13 months in London.
I’ve surpassed my 6 months in Aix-en-Provence and 12 months in Brussels. And this time, unlike before, I don’t have an end date on the horizon.
So how am I faring?
Moving.
Moving through tiny patches of homesickness. Not big ones, just little ones that catch me off-guard. Like last night, as I cycled home from the Wimbledon train station, I thought about how my colleague gushed about his trip to New York and what a visual feast the hip areas are. And I started to think of all of the bits I miss… dinners with childhood best friends, lazy Sunday brunches even if it’s after waiting in long queues, feeling like a fount of knowledge on everything from where to get the best burger to cheap massages (even if you don’t want to strip down in a large room with strangers to have Chinese women climb on the table to leverage their weight as they chat with the masseuse next to them).
Moved to nostalgia and momentary doubts of if I should move back, but once the panic settles, I feel sure that the only bags I’m planning on packing are my carry-on for Norway for next week, my large case for Turkey for the week after, and lots of boxes later this afternoon because I’m…
Moving for the 17th time in 9 years!!! Next stop Fulham, a gorgeous part of London on the Thames. It’s going to be great. Just would be nice at some point to be unpacking for good.
Moving my body and getting closer to running, finally, after two years of injury and many, many physical therapy appointments.
Moving, but not there with the whole community thing. Even after 13 months, I still struggle with feeling like I have intimate friends here and feeling surrounded by a community. But I also wonder at the ways that I have been able to break into the London scene and make connections. Through communities like Artisan Initiatives and church, I have met some incredibly talented people here… like high level directors at fashion labels, photographers, writers, producers and fine artists. My brain, works in such a way that it instantly begins exploring the dark recesses to see who the person standing before me should meet. And the people gathering in the recesses are starting to add up.
Making a move. I had a drink with a friend of a friend who is directing an incredible film called Africa United. And I might just be able to make a major connection for her. I’m so excited. I have no idea where it will all end up, but I’m in awe of how I’ve been put in certain positions to do so!
