One year. One year in Christchurch. One year in New Zealand. Though the idea of being here has progressively become less of a novelty thing (I wonder less and less "am I living on an island, Down Down Under, on the other side of the word, at the far end of everything?"), it is still much no ordinary thing.
My love, no ordinary thing. This is no ordinary thing.
This song (No Ordinary Thing), sung by Opshop, a group founded by Invercargill born and Christchurch bred Jason Kerrison, symbolizes very much this year: no ordinary thing.
The beautiful side of things: the kids. They did not know English and now they speak - and correct us - when we do not pronounce words in Kiwi English ("No Dad, it's not eleven, it's eliven."). It is amazing to see how quickly they have learnt it and it is so beautiful to hear them. They have integrated well and are doing well at school.
These are difficult times and the recession has hit us hard: my husband still has no job and our house in Belgium remains unsold. I work for a telco company, which was also a new area to me, but one which I appreciate as I have learnt a few things.
The language. This is indeed a big factor in terms of integration for a non-native English speaker. Although I thought I had a fairly good command of the English language, it is naturally something else to live the everyday life and work situation. Specially when most people "speak like a machine gun and talk in their moustaches" to use two French expressions for "they speak very fast and do not articulate". Add to that the different culture, in its subtleties and fine distinctions and one realizes that his year has been a whole process of learning and adjusting.
What else?... The nostalgia... still very strong (were I to follow my gut feelings I would be taking the next flight back to Europe) but I suppose this is part of the process and it takes time to adapt.
So... on to the next milestone.
