It’s Wednesday and for the first time in two months I’m thinking about feeling homesick…
How strange, here I am in a beautiful hot country surrounded by my immediate family and new friends, with all the comforts of home and I feel a bit out of place, as if I need to be back in England. I suppose this is a feeling that will come and go for the next two years, this time brought on by seeing one of our visitors off to the airport to fly back to the UK. Talk of, English harbours, train journeys and plans for weekends away have conjured up pictures of ‘our green and pleasant land’, which I know is more often grey than green, but I miss being there today and I miss my friends and my old workmates too. Strangely, I miss the routine of going into the office, making plans, solving problems, cracking jokes, dealing with stuff and even having a bad day!
I’m not without purpose here, but days seem to involve too much food shopping, cleaning and cooking and not enough stimulating dramas and pressing deadlines. I guess I’m a drama queen at heart then, and I’m reflecting that this quiet life away from it all isn’t always as perfect as it seems from the hubbub of a full-time job. It’s also puzzling me why I feel like this and what ties me to the UK and the places and people I know there.
There is a huge security in being in your own country, your ‘homeland’. Here I am, a foreigner, not speaking the language, attempting to find my way round and make life work, but differently. Life here has to be lived in the Mediterranean way, with down time in the middle of the day when the sun is too hot to bear. Meals are for sharing and evenings aren’t spent in the lounge by the TV, more likely outside chatting round the table, or playing a game of cards or backgammon where it’s cooler.
Last night we had a BBQ at the beach, we watched the sun go down, we drank some wine and ate delicious sausage and kebab filled pitta breads with salad. We put driftwood on the little BBQ to make a safe fire on the rocks beside the water and debated about the direction of the wind, the flames and any stray sparks as the waves crunched on the sand at our feet. We gazed at the stars as they appeared above us in a velvet black sky. Across the bay we could see the lights of some of the local resorts and out to sea fishing boat lights flicked on and off in the darkness.
I like this lifestyle very much, but today I’m missing ‘home’, I miss friendly Southwell and Nottinghamshire and I miss the possibility of what the weekend will hold after a busy week at work.
rachelfarmer
on to the next adventure
rachelfarmer 
Dear Rachel, I know what you mean about being homesick. I am here in Ceke Budejovice (Czech Republic) for 3 months. I speak no Czech and am living in academic dormitory next to my place of work (an Institute of Parasitology). I am having a good time in general, but at certain times of the day thoughts turn to home. These include all meal times (1) Breakfast, when there is nothing like English bread or cereals around, (2) Lunch, when I am having my sandwiches made with Czech bread (3) Evening, when I am out having the Czech equivalent of what passes for a pizza or cooking myself using strange herb filled packets of instant soup. Still, apart from the food, this is proving to be an interesting experience, and one I am sure that will benefit me in the long term. Love to you all from me Tim, Helen Rachel and Peter xx 🙂
Dear Rachel – How your words brought back feelings I had in America – they caught me completely unawares and at times were hard to handle . You will have lovely times in the sunshine to remember for ever but no doubt your heart will be here in the UK. 2 years will go so quickly – make the most of your extended break . I never thought I would be homesick so it was a real shock . You are in my thoughts – love from Pat x
Dear Rachel, I’m lying in bed at the Paddock and listening to the wind and rain lashing against the windows !! A total contrast to all your sunshine, heat and stars shining in the night sky! Here I am stressing about what life will be like for us in Upton… Our move looming very fast, as we approach the end of this month….no ants, no heat exhaustion, no new culture for us to contend with, ( well I don’t think the Uptonians are too different from the Southwellians?! ) You are on a huge adventure….we’re loving your blogs and they are painting a beautiful picture of your new life…however, a huge contrast to life in the UK. You have handed over the reigns at work, sorted and packed, distributed ex-belongings around the uk, undergone cleaning therapy, moved out, moved in, un-packed, shaken down, entertained and been entertained etc etc etc ….. You must be exhausted, it’s no wonder you are feeling a little homesick for sleepy Southwell! We think of you lots, and send loads of love from Rebecca and Jamie and the gang! xxx
Thanks Rebecca – and love to all of you in sunny Cornwall this summer!
Sending you big hugs!!! I know exactly what you mean. It is such a culture shock. We moved out there in July 1986 having married in the March. We had to live in a hiring in Limassol at the start of our tour which was a bit of a shock. Mark would get up for work at 6am and come home at 6pm from Episkopi. The people below us were very kind but couldn’t speak English so sign language came into its own!! So, at the tender age of 21, just married and not seeing my husband very much did not make for a terribly happy start. I remember flying home for a couple of weeks to see parents, loving the rain and the greenery but at the end of it, I was, surprisingly, ready to go back. I learned to ski, play golf and sail during our time there and with all the visitors we had, we ended up loving the place. However, there were always pangs of homesickness which in itself is wonderful because we are blessed that we love so many people and so many places that make us want to return eventually. Reading your blogs is fabulous and you are all obviously making the most of it. We are looking forward to catching up with you when we come out to Cyprus at the end of the month. I will have a big hug ready for you. Much love to you all. Debs and Mark xxxx PS We are off to Grantham in a few weeks for Dave and Debi Rimmer’s farewell. They only live down the road from us in Southport so we will have to arrange a get together with them. Liverpool is great!!! xxxx
Thanks Debbie – think u had it much harder – really looking forward to seeing u both here let us know dates and we must fix to see you, can’t wait xxx
Thanks Debbie looking forward to seeing u both soon xxx