Day 26: People, People Who Need People

Prompt: Recognize someone who has made your expat experience better.

Not long ago, on an Americans in Australia forum, someone posted about what a hard time she's had making genuine friendships since moving abroad. This led to a long discussion with many other people who agreed, and about some of the problems they've experienced. It made me feel so lucky because, for all the cultural adjustment issues I faced when moving here, making genuine friendships was not one of them. It would have been so hard to go this journey alone, and so I have to recognize not one person, but a group of ladies who I'll group as The Book Club Girls, all fellow Americans Down Under, and some of the loveliest people I know.

My first friend in Australia was Mimi. We moved at a similar time, and from reading each other's blogs, had a feeling we'd get along. We did, like gangbusters. We became inseparable, and I don't know how I would have weathered my first year in Oz without her. In many ways, we're so different, but it was always in a complimentary way. No matter what, we could always make each other laugh, which is no small thing when times are confusing and lonely. Mimi moved back to the U.S. in 2012, which was so sad for me, but when I think about the other girls whose friendship I so value, I can see how many connections she forged for me, which is a priceless gift to have left me with.

Mimi quickly introduced us to V and her husband, and we three couples became quite the tight group. I loved having dinners and game nights together or Sister Wives viewing nights with just the ladies. V is a sensible, dry wit, and I think we "got" something deep down about each other, as I have more than a little bit of that in me, as well. V also moved back to Canada, and I still really miss her. We always threaten to plan a trip together - one day, V - one day!

Just a couple months after I moved here, Sydney Smiles (SS) put out a query on an expat forum about starting a book club. Mimi and I agreed to join, and after slogging through the most laughably terrible book, we convened at a restaurant in The Rocks with the three of us, plus N and a girl who we never saw again. (V, of previous paragraph fame, joined up later, in case you're keeping score at home). We had a great time chatting, and started our monthly tradition. I'm so glad that SS took the initiative to get this group together. I can appreciate now that she was making a real leap of faith by inviting complete strangers to join up like that. She's an absolute dear heart, one of the most honest and caring people I know. She loves my little girl, and is an ace with her, always finding new ways to entertain her. Plus, you should see what she does with nails!

No lie, Sydney Smiles did these for me. She's an artist!

Our fellow Book Club original, N, is also an absolute gem. She's lovely inside and out, completely kind and genuine. She's been in Australia the longest of all of us, and was always happy to share all her tips with us, which was always a massive help. My first big solo outing after Hushpuppy was born was an afternoon wedding dress shopping with N. She got married to her awesome guy in the States, so I couldn't be there, but it meant a lot to still share something of her big day with her, as she's been and continues to be such a sweet friend. Oh, and she's seriously funny, too!

Along the way, Mimi introduced a few more girls into the Book Club fold. When I was away on a trip to the U.S., she sent me a message, so excited about G, a girl she'd met through a mutual friend. I believe her description was, "she's from New Jersey, she's Italian, she's loud and hilarious. You're going to love her!" OK, from that description, I had my doubts, given my borderline introvert tendencies, but then I met G when I returned. She marched right up to me and said, "I've heard so much about you!" then she proceeded to completely win me over. She's exactly as Mimi described, and I love her. She organized a surprise baby shower for us, and she brings a thoughtful gift for Hushpuppy pretty much every time she sees her. She livens up every room she enters, and we're all better for knowing our favorite character.

M and her husband moved over for work after I'd been here maybe a year and a half. Mimi also invited her into the group. I love chatting with her, as she's bright and witty. She's super with Hushpuppy, and never had a moment of trepidation with her, even when she was a newborn. She called to offer to take the baby off our hands for a bit while so Partner-in-Crime and I could go get a coffee or something, when Hushpuppy was just a couple weeks old, something I still feel sorry for not taking her up on! She's one of those people who knows how to make everyone feel comfortable, in a down to earth way.

Finally, Mimi also introduced us to A, who bravely showed up for a big, boisterous Thanksgiving dinner where she didn't know any of us. It's hard for me to properly say what a dear friend A has become to us, but as she's heading back to the States in just a few weeks, I feel particularly keen to try - though, I must tell you, she's far too humble to care to read gushing things about herself, and is probably going to stop right here. Through our friendship with A, I have learned what it is to really be there for your friends. Everyone says, "let me know if I can do anything," and we all mean it, but A somehow knows exactly what needs to be done and just quietly makes it happen. After Hushpuppy was born, she said, "I'm bringing dinner on Friday," and she arrived with a massive plate of sushi from our favorite Japanese place, knowing that I'd not been able to eat sushi for the past 9 months. It was heaven on a plate. When our apartment flooded, I put out a desperate call for help, and she said, "I'll be right there," and took Hushpuppy off my hands for a couple of hours. When we were hosting Thanksgiving on a Saturday, she messaged on Friday and said, "I'll be near your house. I can stop by to help." I knew she meant it, and I put her to work! She's like that for all of her friends. We've had so many long conversations, meals, divine parties at her place, and on and on. I'm feeling sentimental with her imminent departure, knowing that her presence in all of our lives is going to be dearly missed. 

I know I've carried on a bit here, and picked far more than one person to recognize, but these girls have made all the difference to my experience living abroad. I would have been lucky to have had just one of them to make life here richer, less lonely, and a lot more fun, yet somehow I was blessed with all of them. Thank you, ladies, you will forever have such a special place in my heart.