Traveling...traveling....trave....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Learning the true meaning of jet-lag (thus the reason the blog is three days late). Passed out at 3pm local Dublin time in this photo is my daughter who had been sleeping probably non-stop since arriving in Dublin, as well as both plane rides on the way. We are finally now in Malta after nearly a week's traveling.
I had tried to help prevent too much jet-lag by scheduling our flights spaced apart so that we could time our sleeping adjustments as we traveled half-way around the globe and nine time zones away from home.
I am not sure how much it truly helped as it still took a couple days of adjustment. It hit my daughter particularly hard, especially the first day in Dublin. For myself, I also dozed several times throughout the day the first day, and awoke (mostly due to Sitara's insistence that we get up) before sunrise. The second day, the day we spend out on the town was much improved, though we did both end up getting tired a bit before we should have, and stayed out longer than our bodies wanted to. Also some bus confusion and a very long walk across the city at the end wiped us out completely and we were in bed by seven. Arriving after 9pm local time in the apartment in Gozo didn't bother us though, and we were able to align ourselves with local time immediately due to our major time adjustment in Dublin.
Still, as our first trip abroad, I don't think we did too bad. I have traveled for days on end before without trouble, though it was all within a couple time zones. I was surprised how much the time zone changed really hit us, and wonder if it would be less if we traveled longitudinally instead.

Hello for Goodbye

With just over a week left before flying to our Maltese destination, Ts have been crossed and Is dotted in preparation for our time abroad. Now to bunker down and visit family and friends, most of which we haven't seen in nearly a year, and may not again for just as long. A complex process, visiting those we love and care about is, especially when gearing up for a long period away. Trying to schedule the time evenly, and also tracking down those we haven't seen since long before we left has been a challenge, but not the most difficult. It is the leaving, the saying hello so that we may say goodbye. Given, three months isn't really that long to me; it is that those three months are eternity for my daughter.

Taking care to see each loved one in their turn and still preserve the love of the journey she has gained has been difficult. Reminders of "home" and memories from the past have taken a toll on her willingness to leave and excitement for the adventure. The beloved toys at Papa's house, the pool in the backyard, great bear-hugs and cousins to play with all bring back a happiness that is very different from the thrill of travel. It is a sense of belonging. While I have taken for granted my own childhood filled with a certain sense of belonging with those I grew up around, her experience is that the next see she sees her loved ones they look different, and the places change ever so little; it can feel like home is passing by. Like the place she belongs to has less belonging than the people associated with that sense of belonging. Like looking in on a beloved snow globe, but not being able to step inside.

These are symptoms, or thoughts and feelings often described by and about kids who spend a portion of their developing years in cultures different than their home culture. These don't have to be extended periods even--just long enough to make an impact--three months at least. These kids are called TCKs, or Third Culture Kids. Being aware of potential problems, as well as the immense benefits to spending time living abroad, even for as little as three months has given parents an advantage on managing and overcoming this feeling of displacement. Doing a good amount of reading about experiences of kids abroad as well as families living in a continual shift from one country to another, I have been given a peek into their thoughts, feelings, and ideas for opportunities in development for both parents and kids. I hope this type of preparation, in combination with the preparation I have done in regard to culture shock awareness will help me become not only a better traveler, but also a better mother in the coming months and years. As a parent, I do plan on spending as much time abroad as we can for the immense benefits of cultural awareness, I am also aware of the importance of 'home', and hope to create an environment for her to have that, even if 'home' is not the traditional family setting in the suburbs.

Travel Quickening

When anxiety kicks in for various professionals, there are many techniques used in order to process the stress. Some do some deep breathing while counting backward; some exercise and "power up" for the coming performance or excitement; some vomit. Others, like myself, do. I don't just take a few deep breaths and know everything will be okay. I don't add caffeine to my diet (I have enough on a regular day) or increase my physical workload to compensate for my natural increase in adrenaline. What I tend to do is write lists upon lists of what needs to be done, and do them. Over, and over, and over again until I am sure everything is ready. I pace myself, as I have learned that getting "powered up" makes me forget, and deep breathing makes me sleep through my preparation time.

My daughter on the other hand, keeps herself busy with people. Her favorite thing to do is to socialize with friends and family, and neighbors she hardly sees. She likes to watch the kids in the park and eventually ask to play too. She takes her time, but loves to get involved, and generally stops many of her slower activities she regularly loves such as reading and playing chess. People who are closest to her become the most important thing on her plate: because she knows even at seven years old that those days to visit them pass, and physical distance becomes a pall for the coming season.

Together we have two weeks to prepare for the coming departure to a new, temporary home already set up for us, waiting with eager anticipation for the new occupants who will relish each chilly seaside moment, confused bus ride into the city, and accent translation mishaps.