Expat Round-up: Tales from the frontline

“The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” ~ Maya Angelou

Last week it snowed. Just gently, as though someone had given the streets a generous dusting of icing powder. Then it rained, turning the powder into puddles of ice. In some parts of town it was so slippery that the old ladies had to crawl through the streets on their hands and knees. I didn’t see it myself, but I kid you not!

I’m sure every country has its own ‘hall of fame’ of incidents you cannot believe are true. But the ordinary day-to-day stuff that expats face also deserves a mention.

If I were still a full-time Londoner, I’d just accept the comings and goings of daily life. Likewise, if I were a native Norwegian, I’m sure I would do the same. I have asked my Norwegian husband many times: “Why do people feel it’s acceptable to bump into you in the street and not say sorry?” Each time I get the same answer. That we Brits are super polite, and constantly apologising for things. And that in Norway people just accept a jostle and move on. Logically, I get it. But I still expect an apology when I’m elbowed out of the way at the supermarket.

That’s the trouble when you have two reference points. It too easy to compare. In my post Living between two worlds I talk about how you not only form relationships with the people in a city, but with a city itself. And I describe my ‘love affair’ with London.

The fact is when you’re navigating life in a new country, you have to actively think while doing almost everything. So there can be a steep learning curve. With that in mind, here are some day-to-day stories from expat bloggers. In fact, if you put these posts all together, you pretty much have the lowdown on life as an expat mum.

 

Having a snack 

In her post I’m not dumb, I’m just not Norwegian, Jill Kirchmann, explains why living in Norway makes her feel like ‘a massive, bumbling, tongue-tied, dummy’. And how she has gone from being ‘a relatively intelligent woman to a below-average, slightly boring toddler’.

Finding the right toiletries

In The Indian beauty stuff everyone should use, blogging team Fashion and Frappes share why a trip to Boots just doesn’t cut it for them. In this post, they write about where to buy the best Indian beauty products in London.

Riding the tram

In Sneaking, Saroj Chumber describes a little act of kindness she experienced while riding the tram.

Dealing with toddler tantrums 

In What it’s really like moving your toddler 3500 miles away from home, Erin Hartwig shares how moving from the UK to New York City shook up her family. She describes how they managed to re-arrange the pieces of their life in a new order.

Missing mum and dad

Finally, in her post, One of those days, Anna Demetriou laments being so far from family by living in the US. She writes: ‘If I wasn’t a faraway mum. If I could whisk you off to Granny and Grandpa’s, where you’d be welcomed by arms that weren’t already exhausted.’

 

Expat life shakes you up, and guiding little ones through the process is a challenge. But I love the following quote by Thich Nhat Hanh: “I have arrived. I am home. My destination is in each step.” Yep, it’s all about the baby steps – especially if like me you’re trying to walk on ice. Thankfully, I’m still standing and haven’t had to crawl yet!

So until next time, have a lovely end-of-winter. And if you have a post that you’d like me to consider feel free to email me at greta@gretasolomon.com You can also tweet me a link @greta_solomon