My family and friends know that I am a bit of a control freak. I am most happy when I have the structure and routine of my days in my head. Once having the feeling that I have control over my life, I would even call myself a flexible person.
The last couple of weeks I've reached that level of feeling good in my new home. When driving around it is as if I see my environment for the first time. Beautiful landscapes, the lagoon, the green mountains with the whimsical shapes. In the beginning I was so concentrated on the road, trying to find my way without guiding system ( it doesn't exist in the cars on Reunion Island), driving uphill praying that the engine would not stop, to notice any of the tropical scenery.
Yesterday I overcame the last obstacle on my way to feel independent and drove to the mountain village nearby via the steep road. By coincidence, I was driving behind a car of a driving school and thought “if a student has to drive here, I can do it too”.
I must admit that I wasn't expecting to go through the same roller-coaster as 13 years ago when moving abroad for the first time. I thought it would be easier if I approached it as a well deserved sabbatical, but I guess you can never reach a level of an accomplished expatriate. There is always a transition time, and you are entitled to all the ups and downs it takes to make it your home.
The last couple of weeks I've reached that level of feeling good in my new home. When driving around it is as if I see my environment for the first time. Beautiful landscapes, the lagoon, the green mountains with the whimsical shapes. In the beginning I was so concentrated on the road, trying to find my way without guiding system ( it doesn't exist in the cars on Reunion Island), driving uphill praying that the engine would not stop, to notice any of the tropical scenery.
Yesterday I overcame the last obstacle on my way to feel independent and drove to the mountain village nearby via the steep road. By coincidence, I was driving behind a car of a driving school and thought “if a student has to drive here, I can do it too”.
I must admit that I wasn't expecting to go through the same roller-coaster as 13 years ago when moving abroad for the first time. I thought it would be easier if I approached it as a well deserved sabbatical, but I guess you can never reach a level of an accomplished expatriate. There is always a transition time, and you are entitled to all the ups and downs it takes to make it your home.
RSS Feed
