Hi Everyone
The upcoming holidays - Passover and Easter, and the new edition to our family (our nephew was born today), made me think about celebrating all these happy events when you are living far away in a foreign country surrounded by "strangers".
I would like to share with you 2 of my most memorable experiences:
The first is about giving birth in a foreign country - Three months after we arrived to Venezuela I found out that I am pregnant with our third son. Although this was my third pregnancy, it was the first time I was about to give birth abroad, away from my home country, family and friends. When I told the news to my family back home,they thought I was out of my mind.
I made a decision to enjoy this experience - I found an excellent gynecologist, who guided me through everything with so much patience and empathy. And when it was time to give birth our family came to help us.
Remembering this now makes me understand how lucky and blessed we were, and how great was our family for assisting us.
My second memory is about celebrating holidays in a foreign country - At home we celebrate the holidays with family. Our kids love it, they love hanging out with their grandparents and cousins.
In Canada we were invited to local friends for the holidays. Our kids were good friends with our friends kids, and we thought they will have fun together. But holidays are usually celebrated with family, and our friends house was packed with cousins and grandparents, who have their own traditions.
I think this was one of the hardest holidays I had ever had. One of the only times I felt guilt about our expatriate life, and about taking our kids away from their friends and family.
Do you ever feel guilt or loneliness when celebrating holidays and births away from home?
Happy Holidays to all of you where ever you are
Sharon
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