Assumption, expectation and romantic idealism, can seriously stuff up your day and piss off your friends at the same time! Trust me, I know. I was an expat for just over eight years. During that time there were many occasions when I fell into the trap of going on about how fantastic my home country is. Being my own worst judge, I sometimes found myself in the unfortunate position of continuing on for far too long, labouring a silly and ultimately pointless point, and some times actually being told to shut up by friends, who were really only trying to protect me from myself! It’s funny how you can assume something will be one way, or completed in a certain way, only to find out later that it is or happens completely differently in reality. Recent experiences have forced me to reconsider the assumptions, expectations and romantic ideals I have about the land of my birth. The most annoying and current experience is all my worldly possessions still being held by customs, even though they were shipped before my departure to enable them to be here before my arrival! Their excuse at customs, according to the shipping company which is my only point of contact, is that there is a backlog and this is their busiest time of the year. Having been told that the process normally takes ten to fifteen days, I’m feeling that seven weeks is just a wee bit inefficient, don’t you? I have been continually told by the shipping company that customs cannot be pushed and that I just have to wait. I assumed that they were telling the truth about it taking ten to fifteen days. I had the expectation that I would be in my house enjoying all my belongings weeks ago. And finally, I let myself get sucked in by romantic idealism that the grass is always greener, or rather things actually get done when people say they will be! Patience has never been one of my strong points. I am the most impatient person I know, stemming from the fact that I arrived (was born) before the doctor did, and have been impatient ever since. So imagine how I must be feeling about this now seven weeks and counting delay. I’m trying very hard to maintain my optimism, but it’s getting harder and harder to do so.
Have you, dear reader, ever had an experience similar to this? Please comment and share. I should add at this point, that what I have just written about pales into insignificance compared to many other people and what they have had to put up with. The people of New Zealand and the bad run with natural disasters they have had this year. The people of Thailand with the flood, or Libya or anywhere else there is conflict or suffering. It’s all relative, I know, but..... I miss my bed, books, CD and DVD collection, sofa, and all the other basic things we all take for granted each and every day, even though I know a very large proportion of the world’s population don’t even have clean water to drink, let alone be able to enjoy the things I’ve just listed.
Trying to keep it real here, so really want to read your comments.
