Two weeks ago, my best friend moved to France. I was so sad and I tried so hard not to cry at the airport. My boy was crying too so I broke down in tears. Even though it was still early age for him to understand that his best friend would not be around anymore, but I think he knew. We used to meet 2 times a week, whether I came to her house to seek some warmth or hunting bargain in the city. I should have been prepared for this, but I thought they might extend for another year. The decision had been made, I could not say anything but see you later and best of luck.
I have to say living in other country is not easy, its beyond your comfort zone. I was lucky, I could find Indonesian community during my first year and even become good friends. We have been living in Aberdeen for 4 years now, we have several friends that stay here for more than 10 years, but who knows what God plans next, maybe they will move to other city because of new job or simply back for good. I guess that the perk of living in here, it is 3 years or less cycle, if you were lucky they would stay a bit more. I couldn't count how many farewell parties had been held, how many scrapbooks had been made, how many tears had been shed, when it came to farewell I don't like it.
To keep your positive, while you live your life, it is better to have this in mind.
1. Don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone.
Days go so slow but years go fast. Three years ago you had your toddler so you stayed with a group of friend who share the same pain. The reason is simple, easy to arrange playdate and have a chat a the same time. Go to local baby groups or playgroup to make friends. I found go to playground is one of the best location to interact with other mom. As the kids grew older you have more free time, join part time job or voluntary job just to have an adult conversation.
People tends to live in group that share common interest or background. Sometimes it is hard to get into a group that is already established for sometime, such as when my boy first joined football, all the moms already knew each other and they drank morning tea together. It was hard for me to join in, I felt like high school all over again. I just sit down at the corridor waiting for my little one, but then there was other mom also did the same as me and we started to talk ever since.
2. Make a good memories with everybody.
This oil business is small, I might know somebody's friend from a friend of mine or from a friend's friend who lives in other country for sometime. I believe in being nice and sincere to everyone will make a lot of benefit rather than sharing hatred. In fact here being nomad, friends are family. We help each other, babysit their kids, share foods and joy.
3. Keep in touch
I am so thankful that I live in this digital era, where Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp call make distance seems near, when we can reconnect with friends and family from other part of the world. When we traveled back home, we spare time to visit old friends who used to live in Aberdeen just to catch up with their new life, if lucky enough you got their love life :)
Cheers for more farewell to come, I suppose there will be another one next year.
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