Before I moved abroad, no one warned
me about how many times I would have to say goodbye or “see ya later”.
Making friends with expats is easy
as we all love to travel and explore. We
have a special bond. We understand what it’s like to have two homes and two
life experiences on different continents. We have fun exploring and hanging out- whether
it be at a new restaurant in the city or a flight to a new place or a day by
the beach or running up hill for one straight kilometer in the largest race in the world. Expats have a strong bond to make each other
feel at home. To make this homely
feeling, expats not only celebrate birthdays and Aussie anniversaries together,
they celebrate holidays together. So we
become a family. We share in the
excitement when someone comes out from the US or back from a US visit and
brings that box of Cheez-its or can of pumpkin – it really is the little simple
things sometime. But unfortunately everything in an expat
community is temporary because we also have to celebrate farewells.
The past two years have been a
revolving door of friendships. It is
always exciting to welcome someone new through the door. It means new experiences, new adventures, and
new memories. However it’s always hard
to say goodbye to the fellow expats that leave to begin a new chapter of their
lives. We are always so excited and
supportive of their new adventure but it never gets easier to say goodbye. Each expat friend makes a lasting impression
on your life so with the goodbye you remember all of the fun times. And that’s why we remind ourselves of the
importance of sharing weekly meals, taking the ferry to Manly, doing the Bondi coastal walk, hanging out and
laughing, or just going to get Messina or as tonight proved discussing whether the meat on your arm is dark or light and if it is just like a chicken or turkey!
Because next week someone could be on the next flight out. But the silver lining in all of this means your
network of friends extends to more places than you could ever imagine so there
will always be a new place to visit.
So at the end of the day we aren’t
really saying goodbye, “we are just taking an extended leave of absence from
each other” until the next time!
Every person pictured has helped to make Sydney a
magnificent place to call home. For those who have left, you are missed, and
for those that are still here, let’s make the most of it!
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