Hello all,
I’m currently working away on new things that I hope to tell you about soon. Of course, instead of just working on one new project, I’ve given myself a second to make things even more complicated. As I work away at these two projects, my mind tends to drift off into daydream land (as it always has) and I’ve been thinking a lot about home lately.
It’s been a year since I was at home in Australia, the longest I’ve ever been away from my family. Even before we moved to Canada, I never thought I would go that long without seeing my Mum and siblings. In a perfect world, I would fly home to see them every few months but that’s just not possible. Thank goodness for Skype! With Skype I get to at least “see” my family once a week. Having those weekly video calls with my mum is the only thing that keeps me afloat. If I didn’t have that contact with her, I don’t know what I’d do.
This weekend especially I will be missing my mum and wishing I could be with her. If you get to see your mum whenever you like, please give her a big hug and know that we aren’t all as lucky. I love you Mum!
What’s the longest you’ve been away from your loved ones?
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I haven’t lived near my family since I was 21. I know those feelings all too well. I am thinking the longest I went without seeing them was possibly 7-8 months at one point. But ever since the grandchildren came about it’s about every 4 months when we see each other. One day they may move closer, but for now this is our norm.
That’s great that you get to see them every 4 months or so, Jen. I can’t even imagine how tough it must be on grandparents who don’t get to see their grandkids. It’s something I worry about for our future children. No matter where we live, one family will be missing out.
Hey Amanda,
The longest I had ever been away was three and half years (from Melbourne, Australia). It was very hard and I tried not to think about it as circumstances meant I couldn’t get back (I’m in London currently). Anyway, when I did return for a holiday it felt very weird and almost like a new country/new city (not least cos it was raining- this was last December- and it had not rained for so long of course!). Anyway, eventually I found my feet and it was great, but it was strange for a few days.
These days I find the homesickness is a phase and if I need to cry or Skype home or write home or call an Aussie friend who lives here, I do that and it really helps and passes quite quickly. I will eventually move back but it’s not possible at the moment and I kind of think my destiny is right here in London for awhile at least.
This too shall pass and remember that Australia is going nowhere and is sitting right there happily waiting for your return. You have many adventures still ahead of you and -also- you can have more than one home!!
xNatasha
@mosquitoeditor
Oh Natasha! I can totally relate. Even being away from Sydney for 7 months the first time I was gone, was so weird to come home to. I felt things had changed and even though most things were the same, it still felt different. I couldnt put my finger on why. I worry that now Ive been gone for even longer that things will be really weird when I go home!
Yeah, I really need some Aussie friends here in Vancouver.
Ah, expat life. I haven’t been home in 9 years now. I saw my mom 9 years ago (but we Skype every week too), my dad 7 years ago and my brother in March. It’s hard to be so far away from home. Take care.
Wow, Phoe, 9 years is SO long. You are a trooper!
Posts like these really put it in perspective for me! I’m from California, loving in Portland. I haven’t seen my mom in quite some time, but we talk constantly through email and the like. The longest I’ve been away from family altogether is a measly 2 months when my husband and I went to Thailand. I got nothin’ on you guys – you’re such troopers.
Um, yes! That was a typo – LIVING in Portland, not loving! I’m not THAT much of a free spirit, hah ;)
the longest i’ve been away is a few months while at school, luckily i’ve only really ever been a few hours drive from my family so i can’t imagine how much you must miss them!
i’m very excited to see my parents next week, they are driving in for my performance for just a night, but that’s all i need to spend a little time with them!
i hope you get to see your family soon <3
i recently moved from my home in toronto to delhi, india to volunteer for one year. the longest i’d been away from home prior to this was 2.5 weeks. as of today i’ve been away from my family for 7 weeks. it’s tough. but like you said – my weekly skype video chats with them helps tremendously. my sister had her first child, my first time being an aunt, literally 5 days before i left for india. so i get to see my niece on skype – which isn’t ideal but better than not seeing her at all. i can’t imagine how some people did it before skype.
but what i miss the most? my dog. he just doesn’t do skype well lol. i can’t wait to see him when i return home.
I’m from Canberra, Australia. My husband and I are moving to the UK in April to live for a few years…maybe forever? I hope our family and friends visit as often as possible…as well as us coming back to visit every couple of years if possible. I’m so excited about this big change in our life and can’t wait to see how our lives unfold. I hope you feel better after skyping with your family….it must be difficult. xxx
I was once away from my family 6 months. It felt like such a long time.
My fiancé and I (from Canada) really want to move abroad once I graduate – maybe to Asia for a year or two? Such an exciting prospect, but I’ll miss my family so much (especially my nephews & niece!)
Last summer I saw my sister and parents for the first time in 6-years. I don’t think I would have made it much longer. The trip made me realize that it’s definitely time for me/us to make the trek back to the US.
awww this actually almost makes me glad my family members have never been interested in each other at all!
Good to see another adult woman as attached to their momma and family as I am! I am a total momma’s girl and can’t imagine being so far!
Cheers to Skype and having rad families!
XO
Awww, this post really struck home…I’ve gone in the opposite direction, UK to Southern Hemisphere, and despite being happy, I’ll never stop missing my family while am away. When someone invents cheap, 2 hour flights to anywhere in the world= happiest day EVER :) But it’s nice to have those ties anyway and be a boomerang- they know I’ll always make my way back home for a cuppa :) (also it’s not Mother’s Day back home, so these days Mum says she gets 2= score! :))
I really know how you feel! Only one of my sisters visits regularly, I’ve not seen my parents for a year, one sister and one brother for 2 years and one brother the last time I went back 4 years ago! They just seem to get on with their own lives and I often feel ‘out of sight, out of mind’.
And that’s just France to England, God knows how I’d cope with a distance like yours!
I understand this quite well. My mum and siblings are in different countries; Venezuela, Australia, USA, Spain…and I’m in France! so we see each other all together once each…several years…and yes, it’s hard, we are very close though so we see one or two at a time and we keep in touch in an almost daily basis (thanks Internet!)
Love keeps us together and like this distance do not exist really
but it is SO good when we are actually able to hug and kiss !
it really is the hardest part of living in different countries. i never miss the country in general, but i hate seeing my mom and my sister only about once a year.
There years ago I moved to London from Istanbul. Time to time I am feel homesick. Since yesterday I was thinking that the hardest part of living abroad is can not see your parents whenever you want. But now I learned my father get cancer and I am not there. This was the hardest thing happened to me so far. Sorry I do not want to upset to anyone but I need to open my heart.
I have lived in Perth now for nearly 5 years, i moved here when i was 21 and all my family are in the UK. I miss them terribly, especially my mum. We see each other about once a year and on Skype at the weekend. I have debated all this time about whether i have made the right desicion living over here, i feel so guilty that i left my family. I honestly dont know what the best thing to do is, so answers on a postcard! i can relate to all of you out there, keep strong :)