Change

Here is a photo of the first time we went into London as a family a few days after we arrived to begin our ex-pat experience as well as a photo of the last time we went into London as a family a few days before we ended our ex-pat experience.  The kids all look so much more mature and worldly.  What an amazing 5 years and 8 months it was.

I remember feeling anxious and unsure about what to expect, but even more than anxious, I felt excited and grateful for the chance to experience living in a different country and the opportunity for the kids to understand the diversity of the world.

Moving back here to Louisville has been different than any of the other moves.  For the first time, I moved to a place that was familiar and already like home.  Although we moved into a different neighborhood, I still know where the closest Kroger and Target are; I know the schools that the kids will attend; I know which doctors to call for appointments.  

While Louisville is mostly unchanged (taking away the pandemic of course!), I am not. 

I moved to a place where I knew no one except the people living in my house, the cars were driven on the other side of the road, public transportation was the primary way of travel.   I walked the kids to a school which had bene assigned by the council; and in the school yard, I was surrounded by parents speaking in multiple languages and men in long robes and women wearing hijabs.  My groceries were delivered, the temperature was measured in degrees Celsius and all goods were paid for in pounds, including 7 different types of coins.  I did my laundry in the middle of the kitchen and donated half of my clothes since they wouldn't fit in the wardrobe we purchased due to the lack of closets in our bedroom.  We bought a house and learned all about the chains of the property ladder.  I learned all sorts of new phrases and terminology; British English is almost a different language!

I made friends with people from all over the world and realised that all people are the same, no matter their religion, country of birth, native language or skin color.  Everyone just wants to be accepted and loved.   The school was really a cross-section of the world.  Drew and his three best friends are all from different countries: US, UK, Egypt and Slovakia.  Alison has a friend who was born in England, but her mom is from Japan and her dad is from Poland.

We were able to travel all over Europe: France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Greece, Poland, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark.  We saw several different parts of England: Cornwall, Bournemouth, Devon, Brighton, Liverpool.

I will forever be changed by this life experience, in a good way: the best way.  The friends we made in London will forever be in our hearts and minds; they were the difference to our ex-pat experience.  

While I was a bit anxious about moving back to Louisville, it wasn't for the same reasons.  I was anxious for the kids and their adjustment to school and making friends.  I was anxious about living in a house I had not yet seen in person.  I was anxious about adjusting back to the US way of life.  But it hasn't been as difficult as I thought.  Maybe it's because of the pandemic, but I feel like there is little expectation about socialising.  Which is a good thing I think; I am not really sure where I fit just yet.  Drew has made friends and adjusted to school pretty well; with the girls being in middle school and only being in school for half the time, it's been more challenging.  But I know it will come with time.  And I love our house.  We are almost finished decorating and unpacking.  And it definitely feels like home.

The US is home; mostly because my family is here.  And to me, family is everything.  I am grateful that the kids can have a closer, tangible relationship with their grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. 

But I am equally grateful for the friends who were family when we were in London.