7 months.....
It's been a long time between blogs for me. Russell's guest blog helped fill in the gap, but now I return. It's been 7 months since Russell, Alice and I started our adventure in South Korea, Hayden his in Sweden, and Mitch his in Sydney. All of us have had an amazing few months, and our relationships as a family have grown, despite us being in different places, on different time zones and experiencing very different things.
Alice and I had 3 weeks in Australia in late June/early July - at Maleny with Russell's Mum and Dad, Leeton with many of our friends, and Canberra with My Mum and Dad. In between we caught up with the Whites and Nobles in Sydney, Scott, Ingrid, Maddy, Jack and Harry in Mittagong, and we had the great privilege of meeting and having time with Peta-Erin, Mitch's gorgeous girlfriend.
It struck me how much I appreciate my family and friends. We don't always see each other a lot, but you provide the value in living and the reason that it's important to maintain relationships with honesty and integrity. You keep me sane, keep me honest, listen when I need it, share yourselves, open your homes, make an effort to keep in touch, call me just to say hi, and mostly just share my journey. You live in Australia, Sweden, East Timor, South Korea... you are travellers or not.... we have spent a lot of time together or a little.....
My family are important to me. I am so unbelievable proud of my wonderful husband and children (who are no longer children... a bitter-sweet realisation). Each of us has tackled challenges head-on this year, and we are creating our own, intertwined, life stories. Some of it has been difficult, some has been inspiring, most has just been getting on with life, albeit in a different environment.
For me, our settling-in time in Korea seems to be evolving into another phase of our lives here. We have made some great friends already, and are meeting more and more as time goes on.
Alice has done a great job of settling into school, and living in a city environment. It was an enormous thing for her to leave her very special friends in Leeton and move so far away, but I feel like she has done so with amazing style!! I know her friends in Australia will be friends forever, but it was hard leaving them behind....
Russell continues to amaze me, with his determination to work hard at his new job, and to maintain a balance in his life. Work is challenging on a professional level, and he is learning things I imagine he never thought possible. Nothing like being immersed in a culture!! The people he works with in his office are very good to all of us, and their value as allies, interpreters, and willing assistants in all things Korean cannot be overstated!
For me, my time without paid employment has been refreshing and revitalising. I knew I needed the time, and it hasn't disappointed. To be able to keep our home calm and (mostly) tidy has been good for all of us - I even enjoy the housework.... sometimes. I've had the opportunity to meet and spend time with some lovely people, and to explore a little of the area around where we live. This includes some visits to Seoul, which is only 30-40 minutes away by bus. Even so, I am feeling like I need more, and am hoping to start soon with a little work (paid!!).
Our language skills are improving, although we aren't up to having a full-speed conversation with native Koreans. Even so, we can see the difference from a few months ago. Alice has started learning Korean as a subject at school, so it will be interesting to see the progress she makes. We have no doubt that she will soon be much better than Russ and I.....
So... what have I learnt? How have I changed? Where to from here? Well, I've learnt much, but then, my whole life has been like that (as with everyone). I've had it reinforced that, despite our differences, people are people, with relationships, joys, tears, and a desire to be loved and to love. There are good people everywhere! Some of the most wonderful moments are the simplest moments, and often come in the most unplanned way. Being a long way away from someone doesn't make our relationship any less important or special.
Not sure that I've changed dramatically. I feel like life is a continual process of changing and growing, of making the most of the circumstances we are in, and so that continues for me. My hope is that the longer I live, the more I will embrace this process. I hope that I will become a more tolerant, more caring person, and that I will invest more and more time into relationships. And so.... I continue the coffee shop meetings that I love so much. They aren't the same as my times with Cindy, Cathy and Marg, but Pam, Paula and others are helping me to explore the coffee shops in South Korea!!! And we're becoming good friends in the process.
I'm hoping to include more photos next time.
Keep smiling!!!
Russell continues to amaze me, with his determination to work hard at his new job, and to maintain a balance in his life. Work is challenging on a professional level, and he is learning things I imagine he never thought possible. Nothing like being immersed in a culture!! The people he works with in his office are very good to all of us, and their value as allies, interpreters, and willing assistants in all things Korean cannot be overstated!
For me, my time without paid employment has been refreshing and revitalising. I knew I needed the time, and it hasn't disappointed. To be able to keep our home calm and (mostly) tidy has been good for all of us - I even enjoy the housework.... sometimes. I've had the opportunity to meet and spend time with some lovely people, and to explore a little of the area around where we live. This includes some visits to Seoul, which is only 30-40 minutes away by bus. Even so, I am feeling like I need more, and am hoping to start soon with a little work (paid!!).
Our language skills are improving, although we aren't up to having a full-speed conversation with native Koreans. Even so, we can see the difference from a few months ago. Alice has started learning Korean as a subject at school, so it will be interesting to see the progress she makes. We have no doubt that she will soon be much better than Russ and I.....
So... what have I learnt? How have I changed? Where to from here? Well, I've learnt much, but then, my whole life has been like that (as with everyone). I've had it reinforced that, despite our differences, people are people, with relationships, joys, tears, and a desire to be loved and to love. There are good people everywhere! Some of the most wonderful moments are the simplest moments, and often come in the most unplanned way. Being a long way away from someone doesn't make our relationship any less important or special.
Not sure that I've changed dramatically. I feel like life is a continual process of changing and growing, of making the most of the circumstances we are in, and so that continues for me. My hope is that the longer I live, the more I will embrace this process. I hope that I will become a more tolerant, more caring person, and that I will invest more and more time into relationships. And so.... I continue the coffee shop meetings that I love so much. They aren't the same as my times with Cindy, Cathy and Marg, but Pam, Paula and others are helping me to explore the coffee shops in South Korea!!! And we're becoming good friends in the process.
I'm hoping to include more photos next time.
Keep smiling!!!
