont usually take alot of time to be emotional. It seems here that it is one way to adjust and process. All of us even the kids have had days where for no reason we are just grumpy and moody. Its different from home during those times. I can't quite put my finger on it but I know it has to do with being in a new place like this and not having the familiarity of things we are used to.
However, there are things I absolutely enjoy and love about being here too. The people are great with kids. At home, if I would have trouble with the kids while in a store or out for a walk or something, generally you dont expect anyone to help you. Here people help all the time. As I walk with the kids to the train station which is 1 flight of stairs down and 1 flight up (we have to go underneath the station to get to the shops) almost always, somebody carries Child #1 up or down or at least holds his hand while I hold the other hand. And the few times I have used the stroller, there is always someone willing to help carry it up and down the stairs. People are very willing (sometimes too much from what I am used to) to hold our kids and play with them.
I also love the food. Despite the absence of anything decently Mexican (no salsa or nachos!) and no cilantro or basil- we are all really enjoying the food here. I also love the weekly bazaar where you can get everything from great produce to kitchen wear to slippers and hair accessories and pretty well anything you can think of. And it is all super cheap. I got Pajama pants for less that $1.50.
So overall we are doing well. And I think I have to remind myself that it is OK to feel emotional at times. We have experienced so many changes over the last 18 months its hard to process them all sometimes. (not all are bad changes but still changes-even good ones add stress sometimes).
Well I think thats it for now. My goal tonight is to sort out some potential tax confusions due to us leaving the country.
A conference like that where we were surrounded by people who understood where we were at it was hard not to feel lots of emotion. It was the first time in almost 2 years where I felt like I was really understood. Not that I wasn't understood before when we were still living in Canada but its just different when it comes from people who know what it is really like to transplant your family with two small kids halfway across the world to a very different culture, religion, city, language, foods etc. It was great to hear people share their experiences and helpful advice. It was also great for our kids to be in a setting where they had english speaking grandparent figures to love on them for 3 days.
We came home tired but happy.
Now we are getting more into routine with language learning and its hard finding a balance between studying and lessons, time to just hang out as a family, personal downtime (which is hard for any mom I think regardless of where they are located) and time as a couple. As well as just exploring the city. So I get emotional sometimes when I feel overwhelmed about it all and when I miss things from home (mostly people-but a good bag of tortilla chips and some salsa would be awesome right now!).
Im not really a fan of tears and I dont usually take alot of time to be emotional. It seems here that it is one way to adjust and process. All of us even the kids have had days where for no reason we are just grumpy and moody. Its different from home during those times. I can't quite put my finger on it but I know it has to do with being in a new place like this and not having the familiarity of things we are used to.
However, there are things I absolutely enjoy and love about being here too. The people are great with kids. At home, if I would have trouble with the kids while in a store or out for a walk or something, generally you dont expect anyone to help you. Here people help all the time. As I walk with the kids to the train station which is 1 flight of stairs down and 1 flight up (we have to go underneath the station to get to the shops) almost always, somebody carries Child #1 up or down or at least holds his hand while I hold the other hand. And the few times I have used the stroller, there is always someone willing to help carry it up and down the stairs. People are very willing (sometimes too much from what I am used to) to hold our kids and play with them.
I also love the food. Despite the absence of anything decently Mexican (no salsa or nachos!) and no cilantro or basil- we are all really enjoying the food here. I also love the weekly bazaar where you can get everything from great produce to kitchen wear to slippers and hair accessories and pretty well anything you can think of. And it is all super cheap. I got Pajama pants for less that $1.50.
So overall we are doing well. And I think I have to remind myself that it is OK to feel emotional at times. We have experienced so many changes over the last 18 months its hard to process them all sometimes. (not all are bad changes but still changes-even good ones add stress sometimes).
Well I think thats it for now. My goal tonight is to sort out some potential tax confusions due to us leaving the country.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)