So, how is she handling it?
My wife and I have been together for about a year.
In that time weāve talked a lot, fallen in love, moved in together, gotten married, survived the first German lockdown, packed up our life, said goodbye to our careers, friends and family, after months of flight delays we moved half way around the world, quarantined for 2 weeks and now we are almost 6 weeks into our ānewā life.
As Iāve recently blogged, Iām āsurvivingā. Although I am back in the place where I grew up, I donāt quite feel at homeā¦
After all, this is her first time down under, and it isnāt going to be a short visit either. With the pandemic and visa options currently available, we doubt coming or going would be an option for either us, for a couple of years.
How is she handling it? How does she feel? Whatās going through her mind?
Obviously, I canāt answer for her, she would be the best person to tell you how she feelsā¦
However, I can tell you what I see and feel. Especially the part where I am watching someone learn about living in this part of the world for the first time.
Alex is often overwhelmed. Excited. Shy. Confident. Unsure. Worried. Concerned. Lost. Enthusiastic. Happy. Frustrated. Empowered. Embarrassed. Indifferent. Delighted. Grateful. Andā¦. inspiring.
Sometimes all in one day!
Well, thatās how I see things anyhow. I have to remind myself often that when we are doing any number of things, the sights, the smell and the situation are all relatively normal to me, but for her, itās all new.
Seeing her excitement about something she found in a store, which reminds her of, or even better, itās exactly like, something from the USA that she hasnāt seen in years. Or something that is German, that reminds her of Christmas or a night out she hadā¦ Or, something completely new that isnāt from any world sheās previously experienced.
Basically, thatās the 3 optionsā¦
We often discuss the differences between country and culture. Sometimes short, sometimes long discussionsā¦ Weāve both lived in at least 3 different countries, and overlap a bit, but both our experiences have been quite different, until now.
Now we are doing this togetherā¦
Alex often takes forever to find something in a supermarket, not so much because she canāt find the right aisle, but because once sheās in it, it overwhelms her. Thereās a lot to take in, even at Coles (which, for all the Germans, is Kaufland). How many different types of sauce is there? How many different cheeses are there? (You get the picture).
Alex has already started applying for jobs. She canāt start until her next visa kicks in, but sheās getting prepared. Seeing her excited about work is a lot of fun and inspiring.
A new career. New country. New challenges.
I was a bit surprised she found a path so easily (completely the opposite to me, where I have too many paths to wander along). Iām excited for her!! Fortunately, I can even help her too, some of my contacts from 20+ years ago, are coming in handy to help her along the way!
Weāve managed to see quite a few native animals during walks and drives. Echidnas, wallabies, plenty of birds, lizards, geckos, skinks, goannas and the other week I took Alex up the coast to hand feed lorikeetsā¦.
Sometimes sheās smiling, sometimes sheās concerned, sometimes she lets out a screamā¦ Oh, and yeah, sheās run away a few times too! All in good fun, all fun to watch!!! Nothing has come close to killing her yet!
Sheās obviously not sure about spiders. By not sure, I mean scared to death. Thatās OK, even I have been privileged to live in a country or two without a 10thof the deadlies that lurk here. Iāll get used to it, as she will too.
Weāll be expanding on the animal kingdom experiences as time goes onā¦.
We went to the local video store!!
Yes, there is one in this small coastal town. Maybe the last one for a 100 miles, but there is a video rental store. Itās been there since I was a teenager, family owned. In fact, I went to school with the daughter of the family who runs it, and we are still friends and she still works there from time to time.
We walked in and Alex flipped her lid.
She was like a kid in a candy store. I had to limit the amount of DVDs we could rent that day, otherwise sheād have taken out a 100 or more DVDsā¦ Again, so many optionsā¦ so overwhelmed.
Even with the ease of streaming services, the old school way of going to the store, choosing a video, getting some chocolate or popcorn, is just, freakinā awesome. And by the look on her face, she felt it through and through. It was a nostalgic moment, which Iām sure will be repeated, often.
Iāve taken Alex to a few waterfalls, short hikes, farming countryside, forests, windy mountain roads, sunrises, moonrises and beachesā¦ That sounds like a lot, but in fact here, you could also most do all of that in just 1 day. Thereās a lot on offer in the natural landscape.
We do enjoy walks along the dog beach. We both miss our dogs, so itās nice to see happy puppies running around an almost deserted beach. One day weāll walk our own dogs thereā¦
We have been shoppingā¦ A lot! Like, almost every other dayā¦ Itās not that Alex spends a lot of money, but she loves to see all the new things on offer here. I donāt know how many times Iāve heard her gasp and then, with wide eyes, show me a shirt or outfit she likes, or a store sheās super excited aboutā¦ Or a story about how sheās always wanted that kind of overalls, but hadnāt found them until now.
Alex has started driving. Itās really her first time on the āwrong sideā, and after we got her a lesson with my driving instructor from the 90ās, Iāve taken over the duties of helping her navigate the wrong side of the road with confidence. Things have been going well. Although I think the way some folks drive over here, sheāll never get used to someone tailgating or not indicatingā¦ But neither will Iā¦
Germans taught me how to driveā¦ I hope I donāt unlearn those skills! When it comes to driving, I hope she doesnāt become like the localsā¦
During Halloween, Alex had an afternoon nap and slept through one of the strongest storms weāve had since weāve been here. Hail, strong winds and lots of rain. I guess she found the winds and noises peacefulā¦
She then got to treat a bunch of neighborhood kids and watch a scary movie, so the day wasnāt ruined.
Itās a bit like a young child learning about the ways of the world. Itās fascinating to watch. Sometimes her questions are so randomā¦ Sometimes theyāre really deep and worth an answer (not a laugh) and sometimes sheās too stunned to respond!
Her reactions to local slang and dialect, well that look of confusion will be a regular occurrence until she settles in a little more.
Even I forgot how dry the sense of humor is here.
Itās been a real gas watching Alex integrateā¦ Soon sheāll be off driving herself to work, making her own friends and finding a few adventures of her ownā¦ But for now, I am a very happy and proud husband holding her hand, taking her wherever her heart desiresā¦
