Guest Post: A Mum You Have When You Don’t Have Your Mom

G'day Y'all...I’m Jan and I blog over at ‘Memoirs of an Aussie’. I first met Nicole a few months ago online through her blog and began communicating with her on expat related blog posts and also via twitter. My first connection with Nicole was that I too were an expat, but an Aussie living in her wonderful homeland, the USA. For three years our family lived in Tacoma, Washington State and then spent two years in Dallas, Texas. Hence my greeting: G'day Y'all. In late June 2009, not long before Nicole arrived here, I moved back to my hometown of Bendigo, in Victoria, Australia.

As an expat I not only enjoyed reading blogs about other people’s expat experiences, but took an interest in how expats living both here in Australia, and in other countries cope with being away from their homeland.You make so much personal growth as an expat, which at the time might not seem significant. You also find yourself becoming more patriotic and protective of your homeland, but being an expat is not as easy as it seems. Sure, it opens doors for travel adventures, new work opportunities, creates excitement learning a different culture of another country...it certainly pushes you out of your comfort zone. However, something you don’t really prepare yourself for until it hits you like a ton of bricks is... ‘Culture Shock!’

Socially, economically, and culturally, I believe Australia and America are very similar, so when differences do appear, it takes one by surprise. The excitement, delight and adventure of being in a new country can quickly turn into homesickness and disillusionment with your host country. I managed to move through the stages quite smoothly, but I have witnessed some expats really battle with it. We always saw our family's experience and opportunity to live in the US as a positive, and always got out there and embraced the culture, and it's people. I personally saw it as an adventure, and considered myself to be on one long vacation. This positive outlook is another connection I believe I have with Nicole.

My husband and I recently had the pleasure of meeting in real life, Nicole and Caz (another young expat 'twenty-something blogger') when we were in Melbourne. I came away that night pondering once again if my own children would one day, as twenty-something young adults, live once again the expat life, but next time without us. These young ladies are so brave! You can read my blog post about our meet-up here.

When Nicole asked me to be a guest blogger, I was flattered, and as silly as it may sound, felt like she might have asked me because she maybe sees me as an expat mom figure, as someone who has been through it, having been an expat myself. Today when I sat down to begin my guest post as a 'forty-something blogger', I took a peak again at fellow guest blogger, Kristen's post and noticed that Nicole’s mom had commented on it and something hit me! As a mother, this guest post opportunity should be written also for Nicole’s mom from me, an Aussie repatriate mum who has befriended her daughter. So here goes…

Hey there Nicole’s Mom,

Firstly, I don’t need to tell you how incredible your daughter is...you know that! I did hear however that her cooking skills may need a little improvement, cooking 'from scratch' is a challenge, but she’s apparently working on that!

My goodness though, the confidence and drive in life this girl has makes me reflect on my own life, whether as a twenty-something young single adult, I would have been as brave as her and moved to a foreign country. She appears to be assimilating very well to life in Australia...you must be so proud of her!

I don’t doubt that Nicole is probably experiencing, and will continue to experience the stages of 'Culture Shock' that I mentioned above, but I honestly think this young lady will handle it just fine. Nicole is treating her time in Australia so positively and embracing every opportunity. She has already built a wonderful friendship network in fellow expats, and I’m sure made other friends too. I’ve witnessed first-hand expats who don’t embrace their new home, its culture and its people positively, then have a miserable time; they become depressed and whine and moan about their experience and the people. Not your Nicole!

As a mum/mom, I just want to let Nicole and you know that I am here for her should she ever need...'a mum you have when you don’t have your mom'. Our family is looking forward to having Nicole and some of her expat 'mates' up to Bendigo soon for a weekend in November. She’ll also get to hang out with our kids and see our town. We’re really looking forward to that!

Anyways, please take comfort that Nicole is doing a 'good job' living in the land down under and our family is there for her, should she need us!

Kind regards,

Cheers!

Jan :)

P.S. Happy Halloween from Bendigo!