Sometimes It Is Hard

Sometimes, moving to a new country is really hard. From the little things, to the big things. The first few weeks that I was here, it was hard for me to adjust to little, seemingly every day things. Back home in the US, I felt like a fully competent adult- I could cook, clean, go to work, and have fun; all on my own. All of a sudden in a new country, these seemingly simple, every day tasks became difficult. I remember the first week here, I wanted to go to the grocery store and get some things to make dinner for Nick and I. Nothing crazy, just a simple chicken parmesan. Well, boy was I ever wrong. It is quite difficult to grocery shop in a country where you don’t speak the language; and therefor can’t even grocery shop on your own because you don’t understand the food labels. 

Eventually, grocery shopping became easier. As did doing the laundry (I still have no idea which cycle I am using on the washer, but it is the same one Nick told me to use 3 months ago so I work off the assumption it is correct!). At first, it was really hard for me to adjust to the fact that these seemingly easy, every day tasks were no longer that- and each one required thought and preparation. I felt like a lost, incompetent child. Eventually, however, that got easier.

Now, I can grocery shop (mostly!) on my own. I can do the laundry on my own. Every day things have become easier. Yet it is the bigger, and much more important things in life, that are difficult. Like making friends. Language is such a barrier, because I do not speak Swedish. Yes, I am learning it. Right now, if you speak slowly, I can maybe talk about lunch, or what we both work as, or the weather (if you use the same 4 things I have learned about in Rosetta Stone). So if I am in a group setting and Swedish is being spoken, I may understand a random word- if I am lucky, a sentence- but I do not understand. When a group of people laughs, I have no idea why. And I have learned what a huge difference there is between being invited, and being included.

Fortunately for me, I came to Sweden with Nick now. In the world of iPhones, where I can iMessage- for free!- with the majority of my friends and family back home. In the world of Skype, and Facebook, so I can remain connected. In the world where soon I will start an online MBA, and be able to occupy myself with that. I am not jealous of Nick for coming here and experiencing all the things I am now, ten years ago before all these things. I am fortunate to have my family and friends here to talk to, and even for this blog as a place to relay my feelings. 

I am also fortunate to be able to look on the bright side of things. I know this experience is making me a better, stronger person- and that it will improve me in the future. I know I am lucky to be living in another country, supporting the man I love. I know I am lucky to be able to look forward to so many great things over the next few months, that I am able to do simply because of being here. Having friends and family visit, traveling all throughout Europe, playing hockey in Europe, supporting my husband, taking a 3 week honeymoon, learning another language, starting an MBA, I could go on for days. Sometimes, living in a new country is wonderful (and I won’t let myself forget that!) However, sometimes it is hard to be here. Tonight, my remedy will be a nice tall glass of wine and some Friends (the TV show!).