One Year!

“On some level we all fear the unknown, and we all fear being blown away, having our skirts blown skyward, having a blow to our pride, and somehow we know in our bones that however narrow and colorless that strip of comfort zone ledge might be that we’re teetering on, leaving it, flinging ourselves off into a major geographic and cultural relocation, will expose us. It will expose our limitations, insecurities, and weaknesses."

"But another part of us wants to take that step, to fall in love with a new place, a new people, a new way of living in the world. Sometimes that move just begins in a cursory, sideways glance of curiosity about the place. We study the map. We watch the people, their way of moving and talking and gesturing in conversation and we take note of how they sing to their babies in the city park and how they greet old friends in the marketplace and how they drive their cars or their rickshaws or their camels and by now we’re fascinated by observing how they hold their canteen or wine goblet or beer stein or how they hold their liquor at all. Before we know it, we’re mirroring how they fold their origami or their crêpe Suzette or their slice of pizza con funghi, and next we’re eating at their pace, slurping miso soup, spitting seeds over our shoulder, ripping the tip off the hot baguette, peeling our raw shrimp, and all of this with our eyes blindfolded and both hands tied behind our back.”

Excerpt From: Melissa Dalton-Bradford. “Global Mom.” Familius, 2013-08-13. iBooks. 

We have officially made it ONE YEAR being an expat family!!!  It is hard to believe that it has been a year since we moved to Geneva, a place that was completely unknown, yet now is called home.  When I read the above excerpt from the book, "Global Mom," I was amazed at how well it summed up what I was feeling a year ago.  When first arriving, I was totally exposed.  I would go out with the kids, and had a definite feeling of insecurity as we tried to get through each day.  Is this road a one way?  Where can I park?  What is the cashier asking me?  Do we totally stick out as being completely clueless Americans?  Will we ever have friends?  The list was endless. The major underlining question was, "Have we made the right decision?"  Everyone wants happiness for their kids, family, friends, and themselves, and can you continue that happiness when you take that huge step in life?  After living here for a year, I can honestly say, yes.  

Is it tough?  Of course.  Our life is not all adventures.  We have days when we feel alone, anonymous,  and unsure of what's to come.  We miss out on family celebrations back in Minnesota.  We miss family and friends.  That's the hardest part.  Fortunately, this past year we have hosted 18 visitors, much more than anticipated and we are looking forward to hosting that many this upcoming year or more.  During the past year I have also learned the importance of friendships.  When you are all alone away from your friends you have known forever, and your family, you rely a lot on the new friendships you create.  Thankfully we have met some great friends who have helped immensely during the transition.          

People have asked, "How has this move changed you?"  If you were to ask me two years ago if I would ever live abroad, I would quickly answer, no.  I enjoyed living in the known.  I had spent my entire life in Minnesota.  My family and friends are all in Minnesota, Target was a mile away, why would I leave that comfort?  I was hesitant, but now with one year in the books, I can say that taking that jump was the best decision for me, and our entire family.  Before I spent our days taking the kids to familiar places with familiar people.  Now, our days are spent going to many different activities where we don't know anyone and are forced to leave our comfort zone.  We have all gained more confidence through this experience.  We have immersed ourselves in their way of life and learned so much along the way.  

Is it worth being away from the known?  Absolutely.  We know that it is temporary and that this wonderful experience will one day come to an end and we will have these memories to look back on. I can only hope that year two goes just as well and we continue to discover more of the unknown.


A few pics from the past week....

Happy Swiss Day!  August 1st is their national holiday- they have a huge festival down by the lake for a week to celebrate- Adalyn insisted on wearing her Heidi dress to celebrate!

Eliza riding the ride!  (Adalyn was too scared!)

Dancing with friends at the festival-