I've been learning a lot of things over the past few weeks. I've learned that my friend was right, that relocating is not just a difficult task, it's traumatic. Another friend was right when he said the weather (and environment) can make a lot of difference in how one feels. I feel that my material standard of living has plummented compared to what I had only a few weeks ago. The apartment is very small, the neighbours are very noisy, I'm having to count every penny, and there are a hundreds of little problems and frustrations. By right, I should be quite unhappy. But all it takes is a 10 min bike trip out: the cool breeze, lovely sun, the beach, the ocean and the mountains; all small problems just seem to evaporate. I'm guessing this is why small problems get to us a lot more in Singapore than here. In Singapore, I felt permanently locked in a cramped, uncomfortable cage. Small problems looked a lot bigger then.
I've read that every immigrant goes thru 3 phases. The initial euphoria, then the depression, followed by some levelling-off. I'm now (still) in the euphoria phase. Expecting to feel depressed quite soon. :) I'm beginnning to see how it might happen: Boredom is creeping in, I badly miss a few things at home (family, material comforts, friends, THE FOOD!!!), and we still haven't figured out what HRH will do when I start school. I'm worried about her.
I'm bracing for it, but I'm sure I'm strong enough to handle it (the depression phase) when it comes.
Gotta go. It's now 7:30pm and it's not safe to bike after dark.
I'm not concerned abt being mugged (it's a very safe town), I'm concerned
abt running into little children.