Photo: Packing up the house in Beijing
I was feeling bad the other day about what I have not accomplished in the last six months, since I moved back to the US, but then I started to think through what has transpired, and I felt better about my modest progress. Here’s my last half year, in a nutshell:
December: Say goodbye to Beijing (BJ) friends. Pack bags and leave China. Leave house intact because Erik will continue to live and work in BJ as he looks for a job in Seattle. Go to Bali to celebrate my mother’s 80th birthday. Mother falls and breaks her arm in Bali. January: Leave Bali early. Six-year-old daughter (Elisa) starts new school. Mother hospitalized for dehydration. Erik continues to look for job in Seattle. February: Sell mother’s house; move mother into condo. Go to ER with concussion suffered during move. Go to Beijing to visit Erik. Say goodbye to friends in Beijing (again). March: Erik still in Beijing. April: Go to Beijing (again) to visit Erik, pack up house, and say goodbye to friends (Hi We’re back!!). Go to ER after Elisa crushes fingers in door. Erik quits current job and accepts position at new company to be based in Singapore. Apply to schools in Singapore. May: Sell house in Kirkland. Singapore school accepts Elisa for fall term. Buy condo in Seattle. June: Fly to Singapore to find an apartment. Move into 1200 square foot condo in Seattle with 220 boxes. Sit, in condo for a couple of days, overwhelmed by number of boxes. Collect myself and complete the move in. Pack 50 boxes to be put back in storage. Erik travels Monday to Friday on business with new job. Prepare for move to Singapore in August.
So when I think in those terms: three moves and three countries in one year, and so on, I feel okay. And by the way, this is not an unusual chain of events for the average expat family, but it still taxes one’s patience – and organizational skills.
People ask me if I am excited about moving to Singapore. While I will miss our (brief but full) life in Seattle, I am excited, that is, when I have a moment to think about it.