tBlog - "The List" revisited

"The List" revisited

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"The List" revisited

01.13.04 (12:04 am) [edit]

A couple of people have asked me how I feel my life is now, having read the below list. It's a tough one to answer.

I've never really felt unhappy. (God, how lucky is that!) It's true though. Obviously I've been pissed off, or unhappy with a situation but I've always been in a position to do something about it. Before leaving UK we were both teaching. It's fantastic work and I REALLY felt I was doing something worthwhile. The thing I was unhappy with was the fact that no matter how much I did it was never enough. You can only rely on somebody's "goodwill" for so long, it eventually wears out. So, we made a conscious decision to move to a culture where free time was valued. That's not to say we expected (or do) work less, but here your private time is respected. You know what? We probably get more done in less time because of the atmosphere it's done in.

As for the private stuff? I'm equally as happy now as I was fifteen years ago. (Oh God, am I sounding like a tree hugger?) The big change in my life happened last year when we became a legal couple. It has far too many legal and emotional implications to go into here, but needless to say it's a life altering thing to experience.

So, does that answer any of your questions or just add more? I don't know.

posted by: billlyryan (reply)
post date: 01.12.04 (3:13 pm)

I like your life. I like that you're in mine now. It makes me smile.

posted by: Andaloo (reply)
post date: 01.12.04 (3:24 pm)

Oh no...doing the big red face thing here again. Anyway, what are you doing reading blogs in company time *lash* back to work Ms Billly.

posted by: flaring (reply)
post date: 01.12.04 (4:26 pm)

I was wondering why you chose Spain. I think it's such an awe-inspiring thing to go to a completely foreign place and set up a life.

A number of years ago I was travelling in Germany. I could speak some German, but was by no means fluent. I'd never been in a foreign country for so long before. After about six weeks, I just become overwhelmed by the small differences in everything, and most especially the constant struggle to understand and be understood. The excitement of every new thing gave way to a sort of numbing mental fatigue.

I remember that when I was in Munich, I was so homesick that I actually located and went to a McDonald's-- pretty pathetic-- only to find that they had beer on tap there! So wonderfully German and so un-puritanical-American.

Anyway, that summer gave me an entirely new respect for the immigrants that come to the US, and what struggles they go through here. Did you feel these things when you left the UK?

posted by: Andaloo (reply)
post date: 01.12.04 (11:25 pm)

Reply to: flaring
Not sure I should admit to this, but...we chose Spain because Australia wouldn't have us. At that time they had a glut of teachers.

The language thing is SO difficult. With the best will in the world we all get frustrated with the lack of understanding. Even now my stomach ties itself into knots if I have to speak Spanish on the phone.

As for McD's, we get beer in them here too. They also sell "Mc Gazpacho" LOL.