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Tuesday, 30 August 2011

The last week.

The 4 Little Travellers
By this time next week, our currently bustling and busy house will be packed up, locked and lifeless. The fridge will be bare, the hot water service turned off and the outdoor furniture will be awkwardly stacked inside. The Little Travellers shell collection will lay dormant until next year.

It is our last week.

I really don't like this week. I've done this week before. I know how it ends and it's not pretty.

As sunny as it may be, a large grey leaving cloud will hover over our heads this week. The sun will peek through cheerily as people arrive for last minute catch ups and boozy lunches, but eventually the time will come. The final goodbye. The leaving cloud will sink lower, a little closer, a little darker. 

I have a shopping list on my refrigerator of last minute things. Things I haven't seen in Qatar that I can find here easily. They're not important, but they can be, particularly when you don't have them.  The hundreds and thousands for the fairy bread, the tins of passion fruit for the pavlova, the Delicious magazine and the pink ear plugs for swimming lessons. We can live without all of these things, but having them might just save us from that homesick moment that arrives when you just wish you could duck down to Woolies or Coles. 

Over the next week we'll become desperate, like those on the last day before starting a diet. We'll gorge ourselves on as much of Australia as we can.  The last appointment with the favourite hairdresser, the last trip to the bakery, the final visit to the winery around the corner. There will be long trips to the beach, lengthy chats with the nice lady at the local library, the pharmacist, the guy at the petrol station. People that we have seen on a daily/weekly basis for the past three months, people who have become friends. All conversations will end with the same theme. 

Goodbye.

I know we have to go back. I know this is the right thing for us. I know that I'll be sad, then happy, then sad, then happy. I know that the cloud will lift and I will once again embrace my geographical schizophrenia and be thankful for all that it offers. In the meantime though, I really don't like this last week.

I really don't like goodbye.




How about you? Any tips on farewells?

33 comments:

  1. SarahHague30 August 2011 at 19:00

    I don't think it gets any easier, on the contrary, the older you  get the more difficult it becomes.
    At least you've honed to perfection the stuff you need to take back to ease the separation from home.

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  2. Photographer Mum30 August 2011 at 19:06

    Goodbyes are hard, hope it's not too traumatic for everyone
    Safe travels

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  3. ginabaynham30 August 2011 at 20:23

    I've had my share of goodbyes. Moving from my family in Ireland to my new husband in England. Moving from there to Australia with my three kids in tow. Each goodbye has been sad but each time the people moving with me have been the ones I love the most. That is the only thing that made them bearable.

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  4. Cate P30 August 2011 at 20:45

    I have a tip... Don't leave me Kirsty.... WAAAHHHHH
    So glad we got to meet up, look forward to your next trip home. xx

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  5. Lucy Mulvany30 August 2011 at 22:46

    Just stay?

    I have done far too many goodbyes. I once cried sliently but snottily all the way from Perth to Adelaide.

    Farewells make the roof of my mouth hurt, just thinking about the,....

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  6. MsCaroline30 August 2011 at 22:57

    I don't have any tips on farewells for you, but I am flying my eldest son home in January to attend Uni, and I am already looking forward to all those things you describe:  an appointment with the hairdresser, coffee with dear friends, and countless other things that I took for granted when I had them available all the time! 

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  7. Sarah-Jane30 August 2011 at 22:59

    We don't have our own place in Oz so after 2 months of 'suitcase living' I was elated to get back to lovely Lagos and my own space and even though my eldest found school hard to get back into they have settled now and life is'normalish' again as 11 weeks is a long break when its cold and all other kids are in school.  My tip for goodbyes is to say "See you later" instead  as it feels less final.  I love your geographical schizophrenia as it certainly describes exactly how I feel between Oz and each location we move to.  Oh and if I had your little beach house which sounds just heavenly, hubby would have to drag me out from under the bed (where I would be hiding) when it was time to leave ;-)  Safe travels and don't panic eat too much in the final week or you might find that summer wardrobe that awaits you in Doha has somewhat shrunk (speaking from recent experience) ;-) 

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  8. KJ30 August 2011 at 23:19

    Just when I thought I was getting a grip on living out of Australia, you went and mentioned BAKERIES. ;-)

    Safe travels.

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  9. Michelle31 August 2011 at 04:08

    Oh, lucky I was in a good place reading this post or I might have had to wipe away a little tear. I know exactly what you are talking about and we haven't even made our first trip back home yet. But I am saying goodbye to my mum on Saturday and I have that sense of growing panic. The days are passing too quickly and in a blink my kids will be missing their Nana again. Ok, now I am crying. 
    Big hugs,
    Michelle xx

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  10. TheUrbanMum31 August 2011 at 05:23

    Oh I have had so many farewells.  My family lives scattered around the globe.  The best way to do it is cry like mad on the plane.  Then on your first day home book your next ticket back . I feel for you. x

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  11. Taniaroux31 August 2011 at 05:54

    Gulp.
    I have done the goodbyes, but not with kids, and even that was hard.
    Sending you smooches and big squishy hugs from Cape Town. And lots of tissues :)

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  12. shamozal31 August 2011 at 10:22

    I love this! I agree, if you know when the next trip is, it can give you a date to look forward to. I find the pashmina scarf is as much for warmth on the plane as it is for a sneaky tear dry. Kx

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  13. shamozal31 August 2011 at 10:23

    That's exactly what is is "a sense of growing panic". Nothing life changing and very first world but it doesn't make it any easier. Good luck on Saturday. Hugs xx

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  14. shamozal31 August 2011 at 10:24

    I limit myself to one Kitchener Bun a year. I finally caved yesterday. It was soooooooooo good. 

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  15. shamozal31 August 2011 at 10:28

    Last year I got back to Doha and ahem, yes, my wardrobe had shrunk. I know the damage is going to be worse this year as I have enjoyed ALL that Oz has to offer in the land of red wine and chocolate. 

    We did 11 years of house hopping and serviced apartments before we bought our place and I agree, living out of a suitcase is a great way to be well and truly ready to get back to your own bed. Maybe I need to change my strategy for our final week and go and spend it camping on the floor of a relative? :-)

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  16. shamozal31 August 2011 at 10:31

    Enjoy! Good luck with the Uni transition/drop off and enjoy the coffee with friends. I have loved being able to just pick up the phone without thinking of time differences, cost etc. 

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  17. shamozal31 August 2011 at 10:33

    Ah Lucy, you just brought back so many memories. My first move from Adelaide was to Perth, a couple of weeks after G and I were married. I howled all the way there after a very teary farewell with my parents. I felt like Perth was similar to moving to Mongolia...I had no idea what was to come. 

    Kxx

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  18. shamozal31 August 2011 at 10:34

    Thank you gorgeous. Next year I'll be much better organized and we'll arrange more play dates. Maybe the dog could take you for a walk in Port Willy :-)

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  19. shamozal31 August 2011 at 10:35

    So true. I will have the most important things with me on the flight home...the four little travellers (and a couple of bags of Freddo frogs).

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  20. shamozal31 August 2011 at 10:36

    Thanksxx

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  21. shamozal31 August 2011 at 10:38

    Yes. I think I've learnt how to do the "see you next time" with a smile rather than the sobbing goodbyes from the early years but there are always the silent tears on the plane. You're right, it doesn't get any easier.

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  22. shamozal31 August 2011 at 10:38

    Thank you xx

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  23. Cat31 August 2011 at 16:40

    Yes, we have had a few of these recently.  The only way I can get through it is to remind myself, and the kids, and everyone involved, when we will see each other again.  Even 12 months can seem quite soon if you imagine.   And skype regularly , esp after you get home, so the kids (and you) still have that "holiday connection".
    Good luck.  Cat

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  24. Valentinavaselli31 August 2011 at 23:51

    well, speaking for myself I am always sure im gonna make it in the cool style" see you later " +smiling, and then I always end up crying like a fountain on the train or the plane. With the years, its getting worse: I also start to cry when I actually meet people I dont see since a long while, so I have this megasobbing OOOH IM SO HAPPY TO SEE U opening line and then I hug too tight!

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  25. Carol Henderson3 September 2011 at 00:44

    I love your simile of the last week being like the last days of gorging before starting the diet. 

    We used to spend the three summer months every year on the coast of Rhode Island, a 14-hour drive from our Southern winter home and always felt sense of sadness and loss at the end of our stay. 

    But, alas, we traveled by car to our winter home--from New England to the American South. Not nearly the geographical schizophrenia you all face. Yes we wouldn't be able to go down to the dock and buy super fresh fish or yummy clam cakes or "cabinets," the Rhode Island name for milkshakes in our Chapel Hill home and we would miss the crisp end-of-summer New England air.

     But waiting for us back home was the cacophony of singing insects, the densely lush landscape, and the knowing that fall would come later and last longer and that our winter would be mild and bright unlike Rhode Island's  slate skies, early dusk, and ground as hard and cold as iron.

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  26. Lesley Hubczenko3 September 2011 at 13:07

    Hey there - I have just found your blog - we are new expats in PNG (3 kids - 2, 5 and 7). Your post brings back many memories (it was only 13 weeks ago) - hard emotional times. We are about to head home to Brisbane for our first visit out !! Yay. Here is oour blog - http://expatsinpng.wordpress.com/ I hope the trip back went ok.
    Lesley

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  27. Denise Bomfim8 September 2011 at 05:16

    Hello, darling traveler!
    Could you please tell me how is the hijab´s wear in Qatar? On the streets, fashionable, is it obligatory?
    Good luck for you, on all ways!

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  28. Nora E. AlNassr8 September 2011 at 06:16

    you might as well weather them with grace. here are a few thoughts that encourage me:use goodbyes as a time for reflection
    allow yourself to grieve, but keep looking ahead
    look forward to keeping in touch
    :~)
    i like the way you express yourself and would really appreciate it if you follow my blog: http://nminusen.blogspot.com/

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  29. Sharon James8 September 2011 at 19:09

    Oh I am not good with the goodbyes either and I am preparing only for our second expat move...good luck.  I am really glad i found your blog and looking forward to finding some time to read more :)

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  30. Nmaha9 September 2011 at 03:21

    Goodbyes are always tough. I grew up an expat kid and that feels like my hometown. Whenever I go back, which is for a maximum of 10 days at a time, I can feel the return cloud hanging over my head.

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  31. Nick Jacobs15 September 2011 at 17:58

    I've been trying to find the cheapest airline tickets for a great family trip for our kids this fall. Has anyone had any luck with finding good deals on family resorts and air travel?

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  32. Kathy15 September 2011 at 20:27

    I read about your blog at Notes from Africa, and I love it.  My  partner and I have spent the last two years, first between the US and Vietnam, and then between the US and Haiti.  We're home again now, but likely not for much longer.
    Kathy

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