Part of the reason I haven't posted is because I hit a very deep and thick part of the sludge. I'm lucky to have done this moving thing SEVERAL times and the moving overseas thing a few times. I've moved to different cities/ states 8 times and this is my 3rd time overseas. Every time you move, the first three months are the most difficult and I think it takes a full year most times before you really feel comfortable and part of the community. When it's a new country that's all amplified.
The first three months are the sludge. It's like walking through waist deep, thick mud. You can do it, but it's just so much harder and slower than it was before. EVERYTHING takes longer, everything is confusing. You are still figuring what you're doing and where to go to get things. It takes time to build those muscles and get used to your new situation. I know this so I just keep swimming.
Oh, I have my mini break downs now and then when everything seems to happen at once and I just can't take it anymore. I had one last week. Getting things sorted with my visa/Civil ID has been an even bigger hassle than it normally is, than it is for 90% of the other new teachers- just because I'm lucky like that. That has caused a domino effect of other hassles, such as getting my bank account set up and actually being able to get paid on our first pay day. Dealing with all this may have caused me to be a bit short tempered last week. It also caused me to miss our first field trip so that sucked. And I may have felt like I was being targeted for everything when I was just trying to do my best. *sigh*
I could go on but I won't. One of things about being in the sludge is you have to be careful not to wallow in it too long or you'll drown.
Let's end on a good note... A sneak peak if you will. My house got painted today. I went with a very nice grey. And I bought a rug. I thought the rug worked with the room but it has now made me hate the brown couches and maroon curtains even more. I will be looking for slip covers and curtains for sure! I'm thinking black curtains and white/cream slip covers. And some good throw pillows with color- silver, black, white, the same shade of blue/teal as the rug..... What else would go? I realize the pink desk doesn't match, but it was free. I may paint it black if I can. Not sure it's paintable....
The walls don't look like they are painted. You should put a before and after pic together so we can see the difference. The walls look like a normal off-white basic color....no?
ReplyDeletethe rug is awesome...I like it a lot!
ReplyDeleteit's a preview-- I'll do better pics later. I made sure to include part where you can see the architectural detail of the wall that I left white. The stripe down the middle is white, the walls are grey.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the sludge. I'm in Germany, for cryin' out loud! This is my dream! So I feel like I shouldn't be in the sludge, but you described it so perfectly, and here I am. But I will not wallow, and I am wading out ;) I love your rug too. And man, I really need to update my blog!
ReplyDeleteI think there's sludge even in the States. When you're overseas it's just harder and there's more of it.
DeleteI'm hoping to work out having a few days layover in Europe- Germany specifically- when I fly home this summer. We should all meet up (you, me and Kim) and go to the temple or something. :)
Yes! Yes! A hundred times yes to the sludge comment and feeling! Good luck with all your paperwork... I'm sorting out my own in Japan.
ReplyDeleteYou're going to Japan? That's AWESOME! I shall plan a visit if I can. I only spent 1 day in Japan on a visa run so I haven't properly been there. :)
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