Yes, my absence from blogging is complicated and yet very simple. I got overwhelmed - with life, with kids, with health issues, with expatriate issues - and just focused on getting back on track. Nothing earth-shattering or tragic, just life.
Midway through last year the rose-colored glasses cracked, just according to schedule. Supposedly there are stages of expat life:
Well I hit the wall at culture shock. Life just doesn't go along smoothly when you have moved from a 6000 sq ft house to a 1500 sq ft apartment - with two teenagers, a pre-teen, a temperamental dog and a stressed out spouse.
Midway through last year the rose-colored glasses cracked, just according to schedule. Supposedly there are stages of expat life:
- the honeymoon: when everything is new and exciting
- cultural shock: when your expectations clash with reality
- gradual adjustment: when you finally start accepting that is just the way it is
- competence: when you can navigate the perils and pitfalls of life in a new culture
- mastery: you have gone native
Well I hit the wall at culture shock. Life just doesn't go along smoothly when you have moved from a 6000 sq ft house to a 1500 sq ft apartment - with two teenagers, a pre-teen, a temperamental dog and a stressed out spouse.
I forgot to stop and smell the roses.
I forgot to enjoy the sights and sounds around me. I forgot to explore and discover.
I got bogged down in the clutter and chaos of everyday life. Now how I slowly climbed out is a post for another day. Let's just say it involved a steep learning curve, multiple mistakes and run-ins with the healthcare system, the legal system and the real estate market!