Scenes from the Expat files

From time to time, there are moments that seem so much to define the stereotypical expat life* that it seems that I must share that these are, in fact, real.

Yeah, that happened:

•  Sitting in a semi-furnished apartment playing guitar and singing as a large group
• The Conference after-party which includes dancing to super-fantastically-cheesy pop/hip hop music combined with conversations about international relations, philosophy, and relationships – over the blaring music
• Making travel arrangements for free-time
• Crashing weddings  (ok, fine, everyone has been invited at least informally)
• Crashing festivals (ok, fine, being obviously out-of-place, but warmly welcomed observers/forced-participants of religious and national holiday festivities)
• “What are your future plans” discussions
• Finding the best coffee shop in town
• Finding the best “real” local hangout in your neighborhood (and it’s cheap!)
• Becoming enthusiastic about yoga
• “That one time I was in (fill-in-the-blank-with-an-endless-number-of-countries)” stories
• Always a celebration (7 birthdays, 4 holidays, and 4 weekends this month alone)
• A constant mix of insight, idealism, and a sense of independence

Also, going out at least once a week is apparently compulsory – 3 or 4 times per week seems to be the more acceptable expectation.  I, however, can’t hack it.  I should ask Hillary how she does it.  Obviously, she knows:

The music- and the story- and the celebration-sharing, the experience building, the cultural exploration – it’s about building a community, I think, in a place where our families and friends are faraway, where things get uncomfortable, where so much is new. 

It creates the space to grow and to vent and to learn and to cry, as it comes.  It builds relationships quickly and deeply, as this is essential.

It is compulsory.  It is necessary.  It is good.

Tonight was the best Yom Kippur break-fast I've ever helped host... ok, fine it was the only one I've ever helped host. But it was lovely that so many people came and shared food and friendship.

*I know this links to an expats in Hanoi reference, but there aren’t any good ones for India.  Seems like there would be a market for it though… “S#*! Expats in Hyderabad Say” – anyone?