I'll see you again one day soon .....

This blog post (below) was written in July 2009, when I had to say goodbye to my friend Susan. Since then I have said countless goodbyes.... none of them being any easier.

It is hard for each and everyone of us, people that have not been 'expats' will never have the understanding of what it is like to be constantly saying GOODBYE. 

As expats we make short and very intense relationships wherever we may be living, they may not be 'life long friends' from our school days, but they are equally as important for they have more understanding of what our lives are like today. We are all in the same boat with the same concerns, the same joys, worries, our fears, happiness or missing our families.

We miss the same things 'back home', we share the same joys and excitement of each others events, like graduations, babies etc ..... we travel to the same amazing places of which others have no understanding. In Singapore, we rarely discuss our latest trip to Kuching or Koh Samui or Chiang Mai with friends 'back home', because to be frank, they couldn't care less, let alone know where these places are!

We have many discussions with our expat friends as to where we have been or where we are going, because we are all interested in each others lives, where we are going or what is happening. Its not being rude or being a 'busy body', its because we care about each other .... we are all good friends and we know any one of us would be right there on the door step if anyone of us needed support.

So yes, we do form very intense relationships in a very short time. Most of them survive the goodbyes too as we all hope and pray that one day we will see each other again.

This year there are quite a few people departing the shores of Singapore and John and I are in that group too ....  our goodbyes are now on the flip side.

                                   and they are not any easier either

                          How lucky we are to have known such friends
                                 who are so hard to say goodbye to.


July 2009

I am so lucky to have met many wonderful people here in Singapore ...... friends are so important.

They are important when you are at 'home', growing up, going to school, new work environment, getting married and having children of your own .... right throughout your life, friends are important. ......

even more so when you are living so far away from home.... wherever 'home' maybe.

Family are too .... but you cannot choose your family.

friends are special people that you choose with your heart.

Then sometimes when we are far away from our home country, life can suddenly take a dip. Like one of my friends here in Singapore wrote on her blog recently:

"I'll apologise in advance as I know this post will probably come across as a bit self-pitying but I just need to have a moan.

Sometimes life in Singapore can be downright lonely. Even though I've made some really nice friends, I don't see them often enough and some days the loneliness really gets me down. "

and it hit me..... she is right ..... we all have our friends here, but they also have their own lives and yes, they travel or go 'home' on holidays too.
........ and we are still here.

We can make many friends and then find they are leaving us due to many reasons, maybe their contract is up, maybe they have lost their job...... for whatever reason they are no longer with us

....... and we are still here.

“Friends are an integral part of your life, but every friend you have must live life at their own pace. When the time comes & they must leave you, there is no need to grieve over their parting from your life. It is the very essence of life that it should be so. But it hurts nonetheless and we grieve nonetheless, but we hold them in our hearts forever. Always cherish the joy, laughter, memories and love that they have brought into your lives. Always remember them with a warm smile for what they have given you.”
I have said goodbye to many people that have touched me whilst living in Singapore ..... and again next week I have to say goodbye to another.

but is it "goodbye"???

can it not just be:

"I'll see you again one day soon"

for I hope it will be.

Susan

my very good friend.

love ya!