Five Years

I moved here with high spirits and low expectations. My official stance was that in one year, maybe two, I'd move back to Toronto. But in the back of my mind I think I knew there was no going back. Had that been an option, I wouldn't be here now - or wouldn't have moved to begin with.

These past few years delivered the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Loneliness, broke-ness, self-doubt, finding love, 'finding myself', reconnecting with family, making a new family, new friends...new life.

Ultimately it's the sum of this baggage that makes you belong somewhere, and in five years, I've gathered enough to belong here.

These are some of the reasons why:

1. When I visited Toronto last summer it felt merely familiar, not like a trip 'back home'.
2. I usually drive at least 10-20 meters before putting on my seatbelt
3. I learned how to do Romanian small talk. It's not about the weather or sports teams, it's about how something (work, city, country) is not going well. Great bonding experience.
4. My Romanian has improved considerably
5. My (spoken) English has suffered as a result
6. I'm a lot more direct
7. I'm more likely to put up with bad service
8. I now think it's common sense to build my own home -someday
9. I can't get lost in Cluj
10. I'm a 'regular' in a few places
11. Always run into people I know when I'm out and about (but it is a small city, to be fair)
12. I have a Romanian ID card
13. I have a Romanian health card
14. I bought a new car
15. I've signed up for debt (to the bank)
16. I think about the various aspects of raising my future kids here
17. I've voted in elections
18. I've planted trees that I want to visit when they 'grow up'
19. I'm involved with other projects
20. I've experienced the Romanian hospital ritual ('donations')
21. Everytime I come back to Cluj, I know I'm at home, and everything is right with the world.

Five years on, I'd say it's looking pretty permanent. But let's see what happens....

Here's to the next five.

Comments

WesternMamaApril 15, 2016
Hey! Just came across your blog and love the content. Im a British expat living in Baia Mare with my husband and daughter, new to the blogging world. Keep the posts coming!
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Jim MarvenApril 23, 2016
Indian expat in south africa?
overseas
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